This whole year has been gearing up for the final sitting fortnight of the Seventh Legislative Assembly for the ACT. (Read, Local Government.)
A sitting week comprises of three days, two of which are for Government business and the Wednesday, (middle day) is for Private Members business. A sitting fortnight is the same joy, twice over. So I had four days in two weeks to make sure everything relating to the Justice portfolio was able to be agreed by Cabinet, debated on the floor and passed into legislation. It was going to be a hard ask as the tabled Budget also needed to be debated and it was estimated to take 15 hours (over two days worth of "sitting" time) in itself.
This would be difficult. An Appropriation debate have been known to go til 5:00 am on occassion.
So, what happened on the first Sitting Day, I hear you ask? (OK, you didn't. Indulge me.)
Well, the Opposition raise a Motion Of No Confidence in the Chief Minister.
So? What does that mean?
Politically, it means that they want to point out in a most public way that the Members of the Assembly have "no confidence" in the Chief and she is then withdrawn from the position.
This was never going to happen as the Government has the numbers and the Minority Party, the Greens, have an agreement that they won't support such a Motion. So basically it is grandstanding prior to the Election.
They could have chosen to "censure" her. that debate can take place on the same day.
HOWEVER, when a motion of No Confidence is moved, the Assembly rises for seven calendar days and then resumes to debate the No Confidence Motion.
My four days for Government Business has just been whittled down to two, and there is already a two day debate planned!!!! FFFFUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Sigh.
So, for those precious three remaining sitting days, I needed to be on deck from 8:00 am to 1:00 am three days in a row. I feel a bit crackered now, but ... Job done.
On a bittersweet note to a hectic and ludicrous Sitting period, my favourite ol' boy from the House is retiring and gave his valedictory speech to the chamber on the last day.
I was in attendance, along with his family and many others.
I was touched that he mentioned me by name, (third in a group of six named from a field of twenty-five who held the position). Later he came up and gave me a big cuddle and said "But you were always my favourite." As a consummate politician, I am sure he said that to all of us.
Vale, John Hargreaves, vale.
You had a colorful career and you accomplished many achievements. Introducing the first human rights compliant prison in Australia was huge.
However, You had some gob-smackingly horrible lows. I was there for most of those, (heart attack, depression), though I did miss being with you when you were newly appointed Police Minister and got done for driving over the limit.
You achieved the one thing you set out to change from the day you entered politics, you got a ban through on fireworks being sold and used in the ACT. You vowed to ban fireworks when you rescued what became your granddaughter's cat from arseholes that had poured petrol on her as a kitten and were trying to light crackers up her bum.
I love you, Johno, and I always will.
