Condolence

FERGUSON, MR D.M.

The PRESIDENT (14:19): I rise to express, on behalf of the Legislative Council, my deep regret at the passing of Mr Don M. Ferguson, former member for the seat of Henley Beach in the House of Assembly from 1982 to 1993.

Mr Ferguson was deputy speaker and chairman of committees in the House of Assembly from 1992 to 1993. He served on the then joint committee on subordinate legislation from 1982 to 1986 and briefly served on the public accounts committee before becoming a member of the new economic and finance committee. Mr Ferguson was a strong local member, taking up many issues on behalf of his electorate, including unfair rents for small business, protection of privacy, petrol pricing, the problems in the car industry, the encouragement of housing development, consumer protection and environmental problems, as well as being an advocate for community employment programs within his electorate.

Mr Ferguson led a push to extend daylight saving past the original early March conclusion to 1 May, which today we enjoy through the whole of March and the festival period. As chairman of committees, he used his casting vote to break the deadlock on the bill imposing on-the-spot fines for simple marijuana possession.

During an earlier election campaign, Don Ferguson fought the campaign whilst battling cancer, a condition from which most of his constituents had no idea he was suffering before the election. Following a redistribution, Mr Ferguson's seat disappeared, and he considered standing for the Legislative Council. To Don's family and friends, I express, on behalf of this council, our sincere sympathy.