Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

We are in now the adjournment debate. It is always a pleasure to follow the honourable member for Blair. The House, along with the member for Blair, would be happy to know that today in this place we have had none other than the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors. They have been here in the nation's capital all day. There are seven of them. I would like to formally welcome each and every one of them to Canberra.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk from the Brisbane City Council does an exceptional job of chairing the group. The Deputy Mayor of the City of Gold Coast, Donna Gates, is representing Tom Tate, the mayor. Tom is no stranger to Canberra, and neither is Donna. They are both welcome here whenever they arrive. Luke Smith was down only a couple of weeks ago and is here again in his capacity as Mayor of the Logan City Council. Welcome, Luke. I know you are doing an exceptional job for your community, Logan City. Greg Christensen, Mayor of the Scenic Rim Regional Council, is also here. Greg and I recently made some announcements of federal government funding in my electorate, and he is doing an exceptional job representing the diverse views of the good people of the Scenic Rim. Mayor Paul Antonio, of the Toowoomba Regional Council, is probably one of the longest-serving mayors in the group. Paul, congratulations to you for the way that you represent the good people of Toowoomba, and welcome to our nation's capital. The Deputy Mayor of Ipswich City Council, Paul Tully, is here representing Paul Pisasale. Councillor Tully has an innate ability to forecast elections. Before you look at TAB or Sportsbet to work out who is going to win the next election, if you know Councillor Tully, get on the phone or follow his website. He will put some good money on where the next election is going to go.

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