Mitzevich, Mr Nick

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:55): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier advise the house of the contribution Nick Mitzevich has made to the art sector in South Australia and in particular, to the Art Gallery of South Australia?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:55): It is with great pleasure that I rise to answer this question from the new member for Heysen, who is probably one of the most cultured people we have ever had on our side of the parliament. Can I just say that it's with a little bit of regret that I offer my congratulations to Nick Mitzevich on his appointment as the Director of the National Gallery of Australia, because it was, of course, a great gain for the National Gallery of Australia but a loss for us here in South Australia. He served with distinction for almost eight years and I think he was loved by every person who came into his orbit at the Art Gallery.

I think that it goes without saying that the Art Gallery of South Australia thrived under his leadership. His accomplishments while he was in that role will leave a lasting legacy for all people who visit the gallery going forward. Mr Mitzevich oversaw a huge growth in attendance at the gallery, with visitor numbers almost doubling during his time, from around 480,000 people visiting the gallery back in 2010, to almost 800,000 last year—so a massive increase.

He was instrumental in purchasing 4,200 new works for the gallery, or being acquired by the gallery during his time, including a $4.5 million purchase for the stunning landscape by French impressionist painter Camille Pissarro. All who were associated with that described it as the most incredible purchase or acquisition that the gallery has ever made. In fact, it was made through the generosity of donations to the Art Gallery—not a cent of state government funding went into that. It just shows the leadership and the generosity that he was able to inspire.

He, of course, renovated the Elder Wing. I don't think the Elder Wing has ever looked as stunning as it looks at the moment. Major successes include the implementation of the Tarnanthi Exhibition, which I think everybody agrees was outstanding and has been generously supported by BHP. Of course, if you head down North Terrace at the moment you will see the Colours of Impressionism exhibition there, which, again, many people have said—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: This is what we always have—the photo-bombing opposition saying—I don't know—which one did you paint?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: This is incredible. Those opposite want to take responsibility for everything—now the Renaissance, impressionism, there is nothing these guys haven't been responsible for! The reality is, as you would be aware, it was the taxpayers of South Australia who, quite rightly, under the leadership of the former minister for the arts, the current member for Cheltenham, enabled this incredible exhibition to come to South Australia.

I do acknowledge the work of the former minister for the arts in bringing this exhibition. It is the most incredible exhibition we have ever had here: 65 master works from the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. If you haven't seen it, go and see it. Do yourself a favour. To me, it is really the crowning glory of the time that Nick Mitzevich had in our gallery. We do acknowledge his incredible contribution and we wish him all the very best in his very important new role.