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

The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (17:07): This will be the last occasion that I will have the opportunity to speak in this chamber, and I must say that I feel somewhat more relaxed than when I first addressed this chamber in July 1970. Since that occasion, I have had the great privilege of serving the electorate of Eyre and Stuart for a fraction under 40 years.

I have always regarded it as a great privilege to be in this place and an honour to get higher office. I came in here with an idea that I would give a strong, effective and, I hope, responsible voice to the people I represented. I have never been one to shy away from a fight. I clearly understand that, from time to time, most of my leaders have found me a little hard to manage. I make no apology, because my only interest was this: to stick up for the people of my electorate; to enhance the Liberal Party; and do what I can to make South Australia a better place.

During the time I have been here, I acknowledge and thank all the people who work in this building who have helped and assisted me in the various undertakings I have had. In relation to trying to guide me, I know that sometimes when I would speak, the clerk would sigh but, nevertheless, we got through, and it was an interesting time in my life. My wife and I have travelled millions of kilometres around the north of South Australia, and I think that I have a good general knowledge of the roads, tracks and airfields of South Australia.

I will never again go out to Parafield and get in a Cessna 210 and fly myself off to Coober Pedy, Ernabella and end up at Yulara. That is all behind me. It was an interesting experience. Sometimes it was challenging, such as the time when we stopped the engine coming out of Mintabie, or when the wheels would not come down at Oodnadatta. They are all the things that made life particularly interesting. I want also to acknowledge the occasions when I had a driver, which I think is the greatest help you can give any member of parliament. People drove me around the length and breadth of South Australia. We were very good for General Motors. I think Ray Hayes' sales will go down a bit after March. Nevertheless, we will keep driving until the time comes.

I thank very much the people who have worked so hard for me in my offices. I have been very fortunate that they have kept the paper moving; they have helped to organise me. They have made me look good at times and they have made sure that we kept up a reputation (I hope) of responding to correspondence quickly and effectively.

We have travelled from Cook to Tarcoola to Innamincka and to Cameron's Corner from Wharminda. I think kindly of Wharminda, because I got 48 votes to nothing there once, 84 to nothing at Chandada and about 27 at Sheringa. When I told Sir Lyell McEwin about it he said, 'Make sure you don't go there; you might offend someone.' That was good advice. He was a man of few words.

I also want to thank my wife and family, who have supported me. When I was elected in 1970 my wife and I did not have any children. Now we are lucky: we have grandchildren.

When I drive out of the car park tonight, it will be a strange experience to know that when I come back here next time I will not be coming into this chamber again. However, I have no regrets, because I believe that you should look to the future. I do not believe in looking backwards, I believe in looking forwards, and I have interesting things to do. It might not appeal to many people, but I like going to sheep sales, I like going to rodeos; I like all those things, and four-wheel drives and I like travelling. I am going to educate the Leader of the Opposition I am going to take her to a rodeo in a few weeks' time so she is fully aware of the great contribution that those people make to the welfare of the people in the north.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: And jumps racing.

The Hon. G.M. GUNN: And jumps racing; I am with the Attorney-General. Can I say to the Attorney-General that, when he goes to Oakbank next time, he looks at that board with the horseshoes on it and he will see that a horse called Mount Cooper won the Great Eastern on one occasion and dead-heated the next year. That was my grandfather's horse. A few years later my father's horse won the Harry D. Young Hurdle and our neighbour's horse won the Great Eastern on the same weekend. So, I am very conversant with racehorses and with jumping horses. Of course it is a good thing; it is part of the history of South Australia.

May I say in conclusion that I wish everyone in this place the best for the future. I hope the people who come into this place clearly understand that they are here to govern on behalf of the people not on behalf of the bureaucracy. They are here to make sure that the traditions of this house are not abused or taken away. They are all here for a great purpose, that is, to protect the public. One of the things we have to clearly understand is that you can legislate but often you cannot legislate common sense, and common sense is the greatest thing that a member of parliament can have.

One of the other attributes people ought to understand is that it is the little things that keep you in this place. Remember that: it is the little things that keep you in this place. Members of parliament sometimes think that they are important. I would suggest to people who think that way that they go for a walk down the street and let ordinary people come up and talk to them. They will soon make it clear that if you talk down to them you will not be with them for much longer. If you let them talk to you, you will survive.

I have been fortunate: I have won 12 elections. I believe I could win 13 if I wanted to, but I do not think that I need that challenge again, because there are other things I want to do, and I think it is time to let another young person come into this place.

I hope everyone here has a good Christmas and I wish them a happy new year. I will be enjoying myself after March doing other things—being a part-time farmer and doing some travelling and all those sorts of things that I have not done over the last 40 years, I have a few things to catch up with on the farm. Best of luck, and thank you for the way that I have been received. I particularly want to thank everyone for all the nice things they said about me this morning; my family and I greatly appreciate it. I look forward to seeing you all in years to come.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (17:15): I spoke about Graham Gunn this morning. Again, I want to reprise one thing. Having known him for more than 30 years, I think it is really important to occasionally praise one's opponents. While we are called opponents politically, one thing I have noticed in the 24 years I have been in this parliament is that an extraordinary camaraderie exists between members of parliament and friendships develop the way in which they should develop. We do not live in a war-torn country. We are all patriots and we all have a job to do. We come at things from different angles but, more often than not, we actually support each other.

It is important to remember the sacrifice that families make in terms of supporting members in this house. I say thank you, Graham, for educating me about agriculture, your practical 'let's fix it' approach to regional and outback issues, and your cooperation with me all those years ago on key Aboriginal issues in this state.

I want to talk about some other members who are leaving. I have worked with Lea Stevens for many years. She was there alongside me during the long haul of opposition—and everyone knows how long a haul opposition can be. For most of that time she was shadow minister for health and then in government she was minister for health.

Every time a newborn baby comes into this world, because of a scheme called Every Chance for Every Child, which was introduced in South Australia by Lea Stevens and which is now being heralded nationally and internationally as world's best practice, those little kids and their mums can have dozens of visits in their home to make sure not only the baby is doing well but also the mum and the parents are bonding well, and they can thank Lea Stevens.

The Generational Health Review was transformational in getting a mindset towards a health system that was proactive and preventative on the front line—the GP Plus approach and the primary health care approach. Anyone who visits the Lyell McEwin Hospital, which is effectively being doubled in size, can thank Lea Stevens—again, so many important reforms in the area of health.

I thank you Lea. We wish you well. She has some great ventures planned. In relation to Confucius Institute, I bumped into Lea Stevens in Shandong province and I know she is very keen on working that relationship. She has a great interest, also, in early childhood, so I wish Lea all the best for the future. Lea, I congratulate you and, also, your husband Mike and your family for all the support they have given you during those times.

Trish White joined us in a by-election about the same time during the long march to government. I remember going out with Glenda Jackson to attend her launch at a service station in Salisbury.

The Hon. P.L. White: It leaked!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: That's right, yes, it leaked. We have been co-MPs for the Salisbury area for many years. Trish has held a range of ministerial and shadow ministerial portfolios. Let us remember that with Trish as the minister for education we saw the introduction of the raising of the school leaving age for the first time in 42 years. We saw the turnaround in high school education that reversed the problems we were having with the retention rate.

For a whole range of initiatives in education, further education, transport, and reinvestment in transport infrastructure, Trish White will be remembered as a very effective minister. We look forward to her continuing to contribute to the community as a mother, of course, of two young children. Having to balance those responsibilities has been enormous. She has been the hardest working local MP, and I wish Trish and her family well for the future.

Both Lea and Trish have been ministers, and it is a hard job being a minister of the Crown. Both have held the biggest portfolios in terms of spending—Trish in charge of 1,000 schools and, of course, Lea in charge of the biggest spending budget in health and, also, the biggest employer. So, congratulations go to Trish as well. I do not think either of you will be reading Hansard late at night, as has been the case with some other former members.

