Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

who is not quite as young, yes—who is technically a member of my staff, but is so much more. Barry has been there from the start: my campaign manager in 1998 and a source of advice and support on just about everything ever since. Without the benefit of his experience, the last 15 years probably would not have been as successful and they definitely would not have been as much fun.

We had a function a month or so ago where I thanked the branch members and Labor Party supporters, including the National Union of Retired Workers, for their hard work and belief in me over all these years. I will never be able to thank them enough, and will be beside them in the coming months while we take up the fight once again to keep Capricornia in Labor's hands. We have been inspired by my good friend Bill Byrne, the state member for Rockhampton, who showed us how to keep the faith in tough times when he won against the odds last year.

Canberra took some getting used to in the early years, so I feel very lucky to have been taken under the wing of Michelle O'Byrne and Jane O'Dwyer. We shared what must have been the coldest house in Canberra for those first few years. Literally, I was Queenslander moving into a house with no central heating, but Jane and Michelle more than made up for that. I was very happy when Jane met her husband Marco, mainly because he is a great bloke but also because he is a fellow Queenslander and he insisted on moving to a house with proper central heating, which was set at a constant 25 degrees. In recent years I have stayed with my sister Heidi and my brother-in-law Chris. It really is my second home and I appreciate the welcome I get each Sunday night, and their brilliant cooking.

I have spent too little time with my friends outside the parliament, but it has been so great to know they have been there supporting me no matter what. My friend Majella has truly special place in my life because she has been part of every important thing that has happened to me for the past 20 years. My mum and my other sister Sascha and her family have been a constant source of support. I have always thought of my dad's death in 1981 as a defining moment in my life, but in truth it was the love and security that mum gave to my sisters and me in the years that followed that has really made me who I am. I hope to be a calmer and more thoughtful daughter when this is over.

In my first speech I thanked my husband, Craig, and said I could not have done it without him, by which I meant campaign for a year and win the seat. Well five elections and two children later, what can I possibly say to adequately express what he has done for me and for our family? He keeps this show on the road every single day and still has time to make sure we are having fun.

Patrick and Alexandra, this is as much an ending for you as it is for me. Those years of bringing babies to Canberra were extremely stressful at the time, but they feel very special now and our family will always treasure the way we were made to feel so welcome by colleagues, by the staff of the parliament and especially the ever-patient and friendly Comcar drivers. The other person who gave me those precious years with my babies in Canberra is Paula Austin, who was our nanny for about a day before becoming a much loved part of our family. Patrick and Alexandra also insisted that I thank our dog, Maisie. In a contest for the affections of my children I would not like to test my numbers against Maisie, but now is my chance to turn that around.

Colleagues, I thank you sincerely for being here today and throughout my parliamentary career. I might not be nominating for this election, but I will be campaigning for Labor and I wish every one of you on this side of the House the victory that you deserve.

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