Page 4216 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 24 October 2017
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One of the things—and it has been mentioned—that has marked him as an elected member is the fact that, when he sets out to get a result on a particular issue, it does not matter whether it is big picture or desperately small. Steve always puts his weight behind every fight that he is involved in, whether it be fighting for a constituent to have the footpath fixed outside of their home, fighting to end the practice of using diesel to mark lines on sporting grounds, or fighting for justice for the victims of dog attacks.
I have been in this place for only a short time, but the day that sticks in my memory the most vividly is the day that my mate Steve took on the Chief Minister and stuck up for young Jack Hartigan. I will remember that speech for a long time. I am sure that Mr Barr will remember it for a long time as well.
I focus briefly on Mr Doszpot’s sense of humour. During my time in here serving alongside Steve, he has cracked me up on countless occasions with his absurd understated humour. Unless you know him really well, there are occasions when you think that he is being deadly serious. That grin then starts to creep over his face.
It has been my pleasure to serve with you, Steve. Coming into this place a little over a year ago with no working knowledge of the committee system, I luckily found myself on the environment, transport and city services committee with Steve as the deputy chair. He showed me the ropes in a way that nobody else could.
Lastly, I pay tribute to the way my friend, Steve Doszpot, has conducted himself in this really tough period. Sitting before me here is a very proud Hungarian-Australian. He has displayed enormous courage in the way that he has dealt with this last year. I know that he will continue to do just that. Steve, thanks for everything, big guy. Thank you.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Women and Minister for Sport and Recreation) (11.31), by leave: I will be brief as well. This place gives you the opportunity to meet people that you would not ordinarily get the chance to. Unlike what appears to be the rest of Canberra, I did not know Steve before I came here. But I had the chance to get to know him quite well. On the scrutiny committee you do spend a lot of time scrutinising not only government bills but also each other. That was the chance for us to get to know each other a little bit better as a new member and a more experienced member in this place. I enjoyed the time that I had on both the JACS and education committees.
We have all talked about the relationships that we have built with Dozzie—sorry, Dozzie? Is that OK?—particularly in the sports portfolio. People have talked about your doggedness in pursuing things. It was because of that doggedness that I was prepared for questions around diesel line marking. The sports ministers before me had those same questions, but I was ready for them because I knew that you would ask them again in one of my first hearings. I am sure it will not be the end of the question of diesel line markings.
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