Motions

Ridgway, Hon. D.W.

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.I. Lucas:

That this council notes and thanks the Hon. David Ridgway for his service to the Legislative Council and the community since his election to the Legislative Council in 2002.

(Continued from 12 October 2021.)

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (11:33): I rise briefly to thank members for their contributions to this particular motion and as I indicated in my introductory remarks the Hon. Mr Ridgway, from London, has been following the contributions with interest. Given that he missed the opportunity to make some valedictory remarks before he left this chamber, he has, via me, asked for leave to make his final remarks.

So I would ask members, if they can, to close their eyes and imagine that I have somewhat less hair, am a little bit heavier set and a much friendlier and happier person than I am as I deliver these remarks on behalf of the Hon. Mr Ridgway. These are remarks I am making on behalf of the Hon. Mr Ridgway:

This isn't quite how I intended to leave parliament but sometimes the timing is not your decision, none the less it's where I now find myself in London reading all the nice things you have all said about me. Politics is a strange profession often with a difficult pathway between standing up for what you believe, targeting Ministers and holding the Government to account and having a cordial, sometimes friendly working relationship with the other 21 members of the Legislative Council. Judging by comments I'm somewhat humbled to think I may have got close to getting the balance right. Thank you all for including a boy from Bordertown.

It's important to recognize those that have supported and encouraged from the beginning right the way through my journey.

Firstly it was Hon Dale Baker my local Member for MacKillop and Hon Ren De Garis who encouraged me to pursue a career in politics, their initial thoughts were MacKillop however things rarely go to plan in politics.

Once I set my course for the Legislative Council others offered their support Hon Caroline Schaefer, Hon Nick Minchin, Cory Bernardi and Martin Whyte and I thank them all for the parts they played to see me enter parliament in 2002. Caroline was a mentor and almost like a big sister and it was great to have her in the office next to me on the 2nd floor, both being from a rural/farming background meant we were early risers and often at work well before 7.00am and were able to get a couple of hours work done before this place came to life.

The Liberal Parliamentary team has also been extremely important to me along this journey with great support from opposition Leaders like Kerin, Evans, Redmond and Marshall. I was given an extremely wide range of Shadow Ministerial opportunities and I thank them all for that. I would also like to place in the record my thanks [for] the wonderful support and comradery I enjoyed from the broader Liberal parliamentary team during the 16 long years of opposition and more recently in Government.

Can I make special mention of the Liberal Legislative [Council] team, I won't mention them all by name but I do want to recognise the way they all supported me after I became the Leader of the Opposition in unusual circumstances. I really appreciated the way we all worked as a really solid team for those 11 years and I have very fond memories of that time and friendships that I'm sure will stand the test of time.

You can't have a long career in politics without good staff and I would like to pay tribute to those who came on the journey with me, firstly Cecilia Schutz endured 14 years with me and I thank her for her patience and persistence, we were a good team. Bridie Ward was with me from 2002 left in 2006 came back in 2018 thanks Bridie. Rowan Thomas started as a trainee in my office, went to work in Canberra, returned and eventually was one of my ministerial advisers, thank you Rowan.

Others that deserve a thankyou mention are David Franchitto, Kathryn MacFarlane, Andrew Ockenden, Julia Ebbs, Lucy Wood, Daniel Willson, Bev Barber, Simon Potger and of course Hendrik Gout who was the absolute square peg in a round hole and of course the team in my ministerial office they all played an important role.

It's great to be back working with Leonie Muldoon and the team from DTI; thanks for your support in the past and the implementation of the Joyce review.

It was also a pleasure to work with Rodney Harrex and the SATC team and they can all be proud of the $8.1 billion visitor economy prior to bushfires and Covid.

It was mentioned by others that I am fortunate to have an extensive network of friends, community and business connections. I have enjoyed tremendous support from all of these people and groups and I continue to reach out to them in my new role, thank you all.

The Parliament is full of good people many have become good friends, as has already been said the team in Hansard looked after [me] on my very first day and they continued that every step of the way for almost 20 years.

Jan Davis and Chris Schwarz, the best 2 Clerks I've had the pleasure to work with and the great team they have around them have provided excellent support and advice and made some of the more dreary times in this place much easier to endure. Again Thank You.

Creon and the catering team also rate a special mention I hold them responsible for the 20kg weight gain in my first 10 years although I'm happy to say I left parliament lighter than when I started. That's why Frank couldn't see me on Unley Rd.

And then of course there is Nicky and the gang in the Blue Room, thank you especially to Nicky who has become a good friend and played a role in the 20kg gain and the 21kg loss, thanks Nicky.

As we near the end of this speech there are some special thankyou comments I would like to make.

The Premier thank you for the privilege and honour to serve as a minister in your cabinet and for appointing me to this role in London as our 26th Agent General, a job I'm enjoying more and more every day.

As you all know my two closest friends in this place are Hon Rob Lucas and Hon Terry Stephens we have enjoyed a great friendship and many good times together over the almost 20 years, I estimate at least 5000 strategy meetings over a coffee and probably somewhere between 1000 to 2000 lunches in the food court. Thanks for all you have both done for me and I'm sure we still have many strategy meetings and a lot of lunches ahead of us.

By the way the first post Covid shipment of Spencer Gulf King Prawns arrive next week!!

I've left the most important people to thank to last. Meredith my wife of 33 years has been at my side supporting me every step of the way, I simply could not have had the career opportunities without her unwavering support, I love and thankyou. The rest of the family our 3 children Ashleigh, Tara and Louis have also been part of the journey and made sacrifices along the way, also my heartfelt thanks to you all as well.

In closing…I wish you all the very best for your future endeavours and look forward to seeing you all in London someday.

For the benefit of Hansard readers, I indicate that that statement is a statement I read on behalf of the Hon. David Ridgway as his thanks to all in that contribution.

Motion carried.