DEBATES - Tuesday 16 June 1998

ministerial record of service of some 6 years is a quality of life for her family, her local community worthy legacy any politician would be proud to own, and people in our community needing assistance. I but to have made his contribution as a Cabinet would like to mention some of her background in minister and Senator representing the Northern community involvement, as it indicates her Territory makes his achievements infinitely more knowledge and understanding of Territory life and impressive. The tyranny of distance faced by Bob in issues. At the time of her preselection, Ms Crossin discharging his duties is a challenge that lesser men was chairperson of the Working Women’s Centre, and women would have been unable to sustain. deputy convenor of the Women’s Advisory Council, and a member of the Women’s Cancer Prevention I acknowledge and pay tribute to the selfless Committee, the Birthing Services Advisory Council commitment Bob Collins demonstrated to the and the Industrial Relations Territory during his term as a Senator. It is a fact Society. The list goes on. that a heavy personal toll is paid by the families of dedicated public representatives. Accordingly, I take In closing, I state that will this opportunity to acknowledge publicly and to represent all Territorians in . She takes record our thanks to Bob’s family - Rosemary, with her to Canberra a record for standing up for Robert, Elizabeth and Daniel. Bob Collins people and for caring about issues affecting people’s represented the Northern Territory Labor Party with lives. She takes with her to Canberra professional considerable distinction, and we wish him a long, skills and abilities that will have her on the front foot healthy, and happy retirement. from the start. She takes with her to Canberra a fierce loyalty to the Northern Territory. She takes Today’s nomination of Patricia Crossin is another with her to Canberra an ordinary family’s first for the Northern Territory Labor Party. When understanding of making their way and raising Trish Crossin takes her seat in the , children in increasingly difficult times. She is well it will be the first time a woman has represented the placed to serve as the Labor Party’s Northern Territory at the federal level. I am proud of Northern Territory Senator. Trish Crossin will perform her Territory Labor’s record. We had our first Cabinet duties as an energetic and committed servant of the minister in Bob Collins and now we have the first people, and I am delighted to propose her woman Senator in Trish Crossin. Trish Crossin will nomination to this Assembly. represent all Territorians in Canberra. She has been an active member of the community and professional Mr BAILEY (Wanguri): Madam Speaker, I life of the Northern Territory for many years. second the nomination.

Trish is a former teacher and, at the time of her Madam SPEAKER: Is there any further preselection, was the Northern Territory secretary of proposal? There being no further proposal, the time the National Tertiary Education Union. Her teaching for proposal has expired. Does any honourable career began in the Catholic school system in member wish to speak to the motion? Victoria in 1978. Between 1981 and 1989, Trish was employed by the Northern Territory Department Mr STONE (Chief Minister): Madam Speaker, of Education as a teacher at Yirrkala school, I rise to speak on behalf of the Northern Territory Nhulunbuy school and schools in Darwin. From government and to wish Trish Crossin well as she 1989 to 1996, Trish Crossin was an employee of the takes her place as the Labor Party nominee for the Miscellaneous Workers Union and later the Senate. Madam Speaker, you will recall that, at the Australian Education Union. Trish Crossin’s union time when you were the government nominee to fill and teaching background provides her with the skills the position as Speaker, you were subjected to a most needed to fight for Territorians in Canberra. scurrilous and vitriolic attack. That was a matter of great disappointment to me because I believe these At a personal level, Trish is married, and has debates present an opportunity for sensible comment, 4 children, aged from 2 years to 23 years. As a delivered in a dispassionate way. They are moments member o f the Labor Party for 17 years, Trish has of history, and should be treated as such. I promised been involved at every level of party politics from myself on that occasion that, for so long as I was the local branch to national conferences. She is a Chief Minister, I would never engage in the type of national committee member of Emily’s List which is grotty behaviour that was so evident from the other a Labor women’s fund-raising organisation. side of the Chamber. Ms Crossin has been an active member of her local branch which covers the Leanyer area. She has Members on this side genuinely wish Trish served her party at a Territory level on management Crossin well as she takes her place in the Senate. and policy committees. Members: Hear, hear! Prior to her preselection, Ms Crossin committed a considerable amount of her time to improving the Mr STONE: It would be remiss of me if I did

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