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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
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Adjournment Debate

VALEDICTORIES

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (16:17): I do in this season of goodwill to all want to place on record my thanks to a number of people who make our lives in this place so much easier and better than if we were just left to squabble amongst ourselves without their help and guidance.

I begin by thanking my family, whom I do not see very often and who often feel that they have to make an appointment to see me these days. They are very understanding and accepting. My kids do get a bit frustrated when they go to the doctor and the first question the doctor asks them if they are sick is, 'How's your mum?' They find that a little frustrating. They do not see me very often and they tolerate it with good grace and good humour and I do thank them.

I also thank my colleagues, in particular, of course, my deputy, Mitch Williams, and the rest of the leadership group, especially David Ridgway MLC in the Legislative Council and the deputy leader up there, Michelle Lensink. I thank our wonderful whip, Adrian Pederick, and deputy whip, Peter Treloar, and also the opposition whip in the Legislative Council, John Dawkins, and his deputy, Jing Lee, as well as all my shadow cabinet and other colleagues within this place and their families, who, like my family, have to put up with a fair bit of not having family members available to do the usual things that some people might be able to do, because we have taken on this role as members of parliament. I also give my best to the new premier, Jay Weatherill, and the ministers and government members on the opposite side.

I also make mention of the staff of the Liberal Party in South Australia, the South Australian Division. Of course, my former chief of staff, Bev Barber, is now the director of the Liberal Party, and former Senator Grant Chapman is the president of the South Australian Division. I also thank all my staff in Parliament House, especially my chief of staff, Andrew Coombe.

I also make special mention of the former media director, Therese Kenny, who left us recently, and who was an excellent member of staff, but for personal reasons sadly had to resign from the job. I am sure she is still enthusiastically taping all the news programs and watching them at home. She certainly was a few weeks after she left, and I began to think that she might have had some sort of illness, to be doing that after leaving this place; but she is still so keen that she is doing that.

I would also like to thank my electorate staff in the Heysen electorate office—and I am sure the same applies to every electorate office, Madam Speaker. I am sure your staff up in Whyalla and those of all of us would be the same; they do work very hard. They often have to do that work when we are not there, and they have to deal with a diverse range of people from the public who come in.

I remember that, when I first came into this place, I was told that there was a member opposite who actually closed her office on days when there was a full moon. I remember thinking that was really odd, but then as we got through the cycle and discovered that, on a full moon, there really was a certain tendency for certain people to turn up in an electorate office, we thought maybe there was some sense in doing that. Although they do not do it, my electorate staff do a wonderful job.

Gaynor (my PA up there) has been with me now for more than 18 years. She was with me for the entire time I ran my legal practice in Stirling and came on the journey with me into parliament. So, it was like losing my right arm when I was suddenly based down here instead of up in Stirling, and I think we suffered separation anxiety for a while. Nick has also been with me since my year in this place, and Alicia, our new trainee, is doing a wonderful job.

Can I also make special mention of the drivers and, in particular, my driver Warren, who does a magnificent job and is always an absolute gentleman. I think he is the best driver in the fleet—I am sure all the other people who have drivers think that that is the case with their drivers, but I am sure that Warren is the best driver in the fleet. All of those electoral and parliamentary staff do a wonderful job.

Most of all, Madam Speaker, can I express the compliments of the season and the goodwill of those on this side of the house to the various House of Assembly chamber attendants: Malcolm Lehman, the Clerk; Rick Crump, the Deputy Clerk; Paul Collett, Serjeant-at-Arms; and also to Jan Davis and Chris Schwarz in the Legislative Council, and all the attendants in both houses.

I would like to make special mention of John Moylan, who always fills my glass as soon as it looks like it is getting anywhere near empty; I drink more water in this chamber than I drink in all the rest of the time, because he is so attentive in filling those glasses of water.

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: That's no bad thing.

Mrs REDMOND: It is no bad thing at all; it is a good thing. I do drink a fair bit of water anyway, being a teetotaller, so I only drink black tea, green tea and water. If I get on the hard stuff, it is sparkling water, but—

Members interjecting:

Mrs REDMOND: I would also like to mention David Woolman (Building Services Manager), the committee members and staff, the table staff, and the library staff, who do a magnificent job—I love showing off the library of this place when we have visitors through. I love doing tours, when I have visitors in this place, through the Dining Room, and I love to bring them into the chamber, and—

Ms Bedford: Show them Muriel Matters?

Mrs REDMOND: And show them Muriel Matters, and tell them all sorts of tales about this place, which they find fascinating. I love showing off—

Members interjecting:

Mrs REDMOND: I love showing off our library. Not only is it a beautiful looking library, it is staffed with people who do a wonderful job. I remember one time asking them to find something that had been in a now-defunct Sydney newspaper more than 25 years ago—I was able to give them an approximate date, and certainly, the topic and so on—and they found the details. They actually found the details within about 24 hours, which I thought was quite magnificent. So, they do a fantastic job.

