Page 5192 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
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the new addition to our family. It is a bit late, but let us say that Sophia’s birth was more conveniently located at the beginning of November. Piper arrived as a perfect little baby—10 fingers, 10 toes—and is, as we often deem her in our house, a unicorn. She is that mythical child that eats, sleeps and is absolutely content with life and causes very little trouble.
One of the challenges this year, and I would advise members against trying this, is chairing estimates with a three-week-old baby as both your staff members either fall ill or have family matters that take them away for the entirety of estimates.
Ms Cheyne: You were ably assisted by a good deputy chair.
MR WALL: And a not too modest one at all. It was, let us say, a slightly more challenging experience for estimates this year than it was in the year previous. Credit must be given for the prior preparations that were made by my staff, Kate Davis and Sally Skuse particularly, and also Jenna Drewitt, who was present in the office for part of the year. They have been the core team. I particularly thank Kate, who has been with me since my election in 2012. Without our staff, we would not be able to do the jobs that we do here.
I have now had the privilege of being the whip for the opposition for two years. It sometimes puts us at odds with our colleagues but overwhelmingly it is an absolute joy and pleasure to advocate on their behalf through admin and procedure, and on a daily basis in sitting weeks, engaging with the government whip, to whom I did say last year that I obviously had not done my job well enough if she still liked me at the end of the year. I tried a slightly different approach this year, Madam Speaker; apparently you do catch more bees with honey.
Surprising to say, Tara and I do at times get on, which makes the job that much easier and—
Mr Barr: Your secret is safe with us.
Ms Cheyne: You are so generous. You are as generous as last year. I cannot wait for next year.
MR WALL: This is the point in the term where everyone is at peak love-in. From here on in it degrades to an election.
I should add Mr Rattenbury and the role that he carries out on admin and procedure. It is, as chaired by Madam Speaker, a very collaborative committee, and the tenor that that committee operates in is similar to what we have seen with the preparation for the integrity commission. Often there are times when we have to go in to bat for our own sides but overwhelmingly the work that is done in that space is done for the benefit of and in the interests of the parliament rather than individuals.
I would like to place on the record again my great and continuing appreciation to all the electors in Brindabella for the opportunity to continue representing them. Likewise I thank the members of the Liberal Party, particularly the branch in
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