Page 2272 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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always amazed by the number of people, often very vulnerable people, sometimes unlikely people, who confidentially reach out to her because of the trust that Vicki has earned. Vicki is staying in Canberra and, I am sure, will be available as a mentor and sounding board for me and for others. I think she has much more to contribute to Canberra. It just will not be as a legislator.
Vicki, thank you for the sacrifices you have made. Thank you for your advocacy for democracy, for liberal values, for faith communities, for families, for Belconnen and for Canberra at large. I will miss you. We will miss you.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (4.31), by leave: Mrs Dunne, I was thinking about what I would say today. We have almost nothing in common. We have disagreed on nearly every issue that has emerged.
Mrs Dunne: The Brumbies?
MR BARR: Yes, I am coming to that. You have shadowed me in many portfolios from when I started in this place and Jon Stanhope made me education minister, during that infamous era. I almost thought at times you might have even felt sorry for me on a couple of occasion, but you quickly disabused me of that.
You have been this Assembly’s longest serving member in this term of the parliament. You have held many important positions within your own party and within this place. Yes, you were a very demanding Speaker. I can confirm that. But I am pleased that Jon Stanhope remains the only Chief Minister who has been suspended from the service of this house. I think we all know why.
Mrs Dunne: Didn’t Doszy kick you out?
MR BARR: No. I do not think I was kicked out.
Mrs Dunne: I thought you were.
MR BARR: No. I draw on the very important and authoritative document, “The long and the short of it”, that the Clerk has prepared on this Assembly.
In contemplating those areas where we have agreed I think you were right the first time on light rail. You were ahead of your time in that regard.
Throughout your time in this place you have been a compassionate contributor for the conservative side of politics. I have never doubted, on any issue, where you stand. I think all of us, even though we have disagreed with you on many occasions, sometimes bitterly, sometimes very passionately on the floor of this place, all respect where you are coming from and why you hold the positions you do.
We do not always agree. At times that disagreement, on reflection, over the last 15 years has got more personal than it perhaps should have. I have reflected on that
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