The valedictory speech delivered by outgoing Bellarine MP Lisa Neville in Parliament earlier this week:<\/b><\/p>\n
The decision to not recontest the seat of Bellarine was a very tough one.<\/p>\n
Despite being a member of the Labor Party for 35 years, involved in student politics and being passionate about politics and communities \u2013 I didn\u2019t have a driving ambition to be a Member of Parliament.<\/p>\n
20 years on as a MP\u2013 16 in Government – 12 as a Minister and 4 as a Shadow- I can truly say I have loved the journey. \u00a0It\u2019s been a privilege and honour to have had an opportunity to be part of people\u2019s lives, There are very few jobs where you can drive policy, reform and legislative change \u2013 changes that have a lasting impact on communities.<\/p>\n
Now it’s hard to say goodbye \u2013 Even in the toughest of times I have loved the job – but you need to know when it\u2019s time to go \u2013 for me, \u00a0that is now \u2013for health and family reasons. \u00a0I\u2019m getting to do that on my own terms, which is very special and not something everyone gets the chance to do.<\/p>\n
There were times in 2021 when I did not think I would get that chance and Crohns would be the ultimate winner. I have been lucky that with great medical care over last 34 years I have been able to do a pressured job whilst managing this silent autoimmune disease \u2013 many have not been as lucky.<\/p>\n
When it really caught up with me in 2020\/21 it was through great care from my GP Hugh Seward, my surgeon Darrin Goodall Wilson and Gastroenterologist Lauren Beswick that I was able to return to my role as a minister and MP and be able stand here today.\u00a0 I hope that I can continue to raise awareness of this disease in the years ahead.<\/p>\n
I never imagined when I won the marginal seat of Bellarine \u2013 and there were a couple of redistributions that made it even more marginal \u2013 that I would go on and win 5 elections.\u00a0 I thank the communities of Bellarine for their continuing support and belief in me through those years.<\/p>\n
I had the privilege of working with some of the best people, being part of the lives of so many, helping them with their issues and working with communities to deliver better services and infrastructure. It was a team effort. \u00a0I am lucky to call so many people – across the communities -friends.<\/p>\n
Bellarine is a diverse group of communities with different needs and voices.\u00a0 I have always worked with them individually as well as collectively to achieve historic funding into services and infrastructure.\u00a0 From schools, emergency services, ambulance stations, surf clubs and sporting and community facilities.<\/p>\n
The stand outs:<\/p>\n
For the full list you will need to look back over hansard for last 20 years.<\/p>\n
Of course being a Bellarine MP also meant pushing for critical regional services \u2013 health services like the significant improvements at Barwon Health like the Womens and childrens, upgrades to the emergency department, Cancer Centre, McKellar Center and Mental Health services.<\/p>\n
Rebuilding of Kardinia Park stadium with the final stage almost complete has been a highlight as was our funding to rebuild Geelong Arts Centre.<\/p>\n
I was lucky and honoured to be a front-bencher for 16 years \u2013 12 in Government as a Minister.\u00a0 It\u2019s extraordinary to be a critical part of key decisions, policy and legislative reform of the Government.<\/p>\n
In my first term as a minister, I thank both Steve Bracks and John Brumby for their faith in me to become the first minister for mental health and to take on the challenging and rewarding portfolios of child protection, disability, and aged care.<\/p>\n
I hope that the first Victorian Mental Health Strategy and the voices of so many who had lived experiences ultimately contributed to the Royal Commission that is seeing changes from the top to the bottom of the system.<\/p>\n
The last, almost 8 years have been some of my most rewarding as a Minister.<\/p>\n
I started as Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water.<\/p>\n
Water was a new area for me including the complexities of the Murray Darling Basin.\u00a0 I had my first meeting of the MDBA ministerial council within the first week.\u00a0 I had a crash course \u2013 and from that moment – I loved it \u2013once water gets in your blood it never leaves.<\/p>\n
I had many a South Australian Minister yell and swear at me about our position on the basin plan.<\/p>\n
I am the longest serving water minister in Victoria and during my time a number of significant reforms stand out aside from the MDB.<\/p>\n
In May 2016 the position of Police Minister came up.<\/p>\n
I remember the call and subsequent meeting with the Premier. \u00a0I am forever grateful that Daniel saw in me the ability to take on the police portfolio at a very challenging time in terms of law and order.\u00a0 Thank you for that Daniel and for your support in that role.<\/p>\n
I quickly realised I loved the Police portfolio. I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to be both the first female police minister but also longest serving.<\/p>\n
Through that 6 plus years as Minister I was able to deliver long term service and legislative reform for the police.<\/p>\n
This was about modernising Victoria Police to ensure it would meet the challenges of the future and to drive service delivery transformation – embedding local community policing whilst ensuring police had the specialist capabilities to deal with our more challenging crimes and harm.<\/p>\n
There were tough times \u2013 times that made me realise the impact the job had on so many members.\u00a0 The Bourke Street attack in 2017- I witnessed not just the grief of those who lost loved ones, and that of the broader community but also the impact on our first responders especially our police.\u00a0 I saw the scars these events leave.<\/p>\n
I also joined with the Victoria police family to mourn 5 police officers killed in the line of duty. \u00a0All of us were reminded of how dangerous policing is every day. I also saw the strength of the Victoria police family – looking after each other at the worst of times.\u00a0 A true definition of family.<\/p>\n
Victoria Police- from its exec command, non-sworn members and to those members on the ground – is a proud organisation and in my opinion, one of Victoria\u2019s finest.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a privilege working with them all \u2013 thank you to Graham Ashton and Shane Patton and their teams and to the Police Association.<\/p>\n