Also, I want to mention Rory McEwen. Rory McEwen is someone for whom I have a great deal of respect and affection, and also his wife Di. He came into the government in the extraordinarily unusual position as an Independent member, a non-Labor member, a conservative member of a Labor government. The thing I respect about Rory is that he says it like it is. I greatly valued the different culture and perspective that he brought to the cabinet table. There is absolutely no doubt that, as minister for local government (because of his experience in that area) and also as minister for agriculture, food, fisheries and forests and regional development, Rory brought a completely different culture and perspective to the cabinet. I think that made us a much stronger cabinet as a result, as it does with Karlene Maywald's presence.

The thing that I always found about Rory is that he is someone who absolutely knew where he came from and knew whose side he was on. He was prepared to step out and speak out about government initiatives that he did not believe in and absent himself from the cabinet table. I have always found Rory to be a person of extraordinary integrity and someone whose wise counsel I have really valued in so many areas; and I hope I will be able to do so for years to come.

We know, of course, that Rory had a health crisis during his time as a minister, that I think shocked all of us, and probably shocked him as well. Thank God that Di was there as a nurse. It was amazing to see him back on the bike in lycra a few months later in the Tour Down Under—maybe not the lycra. I have seen the minister for transport and infrastructure in lycra, and also with zinc on his nose and ears. It was like an alien being going down South Road.

So, thank you, Rory. Thank you for your commitment to our state and for putting our state before politics, which is what you have done. I look forward to increasing contact with you in retirement.

To Liz Penfold I say this: everyone knows of your great championship of your electorate on the Eyre Peninsula. It is a vast area. I particularly remember what happened during the tragic Eyre Peninsula bushfires just four years ago, in 2005. That was an extraordinary period in this state's history and a terrible tragedy because of the loss of lives and also the loss of farm properties. I know she will be sadly missed in her electorate and I am sure she will continue to contribute to regional development in this state. Do we know of any other people retiring voluntarily? Are there any surprises?

An honourable member: Ivan's staying!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Ivan is staying! Baron of the Barossa! He is already in the House of Lords. He is the Baron of the Barossa.

Because this is a valedictory moment, let us remember that, apart from saying goodbye to friends and wishing them well for the next phase of their professional lives or retirement, it is also a time to say thank you to those who serve the people of this state by making sure that this place runs well.

To all of the staff—Hansard staff, library staff, those who feed us, those who come in here as caretakers to make the solar power systems work, the maintenance people—all of the people in this parliament, from the clerk to the cleaners, all of them, thank you. The more I particularise the more I am going to leave someone out. Every single person who makes this place tick over as the people's parliament, we thank you.

We cannot function without the support of countless people, including our public servants who are so often denigrated. I went to the Public Sector Awards the other night, and heard, one after another, stories of people who had been nominated who are making an incredible difference in people's lives in this state. They are innovative and they are servicing clients under the most extraordinarily difficult situations. I was very moved by not only the winners but also the finalists in the Public Sector Awards the other day.

I want to thank our staff, who are kept here with us, working in their offices—opposition staff, government staffers, ministerial staffers—who do fantastic work. You are our eyes, ears, legs and arms, and too often we forget to say thank you. To the staff of the parliament, the staff of members of parliament and electorate offices, the staff of ministerial offices and those who work with us in this chamber, I say thank you, have a very merry Christmas—most importantly a safe one—and a terrific time with your families. Thank you.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. R.J. McEWEN (Mount Gambier) (17:27): What a delight it is to rise for the last time in this place as one of five who choose to leave of their own making at their own time. I think that, often, we find people leave this place because they are pushed out by parties or rejected by the people. So, it is an honour for me to stand with Liz, Graham, Trish and Lea and collectively say goodbye and thank you.

In doing that, I think a number of us can give significant advice to aspiring politicians, and the most fundamental advice is: don't dare even consider it unless you have a strong, dedicated, loyal, loving and charming wife. Without such a life partner, you would not survive, without sons who understand and their partners who also understand, you would not survive.

You cannot get elected without a support team, particularly as an Independent. As an Independent you need to put together individuals who are prepared to work with you and fund and finance you, and you need to be able to go back to that well every time. Again, I say thank you to those people, who, I might add, were dealt with harshly in this parliament at one time—inappropriately, dishonestly and harshly—because they became victims of an attack on me.

You cannot survive without some key loyal and trusted individuals who will give honest and frank advice and never let you down. There are a number of them in this place with whom I have built tremendous relationships. Some of them I can name, like Lea, Steph, Michael and Ian Gilfillan. I spent a lot of time with Ian Gilfillan. I found him quite a remarkable individual, and he gave me good counsel. And Karlene—without Di and Karlene, I would have never survived.

Others of you, though, who I will not name, gave me fantastic advice. I spoke to many people at the time I had the opportunity to go into cabinet. It was an enormous call for me, and I asked 70-odd people. One of them said to me (and these are his words), 'It is an honour that comes to few; you must take it and do your best.' Those words really helped me make that difficult decision.

Country members could not survive in this place without treating it as their home. We are the ones who spend so much time away and who do not have the opportunity, like the day scrags, to go home at night. So to Chrissie and Abby, Anthony and Basil, Sasha and Tania, and Lyn, Michelle and Biddy, and even dear Crystal, who I used to bait from time to time, I say thank you.

You need people to help you keep track of what is happening. Robyn, you are a gem. Only once did she threaten to interfere with my manhood, only once. Robyn, thank you.

You cannot survive in cabinet unless you trust and respect every other member of cabinet and know that collective decision-making will always be greater than that of an individual. It is sad that there is a side of Mike Rann that most South Australians, and certainly this opposition, will never see. Mike Rann, as the chairman of that cabinet, the director of a board that runs a $14 billion a year business, is an exceptional individual.

A number of people spoke to me when I made that decision, and they said, 'At some stage you will be compromised.' Never in 6½ years on that cabinet was there ever one vote, or was I ever part of a decision, that I did not believe was the best possible position for the state. If it were clear that we were not ready to deal with an issue, we would not be rushed; the Premier would say to those involved, 'Come back when you have got it sorted out.' He is a remarkable man, and that is a side of him that more people should have the honour of seeing.

You cannot make a difference without a dedicated team in your ministerial offices. Mick Petrovski was my chief of staff from day one. I walked into a fully equipped office—I might add that it was also a multimillion-dollar office. It was an office that had remained vacant for nine months; no-one on the Labor side could step over the divide into the office of John Olsen, premier. I walked in there as the lowest ranking minister, and there is a protocol that says that ministers should go to the higher ranking minister's office when you need to have a discussion. That was observed in the breach on every occasion; they all came to see the office. Mick Petrovski, Hugh Bowers, Stephen Campbell were great chiefs of staff, but the two people who really managed my lives, Carly and Lauren, were fantastic; and to the people who got me to places I should have been most of the time on time, Mick and Ray and Roger, you were fantastic. Once Roger got us lost, but I must not put that on the record!

At this stage there is a claim to fame; sometimes we like some reflected glory. Kate Ellis, we made you what you are (don't you wish!).

You cannot make a difference without a skilled, professional group of public servants. Sometimes we come into this place and we bag the people who make our state work, and we do it without thinking about how we diminish the respect they are due in the eyes of the state. We do them damage, and in the long run we do ourselves and the institution damage. Most of these remarkable public servants that I am talking about are, of course, above politics. They are the same people who served the last Liberal government, as they serve the present Labor government. Do not rush to criticise our senior public servants, who do the very best they can with what we give them.

