Page 323 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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Finally, as we go our separate ways for the summer with some respite from this place, I want to thank all those who keep this city functioning throughout the year, especially at Christmas time. I thank all of our hard-working public servants, our gardeners, teachers, nurses, doctors, cleaners, childcare workers and many others—I am channelling Mr Coe’s speed reading—for all of the important work that you do for the families of Canberra and a special thank you to those of you who will be away from your families at Christmas serving the city we love. We look forward to working with you and for you in 2017.
Madam Assistant Speaker, to you, and everyone else, on behalf of the ACT Labor Party, have a safe and happy festive season.
Valedictory
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (5.55): It is a pleasure to take part in my first adjournment debate for the Ninth Assembly. As Mr Barr has reflected on the satisfaction of being on that side of the chamber, I think it is fair to say there is some dissatisfaction with being on this side of the chamber. However, it is a role we take seriously and we know that the people of Canberra need an effective opposition in order to hold the government to account. We also take our role as an alternative government very seriously. To that end we look forward to continuing to propose new ideas for our city.
Nobody gets into politics to be in opposition, but that is where we are, and we will do the best we possibly can from this side of the chamber as we work towards 2020. Whilst I am sure four years goes very quickly in government, it does not necessarily go too quickly in opposition. However, we will do what we can to expedite it.
I want to extend my thanks to my colleagues. We have been blessed with a wonderful team on this side of the chamber, and we are very much looking forward to the times that we will share together. I also want to thank colleagues from across the chamber and from the crossbench for their contributions to the Assembly.
I particularly want to extend the thanks of the opposition to the families and friends that support us. Whilst Mr Milligan said that behind every great man is a great woman, there are also a lot more, and there are many friends and family members that support us. This really is a team business. It sometimes can seem like an individual pursuit but the reality is that there are many people required to make us operate and to make this place operate collectively.
I want to extend the thanks of the opposition to all the opposition staff, many of whom continued on from the Eighth Assembly. Some are new, and to those who departed at the end of the Eighth Assembly, I want to extend my thanks to you. I also want to extend my thanks to the staff of the Assembly. They do a superb job in making us look good, or at least as good as we can look. Of course, I need always to extend a special thanks to the Hansard department, who do a great job with my adjournment speeches.
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