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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-06 Daily Xml
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COLLIER, DR PAUL

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) (15:12): I move:

That the House of Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of Dr Paul Collier, a candidate for the Legislative Council in the 2010 state election, and places on record its appreciation of his dedication and service to the disability sector in South Australia, and that as a mark of respect to his memory the sitting of the house be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

Earlier this year, during the campaign for the recent state election, we were saddened to learn of the untimely death of Dr Paul Collier. As a candidate for the Dignity for Disability Party, Dr Collier was a passionate advocate for people with a disability who was never afraid to take up his cause at the very highest levels of government.

Since suffering spinal injuries in a car accident shortly before he turned 21, Paul Collier devoted his life to social justice issues and to improving the lives of others, to help them receive the opportunities and respect that allowed them to take their rightful place in the community. He was also an acclaimed author and historian, who completed a doctorate at the University of Oxford in England. He played an important role in a number of state and national arts and disability organisations and was also a dedicated supporter of the Adelaide United Soccer Club.

Paul Collier passed away on 9 March 2010, just before the election, at the age of 46. He was born on 4 February 1964 in England and grew up in the county of Kent. From a young age his ambition was to become an RAF fighter pilot, and at the age of 17 he sat the preparatory test at Biggin Hill RAF base in Kent—of course, very famous in World War II as a Spitfire base during the Battle of Britain.

Soon after, his family relocated to Adelaide and, several years later, while driving alone in the north of the state, he was involved in a car accident that left him with a fractured neck. He spent three months in the Royal Adelaide Hospital and a further nine months at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre.

Upon leaving hospital he began studying in the field of computers and technology, first at TAFE and then at the University of Adelaide where he took courses in mathematics, computing and history. But it was his passion for history that led him to study at Oxford University, where his doctoral research centred on the role of logistics in the North Africa campaigns of World War II.

Paul Collier's interest in military history was matched by his commitment to social justice. He served as South Australia's representative on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Advisory Council as well as a range of other community organisations. He was a member of the National Disability Advisory Council and chaired the council in South Australia. He also served as chair of Arts Access Australia, as well as chair of the organisation here in Adelaide. In that role he oversaw the inclusion of the High Beam Festival in the Adelaide Fringe—which is a great success—and the development of Club Cool, a mixed-ability radio program. He was also involved in the establishment of Radio Cool—an ongoing radio show dedicated to disability arts.

Paul Collier was the Dignity for Disabled candidate for the Legislative Council at the 2006 election and then led the party's ticket again at the most recent poll. In light of the party's subsequent success in winning a Legislative Council seat, I have absolute no doubt that Dr Collier would have made a most valuable and valued contribution to this parliament and the political debate and process in South Australia.

I am equally sure that the Dignity for Disability representative who has succeeded him, Kelly Vincent, will carry on his work and his passion for a society in which everyone is respected and valued equally. I wrote to Kelly last month to congratulate her on her election to the Legislative Council as the youngest female ever elected to an Australian parliament. It is a truly historic achievement. I have also offered her any practical support in addressing any issues relating to the level of resources she requires in order to discharge her responsibilities as a member of this parliament.

Madam Speaker, Dr Paul Collier was a man of undoubted intellect and unstinting commitment whose achievements, passion and perseverance should serve as a great inspiration to all of us. His legacy and his memory will remain with us well into the future. On behalf of all the members on this side of the house—and I am sure on behalf of every MP—I extend my condolences to the family and friends of Paul Collier, especially to his mother Wendy, his sister Joanne, his brother-in-law David and his three nephews.

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (15:18): It is with some sadness, of course, but a great deal of pride that I have the opportunity to second this motion. I say 'with some pride' because I have known Paul for a number of years. I met him because I became the shadow minister for disability in 2004, having entered the parliament in 2002. It was not long afterwards that I met Paul Collier. I found him to be a person who related easily to everyone. He did not take account of the fact that he was in a wheelchair in the way that he related to people. As the Premier said, he came to be in a wheelchair, according to what Paul told me, because of a tragic accident when he was actually on the way to his own 21st . One cannot imagine what that must have been like for a highly intelligent young man who had an aspiration to be a fighter pilot with the RAAF. To have that ambition so tragically torn from him in that way must have been a devastating loss, yet in my dealings with Paul over a number of years there was never any sense of bitterness or failure in his life. He was a person who just got up and got on with what was available to him to do.

