MEMBER FOR SCHUBERT

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (16:05): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for your words of congratulations in recognising my 20 years in this place. It is hard to believe that it is 20 years since I was a new boy sitting in the back row behind me, but it is the case; I was elected on 23 June 1990.

The SPEAKER: Did you have hair then?

Mr VENNING: I had hair and it was dark, and I was 15 kilograms lighter! It is amazing. I was elected at a by-election caused by the resignation of the Hon. John Olsen when he went to Canberra to be a senator. I was the member for Custance until 1997, and I have been the member for Schubert ever since (the electorate changed its name in 1997). Schubert, of course, is named after Mr Max Schubert, the famed winemaker.

In 20 years I have faced six elections and four boundary redistributions, two of which changed the electorate almost completely—especially in 1997 when Custance disappeared altogether. From 1993 to 1997, I represented both the Clare and the Barossa Valley in the same electorate, so is it any wonder that I am focused on the wine industry? I remind members that I was a teetotaller when I was elected in 1990—as I said, 15 kilograms lighter! I have certainly appreciated some wonderful times during those years.

I have been privileged to represent one of the best electorates in Australia and I have enjoyed the cooperation of local government and community leaders, as well as the local media, especially The Leader and Radio 639 ABC. I am very appreciative of the good local media in my electorate, as I have just said; it has been great to keep up with what is happening locally and get my message out. I am very pleased with the way I have been treated, and have had hardly a complaint in all my 20 years.

At the recent election I improved my vote substantially over the 20 years, despite a drop at the 2006 election. I got down to 52 per cent at my worst, but my margin has been 60 per cent fairly consistently. I improved it again at the last election to an all-time high of 70 per cent two-party preferred, the third best in the state.

I want to thank all the people I have represented over the past 20 years for giving me the honour of representing them. I thank my colleagues in this place, on both sides of the house, and I thank the Liberal Party and my branch officials, especially Steph Martin and the late Margarete Hale, for their tremendous personal support over all these years. I would also like to thank my wife Kay and my family. They are the victims of many of the problems in this place; it is the family members who take the brunt of it when they are out in the community. People may not have the guts to take you on but they will certainly tell your family what they think about the situation—particularly a son, when he is in the local hotel. I pay tribute to my son Mark on that point, because he has copped a fair bit of that.

Highlights of my political career include $19 million for the Burra-Morgan road (which is a story in itself); bituminising the Gomersal Road; assisting with the overall phylloxera act; the Barossa's filtered water; implementing the Barossa Infrastructure Limited (BIL) water scheme; a new Tanunda primary school; obtaining an initial government grant for the Brenton Langbein Theatre—and if you've been there you will know that it is a fantastic place; being inducted as a baron of the Barossa—something you cannot buy; and serving as the opposition whip and a shadow minister.

Joint highlights of my career have included hosting a visit to the Barossa Valley by Her Majesty The Queen, and the memorable event (which I recalled a moment ago) of a long lunch at Skillogalee winery at Clare in 1994 with the then governor-general Sir William Deane, then state governor Dame Roma Mitchell, then mayor Bob Phillips, then minister David Wotton, me, and our partners. It was a wonderful day. It was supposed to be one hour on the appointment books, but 2½ hours later they were still there. I was amazed; it was such a great occasion. So I want to thank all those who have been part of this.

In particular, just the other day we buried Mr Harry Quinn from Burra. It was Harry Quinn who challenged me saying, 'Why should I vote for you for the preselection?' I said, 'Harry, because I'm going to do the job for you. What do you want, Harry?' 'I want the road bituminised from Spalding all the way to Burra and then to Morgan.' I said, 'It's a deal.' He said, 'You're a typical MP: all talk and no promises.' Well, it's there, Madam Speaker. We buried Harry last week and I went to the funeral. I said to Mrs Quinn, 'Remember the deal?' She said, 'Yes, I do. He never forgot.' So if you go in there for your constituents you can achieve.

I look forward to the future with anticipation. I want to thank all the people I have represented in the last 20 years; it has been an honour to be here to represent them. I congratulate my leaders. I have had some great leaders in this place and I think that maybe the best is still to come.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Schubert, and can I again congratulate you. I have enjoyed your friendship as well as the infighting across the chamber. You are a very good member and someone for new members to look up to.