Can I also mention Creon and James and all the catering and Blue Room staff, and make special mention of Nikki, who I think must still be off on her honeymoon. They are always friendly, and give us service with a smile, and the food is mostly really good.

Mr Piccolo: You're in trouble now.

Mrs REDMOND: I said it is really good.

Mr Piccolo: You took a while to get there, though.

Mr Pederick: She was digesting her words.

Mrs REDMOND: I was being careful about it. I have only had one meal, in all the time that I have been in this place, that I thought was just inedible—it was fairly recent, admittedly—but mostly the meals here have been pretty good, and I am sure that I have made more disasters at home than I have ever had served to me here.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

Can I also compliment Hansard up there who do such a wonderful job of making us all sound much more eloquent than we ever are in person. They deserve gold medals. Every time I think of them sitting up there I think they must see people come and go over the years. They see people coming here with their chest puffed up thinking, 'I am a member of parliament', then they are gone and someone else comes to replace them. They must see that happen time after time. They are always unfailingly polite and, as I say, they make us sound much better than we really are.

I also compliment the Procedures Office, the cleaning, the switchboard, the maintenance and, not to forget, finance and PNSG—my favourite people in the world. I just love technology so much.

Members interjecting:

Mrs REDMOND: I don't know why people on this side are laughing so much. It is always a wonderful time of year when we finally, in the last few minutes of our sittings for the entire year, show some goodwill towards each other. I know that the new Premier regrets that the house does not behave with a great deal of goodwill towards each other the rest of the time, but the nature of parliamentary democracy is that we are here as an opposition to test and question the government; that is our job.

So, it is a pleasure at the end of the year, at least for a brief moment, to be able to say that, on behalf of the opposition, I do wish all those who make their livings in and about this place the very best for Christmas and the coming year, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much for the indulgence.

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (16:26): I would just like to make a few brief remarks. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the various people around the parliament who make life bearable for all of us, particularly, obviously the chamber staff, the attendants, Hansard—who put up with me going slightly faster than I should sometimes with the way I speak—and the committee staff who supported me when I was a committee chairperson.

The catering people are really great when I am always trying to change my bookings around. They are very patient with me. I thank the building maintenance people and the people in finance and travel, who always do things very quickly and very efficiently. The library staff are great at researching and, without their help at times, I would be at a loss. I thank the PNSG staff—because I basically have no idea how to use the network and I call on them many times—the security staff and the switchboard people who all provide excellent support and service. I would like to put that on the record.

I would also like to thank the ministers and their staff who put up with my countless requests for information, assistance and support and, in the main, do deliver, which is great. I would like to thank my parliamentary colleagues and the members of the caucus for their support and guidance throughout the year. In particular, I would like to thank the Whip and her staff who put up with my regular requests for all sorts of things and are very patient with me. So, I thank the Whip and her staff.

I would also like to thank the local federal member. He and I work very well and closely together. It is great to work with Nick. We work well together for our constituents and I would like to thank him and his staff. I would like to thank my personal staff in the electorate office who put up with my demands on a regular basis. I would also like to thank my community who have supported me, but who I also work with on a day-to-day basis to make the world a better place. Not lastly, I would like to thank my family who, a bit like the Leader of the Opposition, see me from time to time and provide support.

Before I sit down, it would be remiss of me not to make some mention and also put on the record my thanks to the current member for Ramsay and previous premier. I for one can say that both myself personally and my electorate have enjoyed great support from the member for Ramsay. He has supported a number of projects which I have put to him and he never hesitated to come out to my electorate to support me whenever I required it. He was a regular visitor to my electorate and my electorate has done very well from his support but also the support of the cabinet generally.

So, certainly, my electorate is a better place for him being the premier of this state and that also goes for the member for Port Adelaide who, again, in his own way, has supported my electorate through funding in a number of projects. I thank them for that support.

I would also like to congratulate the new Premier, the member for Cheltenham. I am certain that he will be very successful. With those few comments, I would like to wish all members of this house the best for Christmas and the new year.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (16:29): I would like to make a few comments as the Opposition Whip and acknowledge the working relationship that I have with the Government Whip and the Deputy Government Whip. I think that 99% of the time we are on song, and we have the occasional disagreement. It is probably a bit like a marriage really!

Members interjecting:

Mr PEDERICK: No, I am not going any further because this is going down on Hansard so I am going to leave it right there. I must say that there are things that the whips have to do to make this place run (and I do not like talking about myself) but, in working with the member for Torrens and the member for Mitchell, we have a pretty good working relationship and most of the time it works out pretty well.

