Joy Burch MLA, Labor Member for Brindabella (Tuggeranong) and the longest-serving Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, announced this week that she would retire from politics in October 2024.
“It has been deeply rewarding to serve the people of Canberra, in particular in my electorate of Brindabella, but it is time for me to focus on things outside of politics, including my grandchildren, of which five have been born during my time in this place,” Ms Burch said.
“It is also a good time to step aside and provide an opportunity for someone else with a passion for their community to have this wonderful experience of being able to serve the people of Canberra and contribute to the important work of the Assembly.”
Ms Burch was first elected in 2008, and re-elected in 2012, 2016, and 2020.
She held several ministerial portfolios: she was Minister for Women and for Multicultural Affairs (2009–15); Community Services, and Ageing (2009–12); Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (2011–12); Arts, and Racing and Gaming (2011–16); Children and Young People (2012–14); Disability, and Education and Training (2012–16); and Police and Emergency Services (2014–15). She has been Speaker since 2016.
Ms Burch championed the ACT being the first trial site for the launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme; opened the first Project Independence property providing home ownership for people with disability; secured funding for the Ricky Stuart House Respite Centre; increased STEM opportunities in Canberra schools, including through the purpose built STEM centre at Caroline Chisholm High School; introduced compulsory English for Year 12 students; brought CIT to Tuggeranong; and helped to secure a permanent home at the Canberra Glassworks for Brodburger.
As Arts Minister, Ms Burch facilitated the relocation of Megalo Print Studio to refurbished premises in Kingston. As minister for housing and disability, she lobbied for the first-of-its-kind, women in construction project; two purpose-built homes for people living with disabilities were constructed in 2014.
Ms Burch served two terms as Speaker. She presented the Legislative Assembly’s first remonstrance to the Federal Parliament following the Senate rejection of the Assembly passing laws on Territory Rights. She was the first Speaker to open the Assembly using traditional Ngunnawal language after working closely with the United Ngunnawal Elders Council and a linguist to learn the acknowledgement in traditional Ngunnawal dialect. She championed the rights of Members in upholding the constitutional importance of parliamentary privilege.
Mark Parton, Canberra Liberals MLA for Brindabella, said it had been a pleasure to serve as Deputy Speaker under Ms Burch.
“It’s difficult to make friends on the other side of the chamber, but I’m happy to say that Joy Burch MLA is a friend of mine,” he wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for your service and looking forward to the next 14 months. TBH, I’m sorta disappointed that I can’t take you on at the ballot box in ’24 … can’t believe you beat me last time.”
In 2022, Ms Burch was elected Small Branches Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. In this role, she strengthened relationships with parliaments across the Commonwealth, including through the ACT’s twinning arrangement with the parliament of Kiribati.
At the 2020 Assembly election, Ms Burch received the highest vote of any Member in her electorate of Brindabella, which a spokesperson said was a testament to her grassroots and tangible community engagement.
Ms Burch said she always felt most comfortable working and advocating for her local community.
“The Assembly is undoubtedly a place of big reform and legislative outcomes, yet it is also a wonderful parliament in that Members have the opportunity to truly engage with and work for their local community. It has been through these interactions that I have met members of my community who have approached me needing what might seem like small things in the scheme of the broader work we do, but are actually needs that make a significant difference in improving their day-to-day lives.”
In 2020, Ms Burch advocated for ACT Health to purchase boots and bars to support clubfooted babies, on behalf of families and the Canberra and Surrounding Area Clubfoot Association. A constituent approached her through her local mobile office, and told her that families were paying thousands of dollars for vital therapy supports that the NDIS did not cover.
“Being able to advocate for these families and progress this issue to the point where ACT Health now have a permanent budget to support these families is exactly the reason I entered politics,” Ms Burch said.
Before entering politics, she was a registered nurse, director of the Australian Rural Health Education Network and the Northern Territory Remote Workforce Agency, and owned and operated a childcare centre.
Ms Burch believes her background as a nurse meant she came to the Assembly with a history of caring for people. Her message, a government spokesperson said, has consistently been: “Come to me with any issues, no matter how big or how small.”
