Thursday, 27 August 2026

 The PRESIDENT (10:02): I seek leave to make a members statement from the chair.

Leave granted.

The PRESIDENT: Today I want to acknowledge the excellent electorate office staff I have worked with over the years: Vicki Setches, who is a superstar and has one of the best political radars I have known and a determination to get good things done; likewise Kirsten Vernon, who has an amazing eye for detail and a calm demeanour when a calm demeanour is needed; Peter Harris, who has an enormous heart and will go to all ends to assist a constituent; Alex Joannides, who is the best person I have known to answer an office phone, showing a great amount of empathy and patience; James Gan, who I believe has unlimited potential, excellent values and knows what it is like to do it tough; Adam Rae and Simon D’Costa, two young people that work and live their values; Alistair McInnes, a magnificent asset – I only regret not getting him on board earlier; and Cathy Hammond, someone who knows what it is like to care for someone with a disability and has shown us that the love of a parent can move mountains. I also want to give a shout-out to Peter Cook. The two of us have spent hours together laughing – mainly at my jokes, but his jokes are not bad – and talking about 1980s rock bands. Cookie is the only friend I have that has hosted Countdown. I have definitely fallen in love with a not-so-modern rock star.