Page 1510 - Week 05 - Friday, 10 May 2019
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become a hallmark of government in the ACT, Rosemary Follett was elected our first Chief Minister. Rosemary was the first woman to lead an Australian state or territory government. Similarly, the Liberal Party’s first leader to win an election in the ACT and form government was Kate Carnell. Kate was Chief Minister when we became the first jurisdiction to apologise to the stolen generations.
I will confess that my first engagement with this place was in 1989, as a 16 year old, when the newly minted education minister, Paul Whalan, conducted a school visit to Lyneham High School, where in 1989 I was the school captain. This visit involved having to be up at 6 am for breakfast with the new minister, and then spending the day conducting a tour of our school.
I think that that was a first and interesting insight into what self-government would mean here in the ACT and that we would get a whole lot more attention from democratically elected members working more closely with our communities. I would have to say that that first encounter with Paul Whalan was the beginning of my engagement with politics. Not too many years later I joined the Labor Party and proceeded to work, as many members are aware, for former members who are in the gallery, including Ellnor Grassby, the late Terry Connolly and John Hargreaves, before being elected to this place.
We moved into this building in 1994. Some of the earliest issues passionately debated by the First Assembly included the establishment of a casino and fluoride in the water supply, reflecting the community’s concerns at that time. Since then 80 people have had the honour of serving as members of the ACT Legislative Assembly, and 30 of them have had the privilege of serving in executive government.
I would like to acknowledge everyone who has served their community in this place, particularly those who have passed away and are unable to celebrate this milestone with us today. I would also like to particularly acknowledge the six women and men who have served in the role of Chief Minister before me.
This role involves taking on the responsibility of both a state premier and a capital city lord mayor simultaneously. From one moment to the next, the issues to which we are asked to turn our attention can stretch from international, national and regional to the most local of matters. There is perhaps no better example of the diversity of issues that we face than what you hear on Chief Minister’s talkback on the ABC each fortnight. I believe it is the most interesting job in Australian politics. Each Chief Minister has brought their own style and approach to the role. Today I would like to acknowledge their contribution to our city.
Madam Speaker, 30 years ago Canberra’s population was around 270,000. Today it is over 420,000. Within a decade we will reach half a million people. More and more people are choosing to make Canberra and the region their home. We proudly host the seat of commonwealth government and we are, of course, the home to the Australian public service, something we must value and protect.
We are a place where intelligent, creative and dedicated Australians can make a lasting contribution to our nation. We have also developed a reputation for being an
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