Ministerial Statement

Close, Hon. S.E., Resignation

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: Today, I resigned from cabinet and announced that I will not contest the next election. Leaving this job, this government and this Premier is the hardest decision I have ever made. I know that leaving politics at a time of my choice and still with enough energy to embrace the next challenge is a rare privilege. Yet, I have wrestled with this decision. I think we each know when our time has come to move on, when what you have given is greater than you have yet to offer in this particular role.

My mother's descent into the mist of dementia these four years has been my alarm bell, reminding me that life is precious, finite and all too short. I had always planned to leave with some fuel in the tank, not to stagger to the finish line but, rather, to still have something to offer. I realise that the time for that must be now, leaving a strong government, an incredible Premier and a team full of talent more than capable of replacing me.

I will miss so much: the Premier, and the extraordinary working partnership we have had for nearly eight years; the Labor team in parliament, full of genuine friends; the wider labour movement, which carries the aspirations of all decent working people; the staff I have had the privilege to work with over the 14 years of my time in parliament; and the public servants in the education, state development and environment portfolios, who make South Australia stronger, fairer and better every day. I have received far more from each of these people than I have ever given.

I will continue to have the honour of representing the people of Port Adelaide into next year and will have more to say nearer the election. The sheer joy of being their member of parliament is the highlight of my career. I will always remain part of that community, although not their representative in this place.

I am part of a long line of people who have stepped into parliament to do something good and have done their best for as long as they can. I leave confident of a government and a South Australia with a bright future and in safe hands.

The SPEAKER: I would like to place on the record my thanks to the Deputy Premier and to wish you all the very best for life after politics. Before I call the Treasurer, I would like to welcome his family to parliament. If anyone has not heard, they are in the house and they are much better behaved than a lot of people have been on the benches over the years. The Treasurer.