In his very short 46 years, he accomplished more than many of us do in living a long and healthy life. He spent, as I said, all those years (25) after the accident in a wheelchair. His lifelong dream of becoming a fighter pilot had been thwarted, but his ambition was not in any way diminished, and neither was his tenacity and drive to achieve great things. He did not let his disability define him. He was determined to continue to follow his passion for all things military, and he studied hard to become a reputable military historian. So, in 2001 Paul travelled to Oxford University where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy; and his thesis was, in fact, the basis for the book that he was in the process of writing.

His intellectual capacity and the rigour he applied to whatever life dealt him without self pity was truly inspirational. He had, seemingly, inexhaustible energy to rail against the injustices dealt to people with disabilities, yet he never railed against the injustice that life had dealt him in that tragic accident. His capacity to fight for other people and their circumstances was always evident. He worked tirelessly advising government, lobbying government and harassing government to provide the appropriate services, particularly for disabled people here in South Australia.

I know that, as the Premier said, he was a member of Arts Access, and he had many engagements through the arts community, particularly trying to meld people with a disability engagement in arts with those without disability. He was also a member of the ABC board. His courage, vision and leadership lifted the profile of the inequity and hardship that is endured every day by Australians living with a disability. He was frustrated by the lack of access to services, the lack of funding for equipment and the lack of resources to assist disabled people and their families, and that was what propelled Paul into political action.

So, as the Premier also said, in 2006—always one to embrace a challenge—he stood as a candidate for the Legislative Council at that election (and again at the most recent election) as the Dignity for Disability candidate. I think it is quite apparent that, but for his untimely death on 9 March, Paul Collier would have joined us in the other place as the first member for Dignity for Disability. Sadly, he did not live to see the 2010 election results or take his place in the Legislative Council; but I am sure that, if it were not for his perseverance, his tenacity and his determination, we would not today have the first member of Dignity for Disability in Ms Kelly Vincent taking her place in the Legislative Council.

From today, because of the work and effort of the affable, intelligent and compassionate Dr Paul Collier, the South Australian government will not be able to hide its treatment of the disabled in our community. They are here to be heard. They are here to ensure that the human rights of the disabled in South Australia are upheld. They will ensure that we as a society are held to account for the way in which we treat the disabled and the vulnerable. Dr Collier's legacy is one of hope, inspiration and justice. He was in my view a truly great South Australian and, on behalf of all opposition members, I extend to his family and his friends our truly deep condolences. I commend the motion to the house.

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood) (15:24): I rise to speak in support of this condolence motion proposed by the Premier. I first met Dr Paul Collier when he agreed to participate on a panel at a disability forum held in the electorate of Norwood last year. He spoke very candidly about his own disability and also told us a lot about his experiences with disability services throughout the world that he had researched and, of course, experienced while studying for his PhD at the University of Oxford. He was a passionate supporter of individualised funding.

I then had the good fortune to catch up with Dr Collier on a number of occasions throughout the state campaign. He was an intelligent, articulate and practical advocate for disability here in South Australia. He treated all people of all political persuasions with respect and, indeed, dignity. It is most disappointing that he will not take his place in this parliament. He would make a very worthy contribution, undoubtedly, to this parliament. I extend my sincere condolences to his family and many supporters.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:25): There is no doubt the South Australian community lost a very valuable member in the sad passing of Dr Paul Collier. When I became Minister for Disability in 2008, he was one of the first people from the disability community whom I met. When meeting Paul, you could not help but be impressed by his intellect and passion to improve the lives of those living with a disability. At his funeral it was plain to see that his unexpected passing had sent shock waves through the disability community.

Paul was a strong advocate for reform and believed strongly in choice. He championed causes such as self-managed funding, which is now being rolled out in South Australia. As a lifelong student of politics, he understood that more could be done when groups with similar aims and views stood together. He was the voice of unity, working to bring together the different sections of the disability community to work together productively. Paul was the inaugural Dignity 4 Disabled candidate for the Legislative Council in 2006, as the Premier has said. As someone who believed the political arena to be the best pathway to change, Kelly Vincent's election to the Legislative Council is one of the many significant legacies of Dr Paul Collier. Disability touches the lives of many South Australians, and I am no exception. As the minister, I look forward to working closely with Kelly.