I certainly appreciate that, and a lot of people would not understand half the things that go on behind the scenes that have to be done, especially in regard to the Government Whip. I do not like speaking about myself, but it does help to make this place run, and I certainly appreciate all the work we do together to make this place work.

I appreciated Manny who worked out of Pat Conlon's office, and Mel who is there now, although I believe she is in a better place today for the moment. I want to acknowledge all the clerks; the Speaker's efforts these last 12 months; and everyone who works in this place, because it is a big job to keep the chamber going; and the Hansard staff trying to work out everything we have said.

I want to make note of a couple of people who have worked either in or to do with this place: Rachel Stone, a clerk who has moved on, I believe, to the Minister for Transport Services office. I had a lot to do with Rachel, not only in this house but also in regard to the Select Committee on the Grain Handling Industry, and she was a great staffer to have on board.

Mr Venning interjecting:

Mr PEDERICK: And, as the member for Schubert rightly says, the bowls club. Probably someone who not everyone has agreed with at some time is Sharon Matthews from Treasury and Finance. I understand that she is one of those staffers who has kept us on the straight and narrow. She is moving on, so I wish her all the best wherever she is going. I would like to thank all the different people who work in different functions running parliament who have been mentioned, and I would like to make my appreciation known for everything that everyone does in making this place work. I would like to wish all members and staff a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (16:33): I, too, want to thank all the staff in parliament house, and everyone who looks after us so very well—our officers of the chamber, the table staff, Hansard—as I said, everyone. I know that we can be trying from time to time but we are very well served. I also want to acknowledge the Opposition Whip and his deputy, the member for Flinders. It is true that we have a very good working relationship, and sometimes it can be a bit difficult when we have matters that we have to manage.

However, I think one of the really important aspects of the role is confidence in some matters, and that does make managing sometimes difficult situations much easier. So, I think that that is something people ought to acknowledge—that we do keep matters in confidence when they are given to us, which happens from time to time.

I want to pay tribute to the member for Ramsay. He has been an extraordinary fellow, and I have enjoyed working with him over all the years that I have been here, particularly over the last few years. He has really been outstanding in this place, and I think that we should all acknowledge that he has served this parliament incredibly well, particularly recently when things have been a bit difficult for him—and I'm not just reflecting on the changes that have occurred. I wish him and Sasha all the very best for the future. I want them to know that they are often in our thoughts.

The member for Port Adelaide, the former treasurer, has been outstanding as treasurer. He has done an amazing job under very difficult circumstances. I cannot imagine the pressure that he has been under for quite a number of years. It must have been absolutely extraordinary, but he does have an amazing sense of humour; for those of us who are lucky enough to see it, it is quite extraordinary. In fact, I do remember one time (and I still have the note), I wrote him a note asking for some money for the parliamentary bowls club to host a function. He wrote on the note back to me saying, 'Learn to play marbles.' I have kept that because that always reminds me of his sense of humour.

To my parliamentary colleagues, I think this year has been one of those years where there have been a number of trials that we have all had to get through, but it has been full of all sorts of challenges but lots of camaraderie and a great deal of warmth. I have to say that I think we are a really good, cohesive team. I can certainly say that people are exceptionally obliging, and I am most grateful to my colleagues for that.

I think Wendy and Carol serve us exceptionally well in the Whip's office. It is a great credit to the times when we rush at them demanding all sorts of things five minutes ago and they put up with that. They are very helpful, so we are exceptionally grateful to them and we recognise the contribution that they play.

To yourself, Madam Speaker, can I say that you have been an extraordinary support to me. I think we have a great friendship. Certainly, when the time comes that I am gone from here (heaven knows when), I am sure it is a friendship that will endure long past that time. I do wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope I have not forgotten to thank anyone.

My electorate staff are wonderful people. When I rush off with a traumatic problem, or what have you, they sit there and very calmly just get on with the job, so I do really appreciate them. I think we are very lucky: we have our Premier, Jay Weatherill, who has taken to the helm remarkably well. His calmness flows across all of us. He certainly listens to people and he is always willing to have a chat. I certainly know that he is going to forge his way forward.

To all my colleagues and to everyone in here who is so good to us, to the opposition, a number of whom I consider friends, Merry Christmas. I remember a wonderful trip away with the member for Waite—

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: Very good travelling company.

Mrs GERAGHTY: Very good travelling company, and I might say it was an extraordinary event at times. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. Spend time with families. That is a very important thing to do. I look forward to seeing all of us back here next year somewhat invigorated, I hope.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (16:40): I will not speak long. I want to very briefly send Christmas greetings to all the members and staff in this place and best wishes for 2012 and thank them very much for their efforts on our behalf. I want to particularly, Madam Speaker, thank you very much. I have appreciated very much your efforts because the choice of you as Speaker in the first place I think was a good choice because of your mature attitude, and you are always cool under pressure and you can express yourself very well. You have never been shy in that department, we appreciate that.

