New tradition begins as former members deliver valedictory speech
Jeremy Hanson CSC MLA
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Monday 8 December 2025
The Assembly will observe the start of a new tradition on Tuesday 9 December as former member Elizabeth Kikkert returns to deliver a valedictory speech after being defeated in the 2024 election.
Members of parliament who retire before an election often deliver a valedictory statement: a farewell speech in which they can reflect on their time in office and thank family, colleagues, staff, and constituents for their support. Members who contest an election and lose their seat do not get this opportunity. A Deakin University report 
identified that this posed a barrier to closure for defeated members in their transition out of elected office.
Earlier in 2025, former Speaker Mark Parton MLA agreed to a request from the ACT Former Members' Association to introduce a practice of inviting former members defeated at election to deliver a valedictory speech at an event at the Assembly. This followed the creation of similar traditions in the South Australian and Victorian parliaments.
The new ACT tradition allows former members to deliver a valedictory speech of up to 20 minutes from their former seat on the chamber floor at an event which is not a proceeding of the Assembly.
Of the four members defeated at the 2024 election, only one - Elizabeth Kikkert (2018-24, independent, formerly Liberal) - accepted the former Speaker's invitation.
She will deliver her speech at 10am on Tuesday 9 December in the Assembly chamber. The event is open to the public who can watch the speeches from the chamber's public gallery.
Common questions
- Why are speeches given in the chamber? Though its main function is for parliamentary sittings, the Assembly chamber is also used as a venue for other non-procedural events, such as school programs, new citizens evenings, and seminars. Use of the chamber for non-procedural events is controlled by the Speaker.
- Why is no record of the speeches made public? Because the speeches occur at a normal event, not as part of an Assembly proceeding like a sitting day or committee hearing. Only proceedings are broadcast, video-recorded, transcribed, and published in Hansard. This doesn't mean the event is private: the public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Former members may choose to record or publish their speech, but this is their own choice. They are also personally liable for anything they say in their speech.
- How do you know that former members won't seek re-election? Former members' must opt-in to deliver a valedictory speech. We trust that they understand the tradition that valedictory statements mark the end of a member's career in the Assembly, and they will decide not to deliver one if they plan to stand for re-election.
Statement ends.
Media contact: Tom Duncan, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, (02) 6205 0191