Page 35 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 December 2016
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right infrastructure to support us to ensure that we remain and grow as a community that is connected both physically and socially.
The completion of the Belconnen Arts Centre and the implementation of the Belconnen town centre master plan policies, as well as developments like those at the University of Canberra and the west Belconnen site of Ginninderry are just a few examples of local opportunities to achieve this.
The most important part of my campaign—and now as an MLA—is the conversations. Over the past year I have had thousands of positive conversations. In the dead dark of winter I stood at Jamison shops. On days of wind and rain I knocked on doors. These were tough points throughout the campaign, but I would always ask myself, “What would Mary Porter do?” And the answer was always clear: get out there and keep talking to people, no matter what. I have the same attitude as an MLA. I have held five shopping centre stalls since my election and met with over a dozen local businesses, and I am only just getting started, I can promise you that.
I have always believed that we get the best outcomes for our community when our community’s voice is heard, and I will be that voice. I am committed to being an MLA who is present, available and accessible. You can never over-explain something, especially when you have 54,000 people to reach. In my role here I promise I will be curious and seek to understand before making myself understood. Much has been made of my social media presence, and I can confirm that presence will continue. It is our job as representatives to employ as many channels as possible to have as many conversations with as many people as possible.
Before I conclude, Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge what a hardworking Labor team we have, and none more so than in the Ginninderra Labor team. I give special mention to my colleagues Minister Berry and Minister Ramsay, but also Kim Fischer and former MLA and minister Chris Bourke. Due to Hare-Clark and preference flows I have benefited from their hard work, and I promise I will not forget that over the next four years.
Politics is about people and I have mentioned a lot of people in this speech who have shaped who I am and have contributed to me being here. I would like to finish by thanking the people who have had the greatest hand in that, that is, the people of Ginninderra. Thank you for your trust in me, your support of me and for sharing your stories with me, now and in the future. Your stories have and will become part of me. Madam Speaker, by being elected I will be bringing their stories and their voice with me every day to this Assembly. It is an honour and a privilege to do that.
I am a long way from that daunting plane flight on 17 January 2008. It is enormously humbling to be a representative of the home I love so much in the city I love so much. Thank you.
MR RAMSAY (Ginninderra—Attorney-General, Minister for Regulatory Services, Minister for the Arts and Community Events and Minister for Veterans and Seniors) (10.55), by leave: Madam Speaker, as I commence in this place I am mindful of the heritage and history of this land and its people. I acknowledge the traditional owners
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