Tribute - Retirement of Member for Montgomery

Thursday 10 April 2025

[7.00 p.m.]

Ms ARMITAGE (Launceston) - Mr President, first, I also wish the members for Nelson and Pembroke all the best. I should not say it, but there is Ben in the background who always tells me how terrible I looked at my election. I did reprimand him last time because he has told me so many times. I know how it feels and just how stressful it is.

Ms Rattray - I think they look alright.

Ms ARMITAGE - You will have to share that sort of information with them, Ben, in case. I wish you all the best, and the others. Like others, I feel that maybe the Hiscutt name will continue.

Leonie, we do love you in this place. I will look after the member for McIntyre for you because she does need looking after.

Ms Rattray - Thank you.

Ms ARMITAGE - You might remember I have that photo that we can keep of you and the member for McIntyre. I might share it with a few others later. I will show Casey and the family. I am sure they would appreciate it.

Leader, you have been fantastic. You have been patient and you have been helpful. You have been a great friend, and you have always had good humour. As has been mentioned, if we did not support a bill, you did not carry on. You asked us if we were likely to and when we said no, you did not nag or say please, please; you accepted that we did not agree with the government. You were very respectful of us as members. You have always been available; often we would ring you up, and you were always there. If we could not get you, you would always ring back. I think that is something that I have always found - you are an absolutely amazing Leader. You will be sadly missed. Our loss obviously is the family's gain. I do not know what Tania is going to do without Ben.

Ms Rattray - I wish you would not keep saying all that.

Ms ARMITAGE - I was sitting there only the other day and she took a call from Ben about something that he was buying and they were discussing how expensive it was and whether she could afford it. It was actually Ben out shopping for the member for McIntyre. Casey, if you get elected, you may have to pick up as well. I might have to actually get Bruce to start picking up some stuff for Tania when he is down.

At the end of the day, I do not know that the other place realises just how hard you work to get the bills through and to get the work done. You have been amazing for them. It is one of those things, I think, it is only when you are not here that they are actually going to realise just how much you did. How often does that actually happen with all of us?

I also used to appreciate many of your signs and symbols across the Chamber. That always brought a smile to our faces when we saw the little sign language come across. The humour that you had and how great you were to work with. I am very sorry that you are leaving ‑ it is not really too late for you to change your mind. Casey might not be very happy, but I do not think nominations have opened yet, have they? There is obviously still time.

Ben and the family are really lucky. Meg, I believe you are retiring as well. I guess there is champagne all round down there in the next few weeks. The grandchildren I know will be so happy to see Mima around the farm.

I hope you do not spend too much time watching us. I know the ex‑member for Hobart, I got a message from him the other night, after our 11.00 p.m. sitting to say he had been watching. I hope you do not spend too much time watching the Chamber.

I look forward to seeing you on your regular sojourn to the north to Festivale. If I do not see you much past then, maybe we will come down the north-west and catch up with you. I know that we will certainly see you in that first weekend in February. That is quite regular.

As I said, really sad that you are actually going. I know we really are going to miss you and I do not know if you know how much we really do care about you. If you thought of changing your mind, we really - in all seriousness, I am not going to say much more - everyone has said it, but we really do care about you greatly. You have been fantastic. You have been an amazing Leader, a wonderful friend; and do not be a stranger, you always have a bed at our house if you need to stay in Launceston.

Mrs Hiscutt - And a car parking spot?

Ms ARMITAGE - And a car parking spot, yes, as well. I look forward to the future and hearing about all your future adventures.