Valedictory

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Health Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:37): I remember John Howard saying to me that there is no such thing as an election that cannot be won and one that cannot be lost, so I am going to take the opportunity for the next five minutes, just in case mine is lost, to reflect on the last 21 years here. I am sure that prospect will disappoint some and excite many more, but I do want to get a couple of things on the record.

I came into the place 21 years ago, into the Olsen government in 1997. It was a privilege to be here and a privilege to serve. I want to commend premier John Olsen, who did a good job in difficult circumstances, as did Dean Brown in the term before him. I served on the Economic and Finance Committee and struggled through an MBA at the University of Adelaide whilst being there. It certainly helped me find my way around a balance sheet.

I was privileged to serve as cabinet secretary in 2001 in the Olsen government and then as minister for tourism and innovation in the Kerin government. Although it was for a short time in late 2001-02, I was able to get $13 million together for the Centre for Plant Functional Genomics at the Waite campus, which helped establish it as one of the top three centres of excellence in the world in the breeding of plants, something that has gone on to stronger and stronger things.

I want to talk about highlights. It is easy to be negative, but highlights and the positives are all that matter to me. It was certainly a highlight to be Liberal leader. In the 2½ years I served as Liberal leader, I think our party at the time achieved a lot of good things. The debate up until then had all been about law and order and we moved it to a discussion about Adelaide and the future of the city and investing in the future. Certainly, we were the first to raise concepts like expanding the Convention Centre, bringing up the Entertainment Centre, an alternative vision for the Royal Adelaide Hospital and, most particularly, moving football back to the city.

I do not think the Adelaide Oval would be there had I not, and had we not, championed the case at that time. It was a hard argument to run for 2½ years. In the end, it was an idea for which time had come. At the opening of the Oval, SACA President Ian McLachlan, the Premier and even The Advertiser acknowledged my role and the opposition's role in setting the agenda. I think it is fair to say that had I not been there, and had the Liberal opposition not taken that view, we would still be playing football at West Lakes. We are better off for the outcome.

I think another highlight has certainly been in the last four years, and I want to thank Premier Weatherill and all the cabinet for the privilege of serving with this wonderful group of people. My priorities have always been my country, my state, my local community, and party considerations last. It has been great to have that opportunity to serve. Saving the submarines and frigates was an absolute ordeal. I have no doubt that had we not acted swiftly, the submarines would right now be being built for Japan, or planned for Japan.

Everyone was advising me to give up on that. I recommended to the Premier that we not do so, and it was because of his leadership and his resolve, with the two of us working together and with others in the union and industry movements, that we managed to save the submarines and the frigates. That will set South Australia up for generations to come. The trade and engagement agenda which we have established now sees us going to every region in the world with significant missions, from up to 300 in China to smaller groups elsewhere. We are now more internationally engaged than ever. We are absolutely the poster boys of Austrade and DFAT in terms of the standards we set.

Can I add that the memorial walk down Kintore Avenue was delivered on budget and on time. It was a complex project involving all levels of government and Government House. It was dead and buried when I took it over; it is now up and running, and it is fantastic. We have done some good things with small business and with international students—we will hit the target of 35,000—and we have set up a space agency. Investment attraction is heading towards $1½ billion and 7,000 jobs. It has been fantastic.

In my electorate, there has been over $60 million worth of investment in schools, $30 million at the intersection of Daws Road and Goodwood Road and $3½ million for Blackwood. I got nearly 10 per cent of all the schools' funding into Waite. We were second on the grants to Fund My Community. None of this would have been possible had I not been working effectively, I think, and in a position to argue my case with the Weatherill government and my colleagues on this side.

I have met some wonderful people in both the Liberal and Labor parties; I could mention quite a few, but time is running out. There are some terrific people in this place on all sides. We are here to do a very important job: to serve our community. I have been privileged over the last 21 years to be able to make a small contribution.