I named only a few, because I think Jim Hallion is a remarkable public servant, as is Geoff Knight. But the next tier down: the Will Zacharins of this world; the Ian Nightingales; the Kris Roberts's; the Locky McLarens; the Ian Heinrichs; and the Dr, then Professor, Rob Lewis's. These are people who make a difference. There is one other remarkable public servant in this state who I know well but some of you do not, although some of the shadows do; that is Don Plowman. At some stage, I will look to the opportunity to see that he is given due respect across the state for the work he has done.

You cannot make a difference without building trust and respect with industry bodies and industry leaders. Again, sometimes I think we do that and then in the heat of the moment in here we diminish that and then we have to go back and reunite. I will only name two: to Wendy Campagna, I will say thank you, and to Carol Vincent, I will say 'I will give you a hug'. If you knew Carol Vincent's beliefs and you knew the job she did and continues to do in very difficult circumstances with the South Australian Farmers Federation, she has built some great bridges between government and that industry, and not necessarily great relationships with everyone in here.

There are some wonderful people in South Australia who do not mind telling you as it is, and I think all of us sometimes find that a bit confronting but, at the end of the day, enjoy it. It is the Michael Angelakises of this world who come storming at you sometimes and once you clear the fog there is a message. There are the Maurice Crottis, the Brian Jeffries, the Hagan Stehrs and the Stuart McNabs—all of us need to say to those people, 'Without you we can't function. Do not shy away from coming to us and telling us what you wish to tell us as it is. Then step back and allow us to do the best we can with it within the legislative process and within the Public Service.'

You cannot create wealth without asking others to give of their time and their direction. I need to acknowledge briefly those people who have served on the South Australian Wine Industry Council, and particularly the co-chairs Di Davidson and Louisa Rose, and those who have served on the Premier's Food Council, in particular Kris Lloyd and Bronwen Gwynn-Jones, again as co-chairs. We all need to say thank you to those people who give us so much to see that collectively we can make a difference in this state.

To the advisory board of agriculture and the ag bureaus and to so many of those peak industry bodies bureau, in sheep and beef and wine and bees—and, interestingly, Gerald Martin will spend a month with me on a Harley in the US next year and we will go over some of the stuff we did for the bee industry. The cabinet scoffed at me because I brought in a new membership group for the deer advisory board. We need deer advisory boards, and I told them that we needed deer advisory boards, and aquaculture boards and the people who manage sardines and all the rest of it.

There are people who are prepared to put their businesses on hold to help the state government with one of the most fundamental export businesses in Australia: it is called wine. In wine, we are 50 per cent of the nation by volume, we are 60 per cent by value and 70 per cent by export. When people like Jock Harvey, Cameron Ashmead and Brian Lynn are prepared to travel overseas with me to promote the wine industry, that is not a bad feat on both fronts. Those people sometimes get lost in the heat of the political battle and there are times when we need to step back together and say, 'Without you then we wouldn't be able to do what we want to do for this state.'

There are very few regrets that any of us are leaving with, but I think that sometimes we should put on the record things that we did not progress as well as we should have or as quickly as we should have. In that area, I would simply say that we are still missing the opportunity to use our limited research funds in the most appropriate way to gain benefit.

We still focus too much on production rather than on value. We do not focus enough on margin and on profit. That was a challenge I took nationally as well, and we baulked, and it is time for all of us to rethink where we spend research dollars and make sure we are spending them to get the best bang for the buck across the value chain because, quite frankly, we are beyond the sustainable limit if we just want to concentrate on production.

Mr Speaker, lastly I need to acknowledge the role you play and the parliamentary staff and, equally, the other house. It has been a wonderful journey. It is the right time for me to finish. It was an honour to be part of this house, a wonderful honour to represent my electorate, the fifth since 1938. I now look forward to handing over that banner to whoever, to hand that on. We all should do that as well, because no matter what the politics, there will be someone whom we need in our communities to represent us and to come here collectively to represent the state, and sometimes to go on from that nationally and even internationally, as the Premier indicated today in terms of one of the tasks he has. Thank you one and all.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. L. STEVENS (Little Para) (17:40): After nearly 16 years and four terms in this place, the time has come to say farewell, to reflect and make a few observations on those years and to say thank you. First and foremost, I thank the voters of the electorates of Elizabeth and Little Para, and I say both because both the name and the composition of my patch have changed quite significantly over the years. I thank them for the tremendous honour they have bestowed on me by electing me as their representative in the state parliament for four terms. I have lived and worked in the northern suburbs of Adelaide for more than 30 years and it has been the privilege of my life to be part of the community, to be trusted by the people and to work on their behalf in a range of settings, but particularly as their local member.

Over the years I have learnt that these communities have more strength, more resilience and more faith in themselves than any report or any analysis can describe, and that they have more to offer than what can be summarised in any study of disadvantage or despair, or any sensationalist cut-and-run media report. I am immensely proud to have been able to play a role in ensuring the continued redevelopment of the now magnificent Lyell McEwin Health Service, to have supported and developed new mental health and primary health care services and to have worked alongside local school communities and numerous groups and individuals who are the heart and soul of neighbourhoods. The years ahead hold great promise for the economic prosperity of the north. They also continue to hold great challenges in ensuring that these benefits can be enjoyed by all of its citizens. This remains the great social inclusion challenge that must be achieved.

As the member for Taylor said yesterday, I am extremely grateful for this time in politics and the wide range of experiences that this particular era presented. The struggle and frustration of opposition, the joys of delivering policy as a government minister and the satisfaction of making progress in the electorate as an experienced government backbencher. The first term, as part of a cricket team outnumbered three to one in this place, was about learning how to do politics from one of the best exponents of the game, our leader, Mike Rann. For me, coming from a senior position in education outside of politics, it was also about adjusting to the culture of this place and the workings of a political party. Furthermore, it was learning about the health and community services sector, understanding people's issues and learning how to use the power vested in the position of a shadow minister to highlight issues and effect change.

In the second term I was a shadow minister in a much larger team, honing these skills and developing policies for government. In the third term I was a minister in the new Rann government. In my case, as minister for health and as the minister assisting in social inclusion, I had the opportunity to put a lot of policy into practice. But even from a position as minister, with hands on many of the big policy levers, the exercise of power came with its own set of constraints and challenges. I learnt that delivering sustainable outcomes is a lot more than issuing edicts and passing laws: it is about managing and leading change, hanging in there and building support around new ideas and new ways of doing things.

I want to thank those people in the health system—the practitioners, the unions, the public servants, the community leaders and activists and the consumers—who responded to the reform agenda that came out of the Generational Health Review, which was the centrepiece of the Rann Labor campaign launch in 2002. All of us share achievements, such as the Every Chance for Every Child program (which the Premier mentioned), the shift in emphasis towards primary health care and the many other initiatives arising from that review.

Finally, in the fourth term as a government backbencher, I returned to my constituency and again saw that change and reform can occur by the power that comes from working alongside groups of people to achieve a common goal. I am proud to have supported the remaking and revitalisation of the Elizabeth Vale Primary School. I am proud to be leading a steering group to advance early childhood development in the Playford and Salisbury communities. I am proud to be working with the Central District Football Club to include the children of new arrivals in the sporting opportunities that it offers. My time has been a great 16 years of variety and challenge that I will always look on with pride.

Now to say thank you. I want to thank the Australian Labor Party for its support of me as a candidate and as a member. The party is not perfect. It has its faults, but it is the best fit for me; and its values and policy priorities are those that have greatly enhanced the lives of the people of my electorate, our state and the nation.

I thank my Labor colleagues for their confidence and their support in giving me the opportunity to take on a number of roles over the years. I think they know that I gave it my best shot. I thank other friends and colleagues in this parliament for their kind words and the opportunity to work constructively with them in various settings. I have particularly valued a number of close friendships amongst colleagues. I will not name them because they know who they are. We have had some great laughs, a few tears and a wonderful camaraderie over the years, particularly in this last term.