Following the 2018 election, me with laryngitis, the Premier asked me to take on the role of Emergency Services. \u00a0I of course couldn\u2019t say no. \u00a0This is a rewarding, challenging and at times heartbreaking portfolio.<\/p>\n
Over the course of 12 years as a Minister I played a role in supporting communities following bushfires \u2013 including Black Saturday, Lancefield, Wye River and the recent Black summer fires.<\/p>\n
From the courage of our emergency services family and from those communities affected. \u00a0Bushfires ravage not just houses and environment, but people\u2019s wellbeing and sometimes lives.\u00a0 During these times, I learnt firsthand about fear, pain, heartache, resilience and courage from those communities I worked with.<\/p>\n
Since those bushfires in 19\/20 we have faced an unprecedented once in a hundred year pandemic.<\/p>\n
As a member of Crisis Committee of Cabinet and Co-ordinating Ministers Committee – it was a difficult period for all our community and the enormity of the decisions we had to consider every day is something that will stay with me.\u00a0 Every decision made was a result of research, health advice and discussions and feedback from the community, health professionals and stakeholders.<\/p>\n
During my public life, that has undoubtedly been the most intense of all experiences.\u00a0 I want to thank my colleagues who were members of those committees \u2013 we challenged each other, we challenged decisions and we acted at all times with the needs of Victorians at the forefront of our minds.<\/p>\n
Touched on areas just lightly and not everything \u2013 so much to say – but I need to move onto thankyous \u2013 there are many.<\/p>\n
To my mum (who I lost in 2009) and Dad who set me up to be able to take on the challenges I did.<\/p>\n
Thankyou to all my Geelong colleagues \u2013 we have worked as a team and achieved so much.\u00a0 Special thank you to Richard Marles and John Eren who encouraged and supported me to run for the seat of Bellarine.<\/p>\n
Thank the Australian Labor Party for the opportunity to be a Member of Parliament.<\/p>\n
I want to thank my Cabinet colleagues and caucus colleagues \u2013 it\u2019s been an incredible group of people to share this journey with.<\/p>\n
I want to thank Daniel Andrews for his friendship and support well before I even became the member for Bellarine, but especially since 2014 when he became leader and thank his office especially Lissie, Ben and Jessie for their support.<\/p>\n
Thank all my ministerial staff over the years- I was blessed to have so many great people. \u00a0Especially thank David Griffith who was my chief of staff for most of the last 8 years and in my view has been one of the best chiefs of staff going around Government.<\/p>\n
To Geoff Fraser \u2013 what a gem \u2013 was a joy having you as part of the team.<\/p>\n
I also want to thank my driver Cathy Buchanan who drove me for almost 12 years \u2013 we shared so much of our public and personal lives – she was and is part of my family. To my EA Karen Yeo thank you for keeping my life on track.<\/p>\n
Thank all my media advisers who were part of helping me manage the challenging issues.<\/p>\n
Thank my electorate staff over the years I especially want to thank Kylie Rawson who has been the most amazing office manager always ensuring the community got the support they needed.<\/p>\n
I want to thank Sharon, Denise, Kim, Parker and the others over the years.<\/p>\n
A special thanks to Sue Spence who I have known and worked with since 1994 – she worked in my EO and Ministerial office and provided unquestioning support and friendship<\/p>\n
I want to thank Ian Trezise \u2013 a Geelong colleague a friend and wise counsel and my electorate officer for last 8 years.\u00a0\u00a0 Who would have thought we would have ended up such close friends.<\/p>\n
To Jo Duncan \u2013 whom I sat next to in my first term who -I joke – taught me nothing- although claims she taught me everything I know \u2013 your friendship has been so important and helped me manage the ups and the downs of the job.<\/p>\n
To my very good friends \u2013 Gayle, Colette, Vic, Geoff, John, Merri, Harriet my cousin Louise, Tony and Campbell – who have heard all the good and the bad of the job and have always been by my side \u2013 this job can be lonely – all of those above have made it less so.<\/p>\n
I have had the pleasure of working with some incredibly hardworking members of the public service over the 12 years and as a local MP with the local departments.\u00a0 I\u2019ve enjoyed the debate, the laughs and the work we have done together to put Victorians first and deliver best outcomes \u2013 John Bradley, Helen Vaughan, the water team, Rebecca Falkingham, Corrie McKenzie, the police team and Emma Cassar, Kate Fitzgerald and Andrew Crisp \u2013 I have learnt so much from you.<\/p>\n
To the amazing staff of the parliament \u2013 library, IT, catering, attendants, security, PSO etc etc \u2013 thank you for all you do and the support you provide to all of us.<\/p>\n
I wish Alison Marchant all the best for the upcoming election \u2013 I am confident she will represent the communities of Bellarine exceptionally well.<\/p>\n
And finally and most important to me I would like to thank my son Sam.<\/p>\n
It is hard to believe that when I entered this parliament 20 years ago he was a little boy, just 6 years old.<\/p>\n
Today I proudly look to the gallery and he is here supporting me as a mature young man.<\/p>\n
I am so very proud of him and what he is achieving in his life.<\/p>\n
As I said in my inaugural speech \u2013 Sam continues to show me the true meaning of compassion and love and has always made sure I kept my feet firmly on the ground<\/p>\n
I thank him for the sacrifices he has made that has enabled me to embrace my political career<\/p>\n
Now is the time for me to repay him with much more of my time, support and attention (whether he likes it or not)<\/p>\n
In saying that, I do now look forward to the future surrounded by my family and good friends and to a different life outside this Parliament<\/p>\n
Of course I will continue to contribute to the community in one way or another.\u00a0 Community Service has always been and will continue to be very much part of who I am.<\/p>\n