As with all of us, Paul had more than a political life. He was a much-loved son, brother and uncle. We heard at his funeral that he took particular delight in his nephews. His ambition as a young man to be a pilot was cut short by a tragic accident. I believe the measure of a successful life is not avoiding difficulties and challenges but how you deal with them, and that is how Dr Paul Collier will be remembered—as a man of courage, determination and very good humour, and a man who faced up squarely to the challenges in his life and committed himself to bettering the lives of others. I extend my sincere condolences to Dr Paul Collier's family and friends.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Education, Minister for Early Childhood Development) (15:28): I would like to share one experience I had with Dr Paul Collier in my role as the former minister for disability. Of course, Paul was one of the very first people who came to see me, and he made some very strong representations on behalf of the disability community. What struck me was a fierce sense of the injustice, frankly, of what was happening to not only him but also his community. He was a powerful and strong advocate, and he made a real impression.

There was one particular point that he made that I found very persuasive, and that was his own story about how he received funding which permitted him to receive support services for a particular set of hours in a day. He made the point to me: 'Why should I have to accept services that means that someone can assist me until 9pm,' or whatever the arrangements were, 'when I might want to stay up until 11pm because I might have a particular reason for doing that?

There might be something on the television, and I might need the services at the end of the day, and I might be prepared to trade something off for that even if it is a more expensive service to have somebody there at that later hour.' He said, 'Why shouldn't I have the right to make that choice? Why shouldn't you give me the opportunity to receive my funding in a parcel so that I can make those choices, because that is how you truly get dignity for somebody who is disabled so they have control over their own lives.'

I was so persuaded by that that I persuaded my colleagues to permit me to explore this question of individualised funding. I am very pleased to see that the next minister has made that a reality and, hopefully, it can become a bigger part of our system. So, he shaped disability policy in this state because of the strength and the coherence of his advocacy.

It was a real shock to hear of his passing, because only a few days before his untimely death I saw him at a Fringe event in the East Parklands. I think a lot of us were shocked when we heard this news and, of course, the shock must have been even greater for his family and friends, and I pass on my condolences to them.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Gambling) (15:31): The last time I saw Paul Collier was when he was on his way to nominate for parliament. I was walking to buy some flowers for my wife because the campaign was on and she was annoyed with me again, and I had a long chat with Paul. I had come into contact with Paul earlier in the year when one of my constituents had attempted to take his own life because of his disability.

I rang Dr Collier at the time, and he was amazing in the support he showed the young man. He and I worked with this young man for a long time, to give him some hope, giving him access to services. He was a young man who really did not see the benefit of living on with his disability, but Paul Collier inspired him, and this young man has moved on since that first attempt. He told me a few weeks ago that Dr Collier saved his life. That is just one example of how Paul Collier touched people's lives.

There are not many of us in this chamber who can say that we started a political movement or that we have a heritage and members of parliament action to come. His legacy will live on in the Hon. Kelly Vincent, and her work will honour and fulfil the promise of Dr Collier. The promise of Dr Collier was that he went about his work quietly. He was a very astute politician; he knew when to grab the headlines and when not to. He never attempted to use this young man's situation in any way to gain any publicity; he just did the job of helping the young man.

For me, Dr Paul Collier was one of greatest human beings I have ever met. I did not know him very well, and I do not claim to have had some great intimate friendship with him, but he helped me out in a situation and, more importantly, he helped this young man. I think he was a great South Australian and a great loss to this state. I am sure Kelly Vincent will honour him in the work she does in the council.

The SPEAKER (15:33): I join with members in expressing my condolences to the family. As the Minister for Disability said, disability touches many lives, and I know that all of us feel great concern for what happened to Dr Paul Collier. My condolences go to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr Collier. I welcome the Hon. Kelly Vincent here, and I know that she will do a great job in following him. I will ensure that members' comments today are passed on to the family.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.


[Sitting suspended from 15:34 to 15:45]


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