I also want to thank my predecessor in the seat of Elizabeth, Martyn Evans, for his help and support over the years. I thank the Hon. Frank Blevins, who was in our first caucus and in the final years of his illustrious career. Frank has been the best mentor, and is a trusted friend and confidant who has been there for me (as he has for many others) through the good and the bad times. I wish to acknowledge my staff—those who have been with me in the electorate—who have understood the need to have a 'can do' approach to all our constituents and who have done so well representing me and serving our community.

I also wish to acknowledge all my ministerial staff, particularly chiefs of staff Geoff Loveday and Danny Broderick and the rest of the team who shared the blood, sweat and tears and the highs and the lows of daring to take on a big change agenda and to achieve something lasting.

Finally, I need to thank my husband, Mike, and my family and close friends for always being there and believing in me. Mike and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary earlier this year. We have been a great partnership, and we intend to continue this and have many more adventures together.

I will miss this place, with all its characters and idiosyncrasies. I thank all the staff who have helped me throughout the years in so many ways. I wish the other retiring members well in their future activities and I wish everyone here the very best of health and happiness as they continue in their roles as members of parliament.

Mrs PENFOLD (Flinders) (17:50): Standing here today, I think just how quickly the 16 years have gone. I vividly remember standing in this chamber shaking in my boots and feeling sick in the stomach when I had the honour of giving the first Address in Reply of the new Liberal government in 1993, which was my maiden speech as the member for Flinders. While I still have those butterfly feelings, I have not lost any of my determination to represent my wonderful constituents to the best of my ability. I am a strong Liberal, as I believe in the Liberal philosophy of private enterprise and individual responsibility, while caring for our environment and those people who cannot look after themselves. I believe that we cannot properly look after the people and the environment unless businesses are successful, employ people and pay taxes on their profits to do it with. I thank the Liberal Party for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

The vast Flinders electorate is awesome, and I feel privileged that I have been able to live and work there and represent the people of Eyre Peninsula in parliament. There are so many issues that have come through the office over these years that it would be impossible to mention them all but, at the end of the day, it all comes down to the people. They are the salt of the earth—creative and resilient, who during the 16 years have had some good times and some bad, and we have shared them together.

When I was first elected, we were mostly reliant on farming and fishing, but we have diversified well beyond these industries, with aquaculture and tourism leading the way. We are now poised to go another step by developing our minerals. Over the 16 years we have seen the boom of the aquaculture industries. We have gone ahead in leaps and bounds, in sea-mussel farms, land and sea-based abalone farms, kingfish farms and oyster farms in Ceduna, Smoky Bay, Streaky Bay, Franklin Harbour and, of course, Coffin Bay. We have world's best practice for tuna fishing and farming. Cleanseas at Arno Bay has been able to close the life cycle that will lead to the long-term sustainability of this species. Fishing industries, including prawns, crayfish, pilchards and a myriad of other scalefish species, have been developed and carefully managed so that our products are exported to the world and are world renowned.

Roads have been sealed, boat ramps built and jetties upgraded. Establishing the ferry service between Cowell and Wallaroo was a significant highlight, and I look forward to the service resuming as quickly as possible with a new purpose-built ferry, indigenous land agreements in place and road infrastructure realigned to allow the trucking industry to take advantage of it.

Tourism has gone from strength to strength as Australians and international visitors discover the magic of Eyre Peninsula—places the locals have known and valued. The cruise industry, I believe, will become a major part of this industry in the future.

I have been thrilled to see two major wind farms built and become operational at Cathedral Rocks and Mount Millar. As one of the best wind power sites in the world, the west coast of Eyre Peninsula is poised to further develop green power for the benefit of all Australians, with Jacob Cherian's 300 megawatt wind farm ready to go at Elliston to help provide the green power needed by our mining industries.

Water, however, continues to be the biggest blight on all the positive and exciting developments that have occurred on Eyre Peninsula, and I am disappointed that opportunities have been lost by SA Water and this government despite millions of dollars being expended. I am hopeful that the next member may be able to see desalination plants established, which are necessary to ensure the long-term viability and prosperity of our region, with the further diversification of products and value adding before export, but that no desalination plant is ever built at Point Lowly on the Upper Spencer Gulf.

No member represents their electorate alone. I take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in parliament on both sides of the chamber and their staff, and all the other staff within this amazing building, who have been so kind and helpful to me—the parliamentary support staff, Hansard, library and building staff, the attendants, the computer and technical gurus and the cleaners. I also especially include the kitchen and serving staff who have helped me put on a kilogram of weight for every year I have been here. It is just as well that I am leaving.

I want to thank the departmental staff from all government departments, particularly those public servants who have helped to make some of my plans a reality—and they know who they are. Many of the questions in parliament, letters I have written (many addressed to ministers), submissions and speeches were intended for departmental officers and, while the responses I received may not have indicated success, subsequent actions often did.

All this information is available on my website which averaged around 30,000 hits per month for many years with amazing amounts of downloads. Last month the top 10 downloads included 98 that were submissions and letters about the water issue on Eyre Peninsula—which is an indication of the concern people have about our water resources.

I especially give my thanks and my love to those who have supported me through thick and thin in good and not so good health: my husband of 41 years—I cannot beat Rory with all the adjectives, but I certainly would not be in this place without Geoff—my brother, John, my daughters, Susan and Katrina, and her husband, Shaun, Liberal branch members, friends (who have been forever steadfast in their support) and my wonderful communities across the Eyre Peninsula.

I thank my former staff and trainees, but most particularly I thank the current Flinders team —a dynamic and diverse bunch ranging in age from 21 to 78 years of age. Angela, Julie, Perry, Daphne, Bel, Melanie and Penny will assist me in packing up the filing system that has extended to 92 drawers and 88 boxes—not a bad effort for 16 years—and they still manage to locate that specific piece of paper when it is needed.

I wish everyone the best for their future, particularly those retiring members; may you all have a wonderful Christmas and a great new year. I leave here without regrets knowing that I have done everything with honesty, commitment, good intent and to the best of my ability. I wish the next member for Flinders every success. I look forward to new challenges, with fascinating projects on the horizon, and, mostly, spending time with my husband and family members, and my gorgeous grandchildren, Mahlon and Evelyn (Evie).


[Sitting extended beyond 18:00 on motion of Hon. M.J. Atkinson]


The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD (Chaffey—Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water Security) (17:55): As leader of the National Party in this house, I join with members to wish the staff of parliament a very merry Christmas and all the best for a happy New Year, and I thank them for the work they do to assist the smooth running of the house and the courteous and efficient manner with which they carry out their duties.

As a country member, as was mentioned by previous members, I am particularly grateful for the friendships that I have developed over the years with many who work in this place; they certainly make my home away from home a better place to be.

Today is the last day, as we know, for five sitting members in this house. It has been tremendous to listen to their final speeches in the house and to recognise the wonderful contributions they have made over the years they have been members in this place.

First, I again pay tribute to the member for Stuart who has been a staunch advocate in this place for nearly 40 years. I have greatly appreciated his wise counsel. He is certainly a marvellous example of what a local member should be.

To both Lea and Trish—the members for Little Para and Taylor—you have been fantastic friends and great members of parliament and contributed to this state in an enormous way through your contributions as members and, also, as ministers. I know that we will be keep in touch beyond the parliament days, because I have really enjoyed knowing you and I intend to keep in touch in the future.

To Liz, I have to say that no-one has more passion for their community than you do, and the commitment you have shown to the people of Flinders has been an extraordinary effort over the years. No-one in this place could doubt your commitment to your people, so well done for your contribution to the place, as well.

