Page 322 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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I would also thank the ACT Labor secretary Matt Byrne and his team at our party office for their support and counsel throughout the year. I hope that the team over in party office takes the opportunity to relax and enjoy the holidays. I applaud all members and their staff for their efforts to continue to make Canberra the most politically engaged city in the world. You all richly deserve a summer break. You richly deserved the time to re-engage with your families and loved ones, who also deserve our thanks for putting up with what we have all been through this year.
I want to thank the staff at Elections ACT and ACT Electoral Commissioner Phillip Green for a very well-run and efficient election. The access to information online in real time on election night was a very big innovation and his team made it happen. Thank you very much.
To all of the candidates, campaign staff and supporters who ultimately were not successful at the election, thank you for your efforts. Canberra is a better place for your engagement and your input. 2016 has been a massive year for politics here in the ACT and for Canberra itself. This year will be noted as the year that our city joined the world stage in a positive and confident way, a modern city with international flights.
Urban renewal is underway. We are building a light rail network. Importantly, the other big achievement—possibly the biggest one this year—is that we now have the first majority female parliament in Australian political history. It has been a fascinating sitting year in this place. We have debated almost every possible issue with heated, fiery and passionate debates along the way, fortunately, though, always with a sense of humour and nobility at the end of the day to share a joke or a jibe about each other’s football teams and their lack of success.
I believe these kinds of debates and this spirit is what ACT politics is all about and I thank all of our past and present colleagues from every political party, even the independents, for debating the policies and the issues.
What I am especially energised about for 2017 is the enthusiasm and ideas shown in this place. I think each and every one of us who has contributed in this sitting week has demonstrated they are listening to their community, they are bringing forward ideas to this place. I can say that our parliamentary team will be delivering a full and exciting agenda in 2017. We have demonstrated that we are ready to go. We will be getting on with the job Canberrans elected us to do.
On a more personal note, I want to thank my staff and all of the election volunteers without whom I would not be here. I especially thank my departed chief of staff, Jamie Driscoll, who is enjoying a round-the-world tour. I thank him for his long-term service.
I thank my partner, Anthony, for all his love and support and, through gritted teeth, commitment to four more years. I also thank Minister Rattenbury, Ms Le Couteur and the staff of the Greens party. I am pleased with the outcome of the parliamentary agreement. It demonstrates the strength of our government and our shared agenda.
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