Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, too late! He taught me what being a practical Liberal is all about. To my Aunty Vicki and cousins Anthony, Vicki, Dom, Teresa, Maree, Francis and Mus, thank you for your ongoing support. To my favourite mother-in-law, Cheryl, thank you for always being there for us and supporting us through this journey. And to my aunt and uncle, Kerri and Barry, you're not only aunt and uncle to Rachel but fantastic campaign people as well. I also acknowledge my friend and mentor who is no longer with us, Fiona Ogilvey O'Donnell.

I've been fortunate as a lifelong resident of Casey and a volunteer with the Liberal Party to have a great example to follow in my friend and predecessor, Tony Smith. Not only does Tony leave behind an incredible legacy as the member for Casey but his time as Speaker is also a towering example of the integrity required and expected of a member of parliament. The example set by Tony both in Casey and in this House is one I am proud to follow and determined to match. To the Casey FEC, led by my campaign chair, Alister Osborn, thank you for trusting me to represent you and for supporting me during the campaign. I thank Bryan and Maria McCarthy, also from the campaign team, for their support not only during the campaign but also in all my time in the Liberal Party—I'm so glad you're here today. To Ben Zerbe, Paul Molluso, Michael McKinell, Gareth Ward, Florence Lindhouse, Tom Sterium and Rocky Pitasi, thank you for your support during the campaign. I give thanks to my state colleagues Catherine Burnett Wake; Bridget Vallence and her husband, Ben; Cindy McLeish; and David Hodgett. I also thank my friends Frank Greenstein, Holly Byrne, Sean Armistead, Nick Thodos, Senator Jane Hume, Senator James Paterson and Josh Frydenberg for their support.

Thank you to my colleagues for the warm welcome, and to those ministers at the time who came and supported me during the campaign. To my friends and new Victorian colleagues Zoe McKenzie and Keith Wolahan, it is a unique journey stepping into the shoes of such well respected and long-serving Liberal members, as we did. I was honoured to be able to share the campaign with you both, and I look forward to our next chapter in this House together.

As a nation, we face significant challenges, but what nation throughout history has not? As a nation, we like all nations have significant opportunities. The question for us is: will we let circumstances define our future or will we define our future? When my time representing the people of Casey ends I hope to be remembered as a member who stayed connected to and delivered for his community, someone who recognised the central challenges we have as a nation and who played a constructive role in solving them for current and future generations. I want to be a member who pursues his convictions without wavering while adjusting course when circumstances dictate. I want to be a leader who trusts individuals to make choices in their own lives. I want to be a member who upholds the dignity and honour of the role I am so privileged to hold.

Mr Speaker and members of the House, I thank you for your indulgence. In finishing, I take the instructions of Roman Emperor and stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, who 2,000 years ago confided to his personal diary: 'Waste no more time talking about what a good politician should do. Just be one.'

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