Then there is Rory. It has been an extraordinary 12 years since Rory and I first entered this place in 1997. We were complete strangers, thrown into a balance of power situation. I do not think anyone could have scripted where we would have ended up after that 1997 election. No-one could have scripted where the next 12 years would take us. We have ended up making a great team and we have developed a great friendship, between our families and between ourselves, and those friendships will last a lifetime.

During Rory's contribution as member for Mount Gambier and minister for various portfolios, including trade and economic development, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, regional development and small business, he has delivered great things for this state and great things for many South Australians. He paved the way for a historic rethink of how the Westminster cabinet conventions could be redeveloped to encompass a unique set of political circumstances. In a report that was undertaken back in October 2006 by Norman Abjorensen from the Australian National University titled 'Rethinking Westminster: South Australia's Cabinet Experiment', he says:

The agreements signed represent some of the most significant departures—'remarkable and possibly unprecedented'—from the Westminster system yet enacted anywhere, and are contained in an extraordinary document drawn up by the late Bradley Selway, then South Australia's Solicitor-General, later a Federal Court judge...for example, [the agreement states]:

The Premier and the minister agree that the minister will have a special position in cabinet that, by reason of his/her non-affiliation with the Labor Party, there is a class of issues in respect of which it will not always be possible for the minister to be bound by a cabinet decision.

Clause 2.7 exempts the minister from having to comply with Labor policies in relation to:

significant matters affecting the business community; and

issues believed to be matters of conscience.

It was an extraordinary agreement at the time and, as Rory's contribution has attested, it is one that has stood the test of time. It is certainly an agreement that could not have been possible without the extraordinary support of the Premier of this state, Mike Rann, and also his able deputy Kevin Foley and Patrick Conlon, who were the masterminds of this particular arrangement.

Twelve months after Rory, I joined the cabinet, and there was substantial work behind the scenes, I understand, to make that happen, and I thank all those involved in giving me this amazing privilege.

Rory is very much a can-do, practical person, who has worked hard to deliver much-needed industry reforms in an inclusive and pragmatic way. From the very first day I met Rory, he was always willing to provide much-needed advice and, as a brand new and extremely green member, I was in need of that advice and I was on a very steep learning curve. Rory was my mentor. I learnt much about grassroot politics from Rory, which has stood me in good stead to this day, and I have no doubt he will continue to provide sage advice well into the future.

As the long and the short of it, we have become a solid team and often found ourselves amid controversial circumstances. I recall well the days when we shared an office in the basement and the 'Fonlons' were frequent visitors. For those who do not know, that is Patrick Conlon and Kevin Foley: we used to refer to them as the Fonlons. They were frequent visitors through our revolving door. They were not always friendly discussions. I recall one memorable quote from the member for Elder when he declared to the member for Mount Gambier (the member for Gordon, as he was then), 'You're not an Independent; you're an invertebrate. If you had any less backbone, we'd have to carry you around in a bucket.' Of course, the member for Elder was quite wrong about that.

Every interest group in the state who had a barrow to push made their way to our office to seek our support. I learnt from Rory how to reserve opinion and how to seek additional information before passing judgment on any issue.

Of course, then came Tilly Rose, and we swapped offices in our shared rooms downstairs so that I could access a small room to the side of Rory's office as a nursery for Tilly. He became her much-loved Uncle Rory, culminating in them now collectively growing large pumpkins together. Uncle Rory is her skilled mentor in how to grow very large pumpkins.

Rory was also instrumental in seeing this place, the parliament, move outside this esteemed building for the very first time to Mount Gambier, and what an experience that was for not only all of us as members but also for the community of Mount Gambier. These are the kinds of things that Rory would do. He would think outside the square, and he would make things happen.

I remember well all the dinners that I had in the early days with Di, when she used to come to Adelaide (very infrequently in recent years) and with Lincoln and Lachlan, Rory and Di's two wonderful boys, and then, of course, their two wonderful girlfriends, Jo and Emma-Jane. I have promised to keep up the tradition with Lincoln and Lachlan and continue to have them into Parliament House for dinner. It would not be right to go past a dinner with the boys when parliament is sitting. Also, Di has assured me that when she is in town she will definitely pop in.

We have achieved much together, Rory and I. I have the greatest respect and admiration for Rory, and should I be re-elected in March I will sadly miss him as a political ally in this place. I expect to come across Rory, though, in many other forums, as I am certain that he will continue to make a major contribution to society in a range of ways beyond politics. I wish you and Di and your families well as you embark upon your future beyond politics. I have enjoyed the ride, and all the best for the future.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

Mrs PENFOLD (Flinders) (18:06): I thank the Speaker for his indulgence in allowing me to pay tribute to the member for Stuart. I let my colleagues speak ahead of me this morning, and time ran out. My good friend the honourable member for Stuart is a living history of the Parliament of South Australia from a country perspective, and regularly tells stories of the many adventures he has had while representing the constituents of his huge electorates. I hope he will take the time one day to write his memoirs.

When first elected to the seat of Stuart 40 years ago Mr Gunn had few of the advantages of modern transport and technology. The difficulties of being a regional member must have been almost unimaginable. There was an air service from Port Lincoln to Adelaide, but to get there Graham had to go over dirt roads from his farm, near Streaky Bay on Eyre Peninsula. While we have a few more sealed highways now than when Graham started, we still have more dirt roads than any other local government districts in this state.

Communication was by post, telephone or telegrams, the last mentioned having now gone out of use altogether. Who could have imagined the changes that are commonplace today—emails over any distance that allow immediate response, mobile phones with all their attachments, the internet and websites. Fax machines were almost magic when introduced, yet that method of communication is on the decline. Graham has managed to cope with all these changes and was one of the first to ask me how to use Skype in order to communicate with his much loved grandchildren.

In just one generation communication has changed forever, and Graham has been there in the midst of it. It is virtually impossible for children today to understand and appreciate how difficult communication was and the time it took to make a request and to get a reply to research information or to gather data. Then there is the speed of communication by satellite, which would have been an imaginative fairytale, like Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, when Graham first entered parliament. Graham used his satellite phone regularly when he recently took a group of us across isolated Googs Track, north of Ceduna, through the scrub to the railway and back down the Glendambo to Wirrula Road to check possible routes for an all-weather road for future Outback tourism and mining ventures.

Advances in communication have made our world smaller. Where once it took two weeks to learn of some disaster in another part of the world, we now see the images on the same day as it happens. This, too, has affected the way a member of parliament does his or her job.

Graham was elected as the member for Eyre in the North-West of South Australia. Then, with the change in electoral boundaries that electorate was abolished and Graham came to represent the electorate of Stuart in the North-East of the state, far removed from his beloved farm. It is a tribute to his concern for his constituents that he has been able to hold the electorate of Stuart and beat off all challenges over many elections, often against expectations, particularly of the Labor Party at the last election.

This understanding and empathy for isolated families and his support for the provision of services for vast areas of the Outback have ensured him strong support in these regions. His knowledge of the pastoral industry in Outback areas is supreme, and I regularly call upon him to assist me with advice or information in my own electorate when issues arise concerning them. It is not until one has lived in such circumstances and actually had to deal with all the difficulties that arise compared with life in a metropolis that one fully appreciates his achievements and the vastness of the region he covers. It is fitting that Graham's base is in Port Augusta, the crossroads of Australia. Ceduna was in the electorate of Eyre and is now part of my electorate of Flinders, but even after 16 or more years Graham is still recognised and remembered with affection and respect across my electorate.

One of Graham's many qualities that I value is his ability to look at proposed legislation and pick holes in it, to recognise weaknesses and areas that need to be changed before a bill becomes law. When I first came into parliament, at times I thought he might be exaggerating but now, as we leave, I am well aware that he was usually right in his assessments. His understanding of country life and living has benefited everyone living outside Adelaide and its suburbs. He has been a strong fighter for them, relieving their difficulties and problems, and overcoming the obstacles raised by a lack of understanding. It would be good if every South Australian could, for a time, live in the furthest reaches of the electorate of Stuart to better appreciate the differences between city and country life. Graham Gunn's value as the member for Stuart might then be realised by many more people.

