BOB Baldwin’s valedictory speech has come under fire from long-time rival Joel Fitzgibbon, who labelled the out-going Paterson MP “cowardly” for using his farewell to attack former politicians.
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The veteran MP said his goodbye to parliament on Wednesday, thanking staff and friends for their support during a career he called an “honour”.
An emotional Mr Baldwin used the speech to tell his family he was “sincerely sorry” for the time he had spent away from home during his long career, and singled out Maitland developer Hilton Grugeon – who he called “family of sorts” – for his help establishing a school for Autistic children in Thornton.
He also paid tribute to his wife, Cynthia, who he said had been “the ultimate single parent”.
“You raised, singled-handedly, three wonderful children. The truth is, I was never there,” he said.
“I sincerely thank you. You deserved much better.”
But it is Mr Baldwin’s attacks on historical Labor foes in the Hunter that angered Mr Fitzgibbon.
Mr Baldwin singled out former Newcastle MP Allan Morris, who he accused of “fiddling on the hill like Nero whilst Rome burnt” over the issue of shipbuilding in the Hunter, and also took aim at “the former state member for Port Stephens, the Labor member”, accusing him of alienating a supporter when he “berated her in public”.
The Labor MP for Port Stephens from 1999 to 2007 was John Bartlett, who died in 2008.
Mr Baldwin also took aim at Mr Fitzgibbon, raising his resignation as Defence Minister in 2009. Mr Fitzgibbon said Mr Baldwin’s remarks had “breached convention”.
“I did the right thing and went and watched the speech out of respect but when he started going after people I said I’m not sitting around for this,” he said.
“What he said about me is water on a duck’s back, I’d already left when I copped a serve.
“But it reflects the character of the man that rather than go out with dignity and the respect of people on both sides, as most do, he decided to attack people no longer in the parliament, and who in some cases are dead.”