As MLA for Tuggeranong, she secured funding grants for local sporting clubs (ACT Boccia, Tuggeranong Rowing Club, Tuggeranong Archery Club, Tuggeranong Netball Association), community events and organisations (Murra Lanyon Youth and Community Centre, Tuggeranong Men’s Shed, and the SouthFest community festival).
In 2019, Ms Burch stopped McDonald’s from opening a fast-food restaurant on the site of the Chisholm Tavern, a proposal the community opposed.
Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry said Ms Burch had been steadfast in supporting her community. She had been accessible to people to resolve some of the issues that might not be the highest priority of the government at a particular time.
Similarly, Chris Steel, ACT Special Minister for State and Minister for Transport and City Services, called her “a fantastic advocate” for the Tuggeranong community.
“She’s been behind so many projects right around Tuggeranong, whether it’s the Tuggeranong archery club that was built many years ago through to more recent projects including the improvement that’s been made in Tuggeranong town centre and the laneways and the new Tuggeranong waterfront project.”
Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said that as assistant speaker and shadow minister for education and the environment last term, and as opposition leader this term, she “had the fortune” of working “fairly closely” with Ms Burch.
“On a personal level, she has always been very supportive of me, particularly when I was pregnant both times, and on my return to work with babies in tow a lot of the time. I wish Joy nothing but the very best.”
Of life after politics, Ms Burch said:
“There’s still more work to be done here. In my remaining 14 months, I will continue supporting the ACT Labor Government’s progressive agenda, holding my regular community mobile offices, advocating for big and small issues, and of course overseeing my colleagues during sitting weeks in the Assembly.
“Following the election, I will continue to have an interest in my local community, and I look forward to being able to contribute where and how I can.
“Ultimately though, life beyond the Assembly is unlikely to involve a slower pace, just a different one, and one that may see me dip back into past experiences as the owner of a childcare centre, only this time, the children I’ll provide some care for, are my grandchildren.”
Johnathan Davis, Greens MLA for Brindabella and Assistant Speaker, said he would miss Joy Burch as a colleague, but was excited for her that she would spend more time with her friends and family.
“This is a huge job and a huge responsibility, and the burden and responsibility of being Speaker adds particularly to that role of being a Member of the Assembly,” Mr Davis said. “I think all parliamentarians right across the political spectrum could do from spending a bit more time with their friends and family. This job tends to be all-consuming.”
Having lived in Tuggeranong for more than two decades, and run for multiple elections, Mr Davis said he had gotten to know Joy Burch quite well, and seen her impact on the Assembly, on the Labor party, and on Tuggeranong. She should be proud of her rôle, for the most part, he said.
“It’s rare in parliamentary politics where Members get to decide for themselves when they go; most are usually picked for them by their party, or by the electorate. I think that it reflects really well on Joy Burch that she was able to decide for herself when her political career ends, and has articulated a really clear plan for herself about what she’d like to do afterwards.”
Mr Davis added: “I think it is healthy that the Assembly regenerates itself, that the parliamentary parties represented in the Assembly regenerate and create opportunities for the next generation of leaders to come through, particularly in our Hare-Clark system and the model. Seeing a refreshed and revived assembly is very healthy.”
As Assistant Speaker, Mr Davis said he was “really impressed and grateful for the non-partisan way that Joy Burch has executed her responsibilities as the Speaker”.
“There have been some particular challenges managing the Assembly and this Assembly precinct, particularly during COVID and the lockdowns. I’ve been very grateful as a member of this Assembly [and] as a member of Madam Speaker’s panel for the role that she’s taken in leading the Assembly during those very challenging periods.
“Everyone in this Assembly and everybody in government, their role changed completely during the pandemic. The Speaker’s role was no exception. Managing people in the chamber, managing people coming and going from this building, ensuring all members across all three parties could still exercise their responsibilities to represent their electorate, but do it in a safe way that administered government, administered the role of the parliament. That wasn’t without its challenges. And I thought Madam Speaker did a tremendous job.”
Mr Davis said he is happy to remain an Assistant Speaker, rather than becoming Speaker.
“I’ve seen the burden of managing question time, and as a serial interjector myself, I’m sure Madam Speaker won’t miss my interjections when she goes. I don’t think I’ve got it in me to manage the role of Speaker in quite the same way Madam Speaker does. I’d be interjecting from the chair, and that would be terribly unparliamentary!”
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