I congratulate Graham on holding the office of speaker. His knowledge of parliamentary process and the Westminster system is profound, as a number of previous speakers have stated. It takes time to learn the minutiae of procedure and use parliamentary offices with confidence. Graham's skill in these areas was valuable in fulfilling the role of speaker, in which his fairness was also evident—although I have been amused at some of the anecdotes he has told of those times, including one about mixing up the order of questions during question time and totally confusing members and ministers. I applaud his support for the Westminster system of government, which South Australia follows. Although it takes various forms and has some weaknesses, it is the best system of government in the world with the checks and balances of its two house system, and Graham has fought to keep the integrity of the system throughout his time here.

I also thank Graham's wife, Jan, for her support over the almost 40 years of her husband's parliamentary service. In this work one's partner must be 100 per cent committed and supportive or the relationship can fail. Graham is proud of his sons' achievements, along with their attachment to his own love of farming. The family's cohesiveness is a tribute to Graham and to Jan's strength as a wife and mother under what must have been very difficult circumstances at times.

I must also mention Graham's staff and the support they have given him, particularly Helen Stribley, who has been Graham's loyal and efficient assistant in Parliament House for many years. Helen's knowledge and experience has also been invaluable to me and my staff during my time as the member for Flinders.

The quality of life in country communities depends on volunteers, and therefore I am sure that Graham will quickly become involved in his region in ways in which he will use his experience and knowledge for the benefit of the groups with which he works. I know that I and many others will not hesitate to use his considerable knowledge in the future.

I thank Graham for his assistance to me personally and for his service to his constituents and to the people of South Australia. I wish him well in his retirement from parliament. I support this morning's motion and ask that my tribute be included with those of my colleagues.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (18:13): Once again we are at the end of another parliamentary session. It has been a long and challenging but I think for many of us a fulfilling year. As is the custom, I would like to thank all those who make the parliament work for us, including the clerk and the table staff, with years and years of corporate knowledge. Politicians come and go, but the clerks are always with us.

I particularly appreciate the Hansard staff, as they are some of the few literate people in the chamber. I thank the library staff; the catering staff, for the delicious and nutritious fare; the cellarmaster; the finance and management staff, who keep the place organised and make sure that our pays arrive on time; the building services staff, particularly the caretakers who keep watch through the night. I am one of those members of parliament who stay back after the house has risen, and I do my files in my office. I know that sometime between 10.30pm and 2am a caretaker will launch into my office with the benefit of the master key and, seeing me there, will say, 'I'm sorry; I was just coming to turn the lights off,' which I think gives the lie to a certain story that has been circulating. Thank you to the government publishers.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Mate, if you're going to play up like that I wouldn't do it in my parliament office—just a word of advice.

An honourable member: Wouldn't be the first.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Well, maybe not; it's just my advice. I thank parliamentary counsel who do such an outstanding job of turning our inchoate thoughts into bills, into clauses and subclauses, paragraphs and subparagraphs; the police security, who protect us from potential dangers; the drivers who drive ministers and the opposition leader and deputy opposition leader and chairmen of committees about, always the minimum distance in the minimum time and they are so discreet; the electorate officers who must bear the brunt of angry and sometimes vexatious constituents; ministerial policy staff who save ministers from themselves; our families, who, as was said earlier—I think Tony Abbott said, 'We are volunteers, but they are conscripts'—suffer a great deal and express a high level of patience while we spend so many hours in this place.

Forgive me if I have failed to mention anyone, but sincere thanks on behalf of the government. It is only fitting to thank you, Mr Speaker—arguably I think the best speaker I have ever seen in 20 years in this place. No offence, Gunny, but we never got on at that time.

Dr McFetridge: Whose fault is that?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Mine; all mine. Gunny never named me but he did ratify my naming by an acting speaker.

Mr Kenyon: Probably the least you deserved.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Yes; it was the least deserved naming in the history of the house. Frank Blevins was apoplectic with rage and defied Gunny to throw him out which Gunny quite sensibly did not. And don't worry: I got even with that acting speaker anyway.

It is only fair for me to apologise on behalf of all the members for our bad behaviour especially in recent times. I know we had you at the end of your tether at times but, sir, our misbehaviour is part of the tapestry of representative government. I am going to try to make it a new year's resolution to be on my best behaviour when this place resumes but only if the member for Bragg will join me in taking the pledge. I do not assume that I will be back, nor do I assume that the member for Bragg will be back, but it is my offer to her.

This term has been yet another one of significant legislative reform in South Australia. I understand that 237 bills have passed since the 2006 general election. Never mind the quality, feel the width. This includes a very valuable handful of private members' bills from the Leader of the Opposition today—well, I hope it has gone through the other place—from the Hon. Ann Bressington, the Hon. Dennis Hood, and the honourable member for Davenport. There may be others.

An honourable member: John Dawkins.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Yes, the Hon. John Dawkins. These private members' bills have passed with the support of the government or at least most government members.

Mr Venning interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: We made the member for Schubert's drug bill law—as a government bill, and I thank the member for Schubert for the concept. As Attorney-General, I have had the pleasure of debating and steering a large portion of that legislation through this place, and I must admit that I enjoyed the long nights in this chamber spent alone either with the member for Heysen or the member for Bragg—oh, no, chaperoned by the Speaker. I would be most disappointed if I could not enjoy their company in the next parliament.

It is with great sadness that I say that there will be another general election in March and that some faces will not return to this place, probably some that we have not farewelled today. I take this opportunity to thank the MPs who are retiring from the government. From the government, I would like to thank and congratulate the member for Taylor, who recorded that it was me who asked her to stand for parliament for the first time, and the member for Little Para in whose successful by-election victory in 1994 I played a small part. I well recall that election because Labor was receiving preferences from the Marijuana Party and their how-to-vote card distributors had not turned up at any of the booths. A desperate phone call was made and it was explained that neither their activist nor their voters got out of bed before lunchtime.

I would also like to thank the member for Mount Gambier, who I can call a friend and who has given me sage advice both before and after entering cabinet. He served as a distinguished member of cabinet in the Rann Labor government for seven years. I understand this is the last sitting day of the member for Flinders, who, indeed, was always passionate about the Eyre Peninsula and Port Lincoln. I have paced the foreshore with her in a howling gale, and I wish her the best in her new career.

A special thank you is in order for the member for Stuart, not merely the father of the house but I think the grandfather of the house. I will miss his special way with words, his special vocabulary—villains, pen-pushers, bureaucrats, over mighty, inspectors, Sir Humphreys—and I hope his special vocabulary is not lost in the next parliament. He did over my candidates again and again: two photo finishes; two losses.

Ms Chapman: Second is always last.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: No, second is not always last, Ralph Clarke came third in Enfield. But, you know, look, Gunny, it does not matter whether you win by a short—

Ms Chapman: Resurrected from the dead.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: We are like that now. In fact, I broke the news to him in Peel Street that Tony Abbott had been elected as leader of the federal parliamentary Liberal Party and he could see the joy shining out of me that someone just like me was now leader of a federal party. Gunny, it does not matter whether you win by a short half head or the length of the straight, you always got there, even when we ran two candidates against you.

Mr Pederick: How many?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Two. I would love to show that picture of you staggering out of that London taxi. I thought that was the high point of our relationship. We tried, but we failed. You beat us, Gunny, you were too good. I wish everyone a safe Christmastide and not to indulge in much revelry before Christmas because, of course, it is a season anciently of fasting and abstinence, and those of you who are attending Holy Mass will see that the altar frontals and the vestments are deep purple, it being a season of penance. I hope to see many of you in the new year.

