Latest news with #valedictory
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watch: Australian MP bows out with ‘shoey' in parliament
Outgoing Western Australian MP Kyle McGinn ended his valedictory speech with a "shoey"—drinking a beer from his own shoe. Before doing so, he told the chamber: 'I thought so long and hard about how I would finish this speech and my constituents in the Goldfields I think will be particularly appreciative.' McGinn said the act reflected how he was known among constituents and was his way of marking the end of his time in office on Thursday (23 May). The "shoey" is a well-known Australian celebration, popularised internationally by figures like Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watch moment Australian MP Kyle McGinn signs off career with a ‘shoey'
Outgoing Western Australian MP Kyle McGinn ended his valedictory speech with a "shoey"—drinking a beer from his own shoe. Before doing so, he told the chamber: 'Members, love me or hate me. I haven't changed who I am... I thought long and hard about how to finish this speech. There was only one way to do it.' McGinn said the act reflected how he was known among constituents and was his way of marking the end of his time in office on Thursday (23 May). The "shoey" is a well-known Australian celebration, popularised internationally by figures like Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Moment Australian politician signs off career with a 'shoey'
An outgoing state MP caused a scene in Western Australia's parliament after he ended his valedictory speech with a shoey - the act of having a celebratory drink, typically alcohol, out of a shoe. Kyle McGinn ended his farewell address by cracking open a beer and drinking it from his removed shoe, which he says he became known for doing by his constituents. McGinn told local media he did it to show there were normal people in parliament and to celebrate in his own way.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
WA upper house MPs allege spies, blackmail and Chevron exploitation in valedictory speeches
The WA Parliament's typically docile upper house has seen an eventful penultimate sitting, with one MP describing "nearly being groped" in the chamber while another said an oil and gas giant "hates Australian workers". The four-year terms of Western Australia's legislative councillors come to an end on Thursday when the 37 members chosen at the March state election are sworn in. It means the so-called house of review has largely been focused on valedictory speeches of outgoing members, rather than usual parliamentary business, for more of its last few sitting weeks. Sophia Moermond — who was elected as a Legalise Cannabis MP but was later dumped by the party — was among those giving their final speeches. "I would have thought my chances of ever being an elected member of Parliament were similar to me being on the first terraforming mission to Mars," she told the chamber at the beginning of her speech. She went on to detail "blackmail and threats of blackmail", and said she had to take out a family violence restraining order and engage a lawyer for a defamation case against "a very angry man in Tasmania". "I don't know if this is normal, but if it is, it certainly should not be." Ms Moermond said she had spent "over $18,000 being able to hear in this place" as a result of being deaf, but said the "hearing situation" in parliament had been sorted out so it would be a "much easier ride" for any future MPs with hearing impairments. Less than a year into her term, Ms Moermond was suspended from parliament for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 and described the mandate to do so as medical apartheid. "Bodily autonomy should be paramount in a democracy and I stand by my decision," she said. Later in the sitting, outgoing Labor MP Kyle McGinn used parliamentary privilege to claim oil and gas giant Chevron "hates Australian workers" and is "without doubt the pariah of the west coast oil and gas industry". Mr McGinn worked as an organiser for the Maritime Union of Australia for a decade before entering parliament. "Chevron is fixated on the bottom line, maximising short-term profits and exploiting our natural resources without putting much back into developing job opportunities or improving the lives of West Australian workers," he told the chamber. Mr McGinn claimed the company was planning to "sack hundreds of engineers who are working at [its] Elizabeth Quay headquarters … flying in the face of the Barrow Island Act 2003 which requires it to employ local workers wherever possible" but had not yet made a final decision. "Chevron comes to WA, pillages our resources, throws us a few scraps in the form of jobs and then decides, once the holes are dug, it will sack its Australian employees and replace them with foreign remote labour," he told parliament. Chevron was contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline. A Chevron spokesperson has previously told media the company was committed to meeting its local content obligations under the law. "Given our operated assets in WA, Gorgon and Wheatstone are long-term energy developments, we will continue to depend on the talent of our local workforce for decades to come," they said. Premier Roger Cook described Mr McGinn's comments as "intemperate" and said he disagreed. "I think Chevron are a great industry player," he said. "They are an important part of our economy and quite frankly, they support WA workers." Nationals-turned-independent MP Louise Kingston also made her final contribution to the chamber — although a few weeks later than intended. "My husband suffered a heart attack in my office here at Parliament House on the day I was meant to deliver my valedictory speech," she said. "All I can say is thank god, as had it happened anywhere else, I wouldn't still have him. "My husband had what is known as a silent heart attack, no symptoms and no warning. "No pain, clutching his chest, dizziness or breathlessness. "I honestly thought he was choking until his breathing and pulse stopped." Ms Kingston thanked parliamentary staff who responded, as well as Jags Krishnan — a lower house Labor MP and GP who assisted — and Minister Sabine Winton had comforted her daughter. She described the paramedics who responded as her "absolute heroes" and thanked the nurses and doctors who helped save her husband's life. Ms Kingston split from the Nationals after accusing Nationals leader Shane Love of "relentless bullying and harassment" under parliamentary privilege. Mr Love has always denied those claims. "As many have said, politics is a brutal game and my journey is testament to how brutal it can be," Ms Kingston told the chamber. "I leave stronger, more determined and educated. I will continue to use my voice for good."
