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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-12-01 Daily Xml
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Adjournment Debate

VALEDICTORIES

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (12:40): Today is the final day of parliament for the year, and usually on the last day of parliament there is some reflection on the contribution made and work done in the parliament by those around us—the table staff and those who work in the building. It is apt that we do that because, quite simply, the place would not function without them. We would all turn up, but it would be interesting to see what actually got achieved and what did not without their assistance. We would certainly be hungry, we would certainly be caffeine deprived—and possibly a lot more sober—if they were not here, particularly in the evenings, and particularly for country members who, I know, rely on the house more than others. The services of the staff here are exemplary.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: Perhaps we will not go there. I first started working in the state system in 2002 when the Labor Party was elected to government, and I was always amazed then by the amount of work that went on in the background by people who did their very best to keep out of the way but who helped us through the system as much as they could. I was quite naive about many things, but also quite naive about the workings of parliament, and it was a great help to me, in those years as an adviser, to come across really professional and dedicated staff who were able to help me do my job as an adviser and then as a member of parliament.

I entered parliament in 2006, and now as a minister my knowledge of what they do increases, and only serves to increase my gratitude for the work they do and their professionalism. I think this year has been a particularly trying year, it has not been the easiest of years, but the staff here have managed to handle it with good humour and professionalism. They have left us to our spats, but have been largely unaffected by that, I think, and have still managed to provide the services to members of parliament that we require to do our job properly, and they have done it well.

To my colleagues, as I said I think it has been an interesting year and a difficult year in many ways. However, anyone who was here for any length of time could look around, not just in question time, and could see that this is a good system that we have. It functions well. Everyone in the parliament comes here with good intentions and with a real and genuine desire to make the state better. We have our disagreements about how we may do that—and we have had those disagreements on numerous occasions over numerous issues—but the intention of this place continues, and they are good intentions. Everyone here is well intentioned and is trying to do the best job they can, and they work hard doing it. That is all we can really ask of members of parliament.

So I thank everyone that I can in the parliament for their contribution to the state and to their electorates. I look forward to working with them all next year, obviously with the exception of two who will not be continuing. To the member for Ramsay, who is behind me now, can I say very simply that I would not be in this place were it not for the member for Ramsay. I was only able to get elected because of the way he governed be state, particularly between 2002 and 2006. Never once when I asked for help did he refuse it.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. T.R. KENYON: I was elected in 2006. It just would not have been possible for me to be elected without his efforts. Basically, there was a giant Mike Rann wave, and I surfed it. I paddled in and surfed it, and that is how I got here. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that being elected here has given me. It is a very enjoyable job and, again, it would not be possible without him.

I think time will prove that his time as premier was good for the state. All we can ask of ourselves, I think—and this was certainly my goal when I was elected to parliament—is that we leave the place better than we found it in our electorates and in the state. When people look back on the member for Ramsay's time as premier, I think history will say that the state is better for his being here, and it is hard to think of any higher praise than that, because that is our job.

It is certainly clear to me that the former premier did his job well and the state is better off because he was here. One thing I regret is not taking photos of the skyline of Adelaide and the streets of Adelaide and the rest of the state in 2002 so that we could go back and compare them. When you think about some of the changes, they have been quite substantial. In the next year or two, they will be even more so. By the time this term of parliament finishes, the skyline and the city will have been significantly changed. It is hard to imagine King William Street now without trams all the way down it, but it was not that long ago that trams did not go past Victoria Square and that has been good for the city.

There will be a brand-new hospital and a brand-new stadium. There will be the Livestrong Centre down at Flinders, new rebuilt hospitals all over the place, including the Modbury Hospital where we will have a new emergency department and significant new wards. If you set a task for a premier when they are coming into government, it is simply that they improve the state, that the state is better off for their having been there, that they did something over and above what would have happened already. Quite clearly, he did that.

The mining industry is another example, in terms of exploration particularly, but the state's mining industry has grown at a rate faster than in the rest of the country. They have taken market share in exploration and increased dramatically the number of mines, faster than in the rest of the country. While there would have been some improvement in the mining industry in this state had we not undertaken the PACE program, the PACE program has improved it over and above what it would have been like. That is a decision and a policy of the government, and it comes back largely to the premier who was very strongly behind that.

The second member of parliament who is leaving us is the member for Port Adelaide, Kevin Foley. I worked for him when we first came into government. Kevin was an enormous influence in my career, because I was relatively unknown—even in the party—and working for the treasurer suddenly meant that you had a bit of credibility. You obviously have to work so that you reflect the credibility that you have, you fulfil that behind you, but coming into Kevin's office was one of the first professional experiences in my life.

I would just like to thank Kevin for his contribution to the state and his time as treasurer. Particularly in the first few budgets, we made a large number of cuts; we really got the finances in order. It is a very difficult job being treasurer in this state, and it does not matter who the treasurer is, they have the hardest job in government, because they have to deal with every other minister in the government trying to spend money, and their job is to make sure that the limited money we have is spent in the most efficient and beneficial matter possible, and that it is not an easy job.

It can bring you into conflict with a lot of people, and Kevin had to deal with that over nine years and he did it, I think, extraordinarily well. In many ways, I think Kevin was probably the most courageous minister in government while he was the treasurer. Kevin is smart. Despite his protestations, he is smart and he gets across a brief very quickly. He understands what is required of him and then he will make a decision and back it. One thing you can say about Kevin is that he never backs away from a decision that he has made and he backs it with his full force.

I wish him and the member for Ramsay well in their careers. I sincerely hope that they find fulfilling jobs out in the private sector. I thank them for their service and for their contribution to my career as well as for their service to the state. With that, I wish everybody Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you all in February.

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