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (18:25): I rise to support the comments not only of the Attorney but also everyone who has spoken this afternoon. As one of the newer members of the parliament, it has been quite inspiring to hear the reflections of those members who have chosen voluntarily to retire. In all of it, though, what shone through for me was the fact that they were extremely humbled by the opportunity provided to them by the people in their communities who deemed them worthy of representing them in the parliament.

It is an enormous responsibility and privilege that we must all respect. If those who are staying here (sometimes for the wrong reasons) had the opportunity to listen to the contributions of all the retiring members today, they would not only think about themselves and how they have acted but also they would recognise the outstanding qualities of all those people who came to this role through different circumstances—I respect that—but all of them, once in here, worked diligently for the benefit of their own community and, indeed, for the state.

The Hon. Lea Stevens (the member for Little Para), the Hon. Trish White (the member for Taylor), the Hon. Graham Gunn (the member for Stuart), Liz Penfold (the member for Flinders) and the Hon. Rory McEwen (the member for Mount Gambier) can be proud of what they said this afternoon and, indeed, proud of their service over periods varying between 39 years and 10 months down to some 15 years. All those periods of service have no doubt been very challenging to them. They have dedicated their lives to it, often at personal cost with respect to family situations, but overwhelmingly I think they have done the people of South Australia proud. On behalf of the opposition, I formally offer my congratulations to all those members. I hope that other people who follow them come into this place with the same attitude and the same respect for the opportunities provided to them.

I also recognise briefly that the Hon. Robert Lawson and the Hon. Caroline Schaefer are retiring from the other place. As my colleagues, I am very respectful of the mentoring role they have taken with me as one of the newer members of the parliament. I express my gratitude to them for the contributions they have made to South Australia, the Liberal Party, the Legislative Council and, indeed, to the needs of the state since 1993 when they both entered the other place. They can be very proud also. They, like the retiring five members of the House of Assembly, came in for exactly the right reasons and they dedicated their lives to it.

I also pay tribute to your efforts, Mr Speaker, over the last year, in particular. I know that it is often a challenging role in difficult times. The attitudes of some members present difficulties for you, but overwhelmingly I think that the people of South Australia respect the role that you have undertaken. I acknowledge the way in which you have performed that role, again, in times that were not the best when the questions, answers and interjections created a lot of tension within the chamber. Overwhelmingly, we have been led by your judgment and your skill. Congratulations; you should be very proud indeed.

I also acknowledge the Deputy Speaker and the acting speakers who have acted on your behalf on occasions and assumed the role of chair of committees. I have tried to be in this chamber as much as possible to learn from the experience that is the parliament, and it is hard not to be impressed by those people who assumed the role of chair of committees and who have been overwhelmingly very fair. I respect that fact, so well done to everyone who has been involved. To the member for Reynell, congratulations on the responsible way in which you have undertaken the role of Deputy Speaker.

I also want to pay tribute to the Government Whip. It is fair to say that Robyn is a great lady and our side of the chamber respect her enormously. She is a person who can be approached at any time. It is obvious to me that Robyn is willing to talk and to achieve an outcome that benefits the parliament in South Australia. She is a very approachable lady and we find her a delightful person to work with. Congratulations, Robyn, on your role as whip for the last 12 months. Our own whip, Ivan Venning, has had a bit of a challenge trying to control our mob sometimes, there is no doubt about that. However, we respect enormously what Ivan has done for us.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson interjecting:

Mr GRIFFITHS: True. He brings a rather unique perspective to it. He has support from two deputy whips, the member for Hammond and the member for Kavel. Overwhelmingly, in his role as whip, the member for Schubert tries as much as is humanly possible to ensure that the appropriate member is in the chamber at the appropriate time and that the business of the house is able to be conducted.

I respect enormously the words of the member for Mount Gambier, who talked about our life partners who support us in this chamber, and I want to pay tribute to them. As a new member, and a regional one at that, it is the separation from family that I find extremely difficult to deal with. The time apart is very long. No matter what level of telephone conversation you have with your partner, when you do eventually see each other again you are never quite sure what you have talked about and what you have missed out on.

When I am with my wife again we try to spend as much time as we can together, but the time apart is enormously challenging for all the regional members—and, indeed, for the metropolitan members, who lead very busy lives and are often separated from their family. However, for regional members, who quite often are away from home for five or six days at a time, it is very hard to keep your sanity towards the end of a sitting week. So, to all those who support any member of parliament—wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, children—you all make an enormous difference and allow us to do our jobs and represent the people who put us here.

It is also appropriate that I pay tribute to the efforts of all the people who make the parliament work: the clerk, the deputy clerk, all the chamber staff, the Hansard staff (which, as the Attorney mentioned, is a great challenge on occasion), the dining and catering staff, the library staff, the building services staff, the PNSG staff, who make sure that our computers work, and the education officer. At the beginning of my time here I found the conducted tours to be very beneficial. I wanted to know as much about the parliament as I could, so I went on the first couple of tours to learn everything about the history of the place, and now I love taking school groups through the parliament.

As the Premier said tonight, it is the people's parliament. We have been here for a little over 152½ years, and I believe that only about 750 people have been elected to the parliament. Those 69 of us who are here now have to pay tribute to those who came before us and provided the foundations upon which we now work. I also pay tribute to the corporate services staff who, as the Attorney mentioned, ensure that we get our pay on time and who also make arrangements for our travel needs and pay the accounts for the electorate offices, and parliamentary counsel who are able to decipher the gibberish and incoherent sentences that we suddenly express to them when we ask for amendments to be drafted.

With respect to the drivers, it is a great honour, and the member for Stuart reflected upon the fact that it is the greatest benefit that a member of parliament can have, because it allows them to ensure that they get to places on time and also to work while in a vehicle. Ministers spend an enormous amount of time travelling to different commitments, and I can understand that. However, regional members also spend an enormous amount of time travelling, and I am now provided with a driver. I pay tribute to Patrick, as has the member for Bragg in the past. I recognise that he keeps me sane, and I am sorry that I am sometimes grumpy when I am in the car with him. No doubt we all have difficult, challenging times, and we take it out on those close to us. I also pay tribute to the security staff, who ensure that the building is safe. Overwhelmingly, it is the collective effort of all those people that ensures this place works.

Being here for the length the time that I have, I believe the challenges that the parliament has in providing for the people of South Australia is an enormous responsibility. We do the best that we can as the 69 members of this place, but it is the people who work behind the scenes who make it possible for us. So, I pay tribute to all those people. Their efforts are certainly recognised, and I know that there is not a member who does not appreciate everything that they do, because they make it possible for us.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas. I understand that the result of the election on 20 March will probably mean that some of us who wish to be in here will no longer be here. That will provide an opportunity for others to follow. However, I congratulate on their efforts those people who will not have the opportunity to continue to serve, no matter what period of time it has been. I think that politics is the most challenging role that any person can take in life. You are the public face all the time. In your own community you are seen as being continually at call, and that is appropriate, because you need to be, but it requires absolutely the best people. That is why the democracy in which we live, the wonderful place that is Australia, which provides an opportunity for any person to stand as a member, should be preserved and lauded around the world.

We provide opportunities to people who might never have contemplated a career in politics, or who sometimes come in on single issues but become more open to the broader perspective of what government is truly about—and sometimes those shining lights come from strange places.

I hope that the campaign period as we approach it now, after a slight rest over the Christmas/new year period, will be an evenly fought one. No doubt, it will be a hard fought one, but one in which, importantly, the 1.1 million voters of South Australia have the opportunity to exercise their democratic right and to ensure that they vote appropriately and from an informed position. Merry Christmas to everyone, and let us hope we have a wonderful new year and that, indeed, our state celebrates a wonderful 2010.

