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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-12-03 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

PENFOLD, MRS E.M.

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (15:25): It is indeed a pleasure to rise once again today, having already been a participant in the motion acknowledging the contribution of the member for Stuart, to make a brief contribution this afternoon in relation to the member for Flinders. Next week, it will be 16 years since she came into the parliament, and she has served her electorate as truly as the member for Stuart, if not for quite as long. I know, from when I came into the parliament some 7½ years ago, that Liz was someone who was really passionate about her electorate.

When you compare the size of my electorate with those in the metropolitan area, it looks pretty big, but my electorate is miniscule compared to the electorates of people such as the member for Flinders. She has something like 74 schools in her electorate. I struggle to get around all of the schools that I service.

The member for Flinders has devoted her life to the people in her electorate, often in quite adverse circumstances. Shortly after she came in here she was beset with quite a significant health problem, but she soldiered on and worked hard and tirelessly for the people of her electorate. She has continued to do that throughout her time in this chamber. She has passionately advocated the interests of the electorate.

If you look back at the record of the questions that she has asked in this chamber, they have always been about the interests of the people she seeks to serve. So intent is she on that service that, when you look at her office—and I know some members of her office may be observing today, some may be listening, and some may read it in the Hansard afterwards—I am sure that she engages a huge amount of extra staff out of her own money. She must be the only person who actually pays money for the pleasure of being in here rather than getting some sort of a stipend for being here. She invests so much because she thinks that her electorate is the most wonderful place in the world, and she wants to see it do well.

She has been an example to us all in terms of her behaviour in this place. Can I just tell you some of the things that she says? Not many of us have a website on which we talk about our philosophy. Her philosophy states:

To do my best for the Flinders electorate at all times.

I will go 'the extra mile' for those who need special assistance.

The door to opportunity is marked "PUSH'! I will 'push' with persistence.

Her goals are listed as:

To listen to the needs of the community no matter what their political belief or financial status—

which is more than I can say for some people in this place—

To consistently build employment, education, health and family relationships.

To work for the positive benefit of the people of the Flinders electorate in harmony with business, local, state and federal governments.

To help provide balanced management of the region and the environment.

I do not think there could be in this place someone who works harder or more passionately for her electorate. I, for one, will be sad to see her go. I know that Peter Treloar will be an excellent member when he comes in here to replace her; but, in the meantime, we have had 16 years of exemplary service from the member for Flinders, and I wanted to take a few minutes just to acknowledge that today.

The Hon. S.W. KEY: Point of order. My point of order is that I understand that, because this is a grievance debate—

The SPEAKER: Order, there is no point of order!

The Hon. S.W. KEY: —we will not have the opportunity on this side to compliment the member for Flinders for her service.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The Leader of the Opposition.

Mrs REDMOND: Thank you. I will put it on the record that the member for Ashford simply wanted to make a note that members on that side would happily join in this were it a motion. I thank them for that sentiment. In doing so I also acknowledge Lea Stevens and Trish White, who, of course, are also seeing their last day in the parliament today.

Can I say about the females in this parliament that we actually get on pretty well as a group; much better, I would say, than the boys, on average, and I think all the girls would agree with that. Sadly, this government has not treated its females quite as well as it might have sometimes. That said, the point of my grievance today is to bring to the attention of the house the incredible contribution that Liz Penfold has made to this place and particularly to the electorate of Flinders, and, in doing so to acknowledge not only her but her husband, Geoff, and her staff.

People (other than those who work in this place) do not understand what a tremendous commitment it is. In fact, I think it was the new leader of the federal opposition who, in an article I read some months ago, pointed out that those of us who come in here as members are volunteers but our families are conscripted, and it is often singularly unfair to them. So congratulations and our best wishes, Liz.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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