SESQUICENTENARY PUBLICATION

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (15:30): I wish to comment on two recent happenings in the parliament which ought be noted. The first is the recent publication by the parliament as part of the sesquicentenary of a new book on the parliamentary history of this state. The new publication takes the form of two volumes. Combe's Responsible Government in South Australia was originally published in 1958, and it has been reformatted and published in a very fine form. The first volume entitled From the Foundations to Playford is by Gordon Combe, and Mr Robert Martin was commissioned to write a companion volume entitled Playford to Rann 1957-2007.

I commend the parliament for this fine production. I think these volumes are a worthy commemoration of an important event. I am delighted to see that members have been presented with copies. It is also intended to have copies distributed to all schools in South Australia after the education department's censorship office passes the books as suitable for children. I have not yet read Mr Martin's contribution, but I look forward to doing so. I think it would be a good thing if, into the future, the parliament would continue to commission scholarship and other academic non-partisan works to assist in the understanding of democracy in South Australia.

The second happening that I think ought be noted is the changes to the physical fabric and appearance of this chamber. Members will know that this Legislative Council chamber was completed in 1939, some 50 years after the construction of the first half of Parliament House. The design of this chamber is splendidly plain and unadorned and follows the art deco movement that was prominent at the time. The contrast between the high Victoriana and the ornateness of the House of Assembly chamber and this chamber is stark.

To remind us of the ancient traditions of Greek democracy, we have the columns with their Corinthian capitals, and there are other elements that are very important. There is the wonderful Queensland maple timber and the acoustic tiles which face the walls in the galleries. Members will note that the rail around the balcony has been raised to meet occupational health and safety issues. The previous rail was of insufficient height, but the manner in which that has been achieved is commendable without altering greatly the physical appearance of the building, although we note that now it is rather more difficult for those in the gallery to see what is happening in the chamber.

The other new adornment is the installation of paintings on the walls. Previously, there were no paintings or other forms of artistic decoration and for many, myself included, that was quite a significant and pleasant feature of this particular building. Apparently the view was taken (I gather by the President) that it would be appropriate to have some artistic adornment. The paintings selected include (opposite me) The Proclamation of 1836, a reproduction on canvas of work held by the Art Gallery of South Australia, as are the other works on display. They show important historical associations of South Australia. There will be a contest, I imagine, between members about the appropriateness of the particular selection and indeed the method by which they were selected, and whether or not members ought to have had greater input into that selection.

Time expired.