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (18:35): I would like to put on the record some thanks. This is my last opportunity in this session of parliament to speak. I thank all parliamentary staff. I will not go through each individual person but I thank all the parliamentary staff. I thank them for their support and hard work. I acknowledge that I was well served by them in my first term here. I would also like to pay tribute to my electorate staff. It is not an easy task working for someone like me and I thank them for their hard work and support throughout the years. I acknowledge the contribution they have made and that they will make leading up to the election.

I also thank my parliamentary colleagues for their great advice and support. I must acknowledge that when I first got elected I was probably a little green and made a few errors. I welcome and acknowledge their support and advice. I thank all the ministers and their staff whom I have badgered, annoyed and pestered, but I thank them for their good grace and their advice and support and also for the results they have helped me deliver. I thank the Premier and his staff. I acknowledge the support I have received from the Premier. He has always been able to come to my electorate when I have required him to do so; and that has not gone unnoticed.

I thank my community, including the RSL club, sporting clubs, faith groups, seniors groups, service clubs, the schools and the school councils. I thank the community at large, including the farmers at one end of the electorate and the grape growers at the other end. I acknowledge the contribution of those people who are trying to rebuild the Peachey Belt and the people in my home town of Gawler whom I have served for many years.

I would also like to thank my sub-branch members who have put up with my reports on a monthly basis. The sub-branch has just celebrated its centenary year and it is fitting that for the centenary year that both the state and federal members are Labor—and we hope to maintain that in the coming years. I also acknowledge the elected members and officers of the constituent councils. We do not always agree on things, but we have developed good working relationships in order to get things done for the community, especially those we have in common.

I would also like to put on record my apology for any errors and omissions I may have been responsible for in my first term. These are not the ones that people have already pointed out but, rather, the ones that have not been pointed out; so I apologise for errors and omissions. I have tried to do my best, but I am sure I have made stuff-ups from time to time.

Before I was elected to this place, I was campaigning for this position and I remember going to a public meeting—a rather infamous public meeting. I will not go through all the details, but I ended my speech that night by saying that I wanted to be a local member and not a politician. I would like to think I have maintained that commitment.

I wish the members for Little Para, Taylor, Stuart, Flinders and Mount Gambier the best in their retirement and concur with the comments made by other members. I wish them well and acknowledge their contribution this parliament.

Finally, I thank my extended family that has supported me. Certainly, last but not least, my immediate family, I would like to thank my two sons Raffael and Stefan. We are a small but effective unit that works hard together. Over this time, there have been some trying and challenging times and we have worked through those.

I would like to say now that, God and the community willing, I hope to join the other first termers to serve the community in the next session of parliament, and continue to serve my electorate of Light. I wish everyone well, and members of the opposition also.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (18:42): Briefly, as Opposition Whip, I want to thank you, Mr Speaker, for your cooperation from the opposition side in relation to the running of this house, and, also, indeed, the clerk and table staff. I also thank my colleagues, who have put up with me for four years. I have been very ably assisted by the member for Hammond and, recently, the member for Kavel. I thank them very much. It is not an easy job being the whip. I believe every member should have at least one term in that position.

Finally, I pay the greatest tribute to the Government Whip. I have certainly enjoyed working with the member for Torrens. We have a trust. There have been some difficult times and we have got through. I certainly pay her the greatest tribute, because she has done I do not know how many terms as whip. I do not have a great desire to continue as whip, but she has certainly done a great job.

Also, to all those members here, I will say this: I do not often agree with the member for Mount Gambier (Hon. Rory McEwen) but I agree with what he said about this place being a family. As my deputy leader just said, for country members, the people who work in this place are our family and, when you are away from home, they become very important to you.

Finally, before I sit down, I do not know what we are going to do without you Gunny. I am going to miss you very much, and I will think of you a lot. To Liz, my other good friend, good luck for the future. Merry Christmas to all members.

Mr KENYON (Newland) (18:44): As a marginal seat member, I am acutely aware that my end is not my own, so I will say a few words, if I may. A little while ago, when I came into this place I set myself a task that I would try to leave this state and my electorate better off because I was here. I think I can say that I have done that, and finishing that bill today is probably the best contribution I have made in this place.

I wish I had done some things better, particularly when I first started. But who doesn't? I came in here hoping to make people proud, and I think they would be proud, but I think they would expect me to do more, and it is my intention to do so. I will be seeking the endorsement of my community to do that.

I wish to thank my family, especially Tina. I wish to thank the Premier, someone who, I have to admit, I have underestimated, and I think that most people do, in fact. In some ways I hope that continues because it is to our very great benefit. The more I come to know him and the more I see the way he operates, the more respect I have for him.

I would like to thank my staff especially, Rosie, Michael, Chad, Sam, Sean and Carrie-Ann. I would like to thank my colleagues, and I would especially like to wish well those who are retiring. Lea, the member for Stuart—Gunny (who I already spoke about today)—and Liz, I hope you have a fine retirement. I will miss the member for Taylor. I wish her well.

I will miss the member for Mount Gambier, and I wish him well. Just the other day I shared a Salada biscuit with him in the back hall. I was reflecting at the time that we would not be able to do that again, and that is a sad thing.

I would like to thank the parliamentary staff for their efforts. They have certainly been a help to me. I would have been at a complete loss without their assistance. Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you. You helped me get here, and I hope you will help me stay. I have certainly appreciated your friendship over the four years.

One thing that I did not expect was the attachments that you form with your community in your electorate. I did not expect it, but I am very pleased to have experienced it. You get invited to funerals, you get invited to significant events in people's lives, and you cannot go to those events and not be affected by it in some way. I am glad I have been, and I am better for it.

I mentioned Jack Lang speaking to Paul Keating when I made my maiden speech. He said that when you get into this place don't think you have a lot of time, because you don't. I thought that was right when I came in here, and now I know it was right, and I think the next three months will probably bring that home even more. I do not take it for granted, but I look forward to being here for another four years, but if I am not here I thank everybody for the experience of being here.

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (18:48): I will be brief because I do not want to hold everybody up. I want to say thank you to everyone in Parliament House who looks after us. In particular, thank you to my colleagues. I am very sad that a number are leaving us, because there are some with whom we have built up special friendships.

Indeed, I will miss Gunny. He has been just a great sounding board. He has always told the truth. If you asked him for advice you got his very best advice, like it or not. He was a great person to work with, and I shall miss him greatly. To members of the opposition, thank you. We have worked cooperatively together. As the deputy said, if we are going to make things work in this place, even if we do not agree on things, the process of making things work is very important. Merry Christmas to you all and happy new year. I think I said last time, we will come back and do it again next year.

The SPEAKER (18:49): I will add my congratulations and thanks to those members who are not contesting the next election—the members for Little Para, Taylor, Mount Gambier, Flinders and Stuart. I did say this morning that the member for Stuart was the most right-wing member of this place, but then it occurred to me later on that the member for Stuart often came seeking my lead on certain conscience matters, saying that he would vote whichever way I did. So, I do not know where that puts me.

This place operates only with a certain amount of goodwill and forbearance, often in the face of a great deal of provocation. It is incumbent upon us all to protect that goodwill, because if we lose it it will be at our peril.

I would like to thank the Clerk, Mr Malcolm Lehman, and the other table staff; they are professional and efficient. Malcolm, it has been a great pleasure to have worked with you for the last four years. I would like to pay special tribute to the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees, Gay Thompson, who does an enormous amount of work in chairing the chamber. She is always ready to take the chair, and just does an enormous amount of work, involving long hours in the chair, during complicated committee stages that go on and on. Finally, I would like to thank Mrs Mary Kasperski, my assistant in my office. She is of great assistance not only to me but to all members, I know. Thank you all very much, and my best wishes to you all for a happy and holy Christmas.

Motion carried.

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