Page 2312 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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Our roads and footpaths have deteriorated. Our tree canopy has been reduced by 30 per cent. School buses have been cut, and the overall satisfaction with our public transport network has hit a three-year low.
The government continues to bring in record revenue. Yet they have sunk us into $4 billion worth of debt, with absolutely no plan to pay it off. Residential rates bills have almost doubled and rates revenue has almost tripled since Andrew Barr became Treasurer. Despite his promises, stamp duty is yet to be abolished. As if that were not bad enough, just today he has announced further rates increases of 20 per cent.
This old and tired Labor-Greens government continues to let Canberrans down every single day. Canberra deserves better. In less than two months, I am confident, Canberrans will vote for better and elect a Canberra Liberal government.
It is with heavy hearts today that we farewell Mrs Dunne. The party room will most certainly miss her wit, wisdom and wealth of knowledge. Vicki, you said earlier that you owe an awful lot to the Liberal Party, but I know that I can speak on behalf of party members when I say that the Canberra Liberals owe an awful lot to you and an awful lot to Lyle. You have both made an enormous contribution to our great party over many decades now and you continue to do so through this election campaign. For that, we are forever grateful.
Caroline, we have a shared passion for public transport and Canberra’s public transport network. However, I am sorry to say that we never did manage to get your vote. I do, however, wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do next.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me over this term, including all of my current and former staff: James, Georgia, Isaac, Lizzie, Samuel, James, Adam, Nicola, Chanelle, Elizabeth, Max and Liam—there have been a few of them. To all of the staff at our divisional office, who help and support us to do our jobs, thank you—Josh, Tamara, Amanda, Yasmina and Max in particular.
Thanks to Steve, Deb, Ausilia and the rest of the Coe team for all that you do to support us every day; to my many dedicated, committed friends and volunteers, including Duncan, Adam, Jen, Lauren, Steve, Nathan, Johnno, Gareth, Alex, Adam, Gracie, Mary, Simon, Mehmet, Ian, Alyssa, Steve, Luke, Jade, Alessia, Jackie, Andrew, Ellen and Rob for all that you continue to do; and to the many other Canberra Liberal Party members who are working tirelessly to end this government’s reign.
I thank all of the Legislative Assembly staff, who go above and beyond to help us and serve our community by facilitating democracy.
Finally, to all of my party room colleagues, I certainly never imagined that I would regularly be leaving party room meetings with sore ribs from laughing so hard. Opposition may be absolutely rubbish but you guys have made it bearable.
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