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Honor goes, ‘People will talk about my speech for years to come. And that's just in the libel courts'
This is most definitely not how it was supposed to be? Yeah, no, Sorcha dreamt that one day she would have a daughter who would follow in her footsteps as head girl of Mount Anville, but she's actually dreading what's going to happen tonight, when Honor delivers the valedictory at the sixth-year graduation. 'Can I even read your speech?' Sorcha goes. But Honor's like, 'There's no speech. What I have to say is all in my head.' This is us in the cor, by the way, on the way to the school. READ MORE I'm there, 'What, you're going to freestyle it? In fairness, I did something similar before Seapoint played Bruff in the famous Division 2B relegation clash back in the day. People were in actual tears.' Sorcha looks at me like I'm the postman telling her there's duty owed on one of her online purchases. She's like, 'That's not focking helpful, Ross.' I'm there, 'Fine, I'll stay out of it. Will there be drink at this thing?' Yeah, no, Sorcha's driving tonight. Honor goes, 'No, no drink – that's why I preloaded.' I thought I smelled vodka when she was getting into the cor. Sorcha's less worried about her daughter having a few straighteners than she is about what people might think of her skills as a mother. Yes, we're those kind of people. She goes, 'I really wish you'd written a speech?' Honor's like, 'What, so you could redline it? So you could censor my thoughts?' Sorcha's there, 'No one is talking about censorship, Honor. I'd just like to know what you're going to say in advance, forewarned being foreormed.' Honor's like, 'All I will tell you is that there's going to be a little something in it for everyone.' Honor is quite nasty with drink on her. Takes after her grandmother I'm there, 'That's nice, Honor,' because I have faith in our daughter, even though she's never given me any cause for it. She's like, 'The fakers. The sleeveens. The hypocrites. They're all going to get a mench tonight.' 'Or,' Sorcha goes, 'you could choose to say something inspirational. You could say something that touches people's horts, that defines what it means to be a member of the Mount Anville class of 2025, that makes people feel – I want to say – uplifted ? You want people to talk about it in years to come, don't you?' Honor's there, 'Oh, people will – trust me. And that's just in the libel courts.' Sorcha goes, 'Did you read the speech I delivered in '98? I sent it to you. I just happened to find it on an old laptop the other day.' Honor's there, 'It must have gone into my junk folder. Best place for it as well.' She's quite nasty with drink on her. Takes after her grandmother. Sorcha goes, 'I can send it to you again if you want. Or I have an MP3 of it on my phone. Ross, will you send it to her? Or better still, play it over the Bluetooth?' Honor's there, 'Don't bother. I've heard you listening to it in the bathroom when you're psyching yourself up to talk at residents association meetings.' Sorcha's like, 'Well, people still talk about it – to this day.' ' Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road, ' Honor goes, doing – in fairness – a pretty spot-on impersonation of her old dear. ' Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go. ' Sorcha's like, 'I was quoting from a song that was huge at the time, Honor.' And Honor's there, 'Yeah – and it was so focking lame.' Seriously, she's a bad, bad drunk. I can tell that Sorcha's feelings are hurt because she goes quiet then. She literally says nothing between Foxrock Church and the bottom of Trees Road in Merrion. There's very little we can do except sit there smiling and hope we don't get mentioned ourselves — Ross Then she goes, 'At least my year as head girl meant something. As Sister Austrebertha said – and I'm paraphrasing here – there is an amazing, amazing contentment that comes from knowing you made a difference.' Honor's like, 'Er, I made a difference?' And that's when Sorcha ends up losing it with her. She goes, 'You closed down the school magazine, you turned the girls in your year against each other and you made a fortune off their backs from the annual skiing trip.' Honor goes, 'Well, no one can say it was boring.' Sorcha goes, 'You've undermined democracy, taken the concept of civility out of politics and used what was once considered a respected office to grift for yourself. You're actually no better than him .' Honor's like, 'Who?' Sorcha's there, 'You know I've made a vow never to say his actual name out loud.' Honor's like, 'Trump?' And Sorcha's there, 'Yes – him .' I actually thought she was talking about my old man – which says a lot. 'And now,' Sorcha goes, 'you're about to use your position to settle old scores against your fellow students.' 'And teachers,' Honor goes. 'One or two of them have it coming to them as well.' Sorcha's like, 'Well, I'm not going to let you do it.' Honor's there, 'What are you going to do about it?' I'm like, 'She's right, Sorcha. There's very little we can do except sit there smiling and hope we don't get mentioned ourselves. We're not going to get mentioned, are we, Honor?' What happened to free speech? — Honor Sorcha goes, 'Oh, there's something we can do, all right,' and in that moment she suddenly pulls on the steering wheel, mounts the kerb and slams on the brake. Honor's like, 'Oh my God, she's totally lost it. Dad, she needs to be on something – she's going through the change and it's not fun for any of us.' Sorcha says nothing in response. Instead, she kills the engine, opens her door and gets out – then she slams it closed and centrally locks the cor. Honor's like, 'What the fock are you doing?' But she knows. I mean, I know and I'm famously slow on the uptake. She tries the door handle and she's there, 'Let me out of here – now!' But Sorcha goes, 'No, Honor, I'm afraid I can't do that.' Honor's like, 'I'm going to miss my graduation!' Sorcha's there, 'Yes, Honor, that's the intention. I love Mount Anville and everything it stands for far too much to allow you to drag its name through the mud.' Honor's there, 'What happened to free speech?' And Sorcha goes, 'It's only for those who use it responsibly.' Honor turns on me then? She's like, 'Do something, you dick!' But I'm there, 'I can't – she's locked it from the outside.' She looks at Sorcha through the window and in a chilling voice goes, 'I'm going to get you back for this.'