To the Clerk and table staff, thank you very much for your assistance. I often have questions and even though I have been here for so long. I often question some of the answers. Also, thanks to Hansard for trying to write down all the things that I say. I have tried to slow down, but when I am always in a hurry it does get out of control.

Thank you to my leader. We have had a great year with Isobel. Certainly in all my time here it has been quite different operating under a female leader. The attention to detail, thoroughness, and quite strong personality have certainly been enlightening for all of us.

Thank you to the deputy. His hands are well and truly full. I do not always agree with Mitch. We are old mates and even this last week we had cause to be at odds, but I took it like a man and that is what deputy leaders are for. Never buck the system; that is what you are there for. We should never forget our roles in this place. Deputy leader, you did a good job there. All the best to you, Mitch.

To my whip, Adrian, thanks very much. You are very understanding and I do appreciate it. It is not an easy job, because you know I had it before him. I did have a fair bit to do with the choice of Adrian doing this job; and, Adrian, you certainly have backed that decision well and you have done well. Also to the Government Whip, Robyn, a special lady: I still appreciate what you do. You have had a tough year, I know, but you are getting on with life and you are rebuilding it. I have many friends over that side of the place, and she is one and there are some others over there as well.

I also note the retirement of one of our very valuable house attendants, Ms Rachel Stone. She was very much appreciated by me and others on this side of the house, and I was sad to hear that she was leaving. I think we need to look after our valued staff much better than this. Thanks very much and good luck to you, Rachel and also thanks for your assistance with the bowls club.

Thanks to my staff at Tanunda; Helena Dawkins has been with me for over 15 years, and I do thank her very much. Susie Reichstein does my media and everything else. Most of you would know her. She is a young fireball and takes a bit of keeping up with but certainly gives a young attitude to our house. Sue Young fills in very well on two days per week.

Our precious trainee, Sam Mitchell, left us in early 2011. Every now and then you get one of these, Madam Speaker. This was a young lady who came in just as a volunteer, basically. She became a trainee for a period with me and ends up the Youth Governor of South Australia and Young Citizen of the Year in Light Council—not bad for a person who came in there and really did not have much expectation but thought she might be interested. She did well.

Young Candice Hage, a delightful young lady, is really making the most of the opportunities we are able to give her. It is certainly wonderful to have her. I would also very briefly like to thank the people who keep our secretariat, particularly, Bev Barber, our director, the president and all the staff at headquarters. Thank you very much.

I will not go through the whole list in this place except to mention the house attendants, the house caretakers, because I am often here late at night and I always have a problem with somebody's door or some tap or whatever. As country members, we get excellent service from the catering staff, because we are the people without family down here and these people, after a while, become family. I say to them how much I appreciate that very, very much. All the others, I cannot name you all because we have not got time here now, but to all those others, thank you very much for what you do for us.

As president of the wine club I want to thank very much for his cooperation our wine club secretary, James Nicholas, and the catering manager Creon Grantham. Without them we could not do what we do. Also thanks to Biddy who gives us very valued service. As president of the bowls club, thanks and congratulations to David Pegram, our secretary. Thanks to the house for providing his services to us—a wonderful secretary, the best we have ever had.

Madam Speaker, to you and the President, thank you very much for your support, because we have the carnival here in January, and I will invite you all to attend and to come and meet all our guests, because it is certainly going to be very interesting.

Finally, I want very much to say how last days are always fairly important. I add my personal best wishes to departing colleagues ex-premier Mike Rann and ex-deputy Kevin Foley. To both of them: I have not often agreed with a lot that you said or did but, nevertheless, I congratulate you both on leading this government in South Australia for nine years. That is no mean feat, whether you agree with them or not. They won three elections, and led.

I was a bit concerned at the way they finished their careers here—I hope I finish mine a bit better than that. Can I say that we will not forget you. Thank you very much from the state. Thank you very much to the ex premier for coming to the Barossa as regularly as you did. We saw you much more than we saw your minister for tourism at the time. We could get you but we could not get Jane Lomax-Smith up there. I remember those times. I kept a lot of photographs and took a lot of notes. I say to you that I hope you have a good retirement.

To Kevin I say this. We did not always agree but I never meant any malice towards Kevin. In the stoush we had I never meant any malice whatsoever, because I had known Kevin for a long time prior to his coming into this place, and we knew each other well—a lot of that will remain unsaid—but there was nothing malicious in any of that. Anyway, to both gentlemen, congratulations, and I hope you will have fond memories of us, because we will remember the good times and forget our political differences.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay) (16:45): Can I, first, thank honourable members on both sides for their very kind words. One of the great things about being a member of parliament—and next week is the 26th anniversary of my being elected on 7 December 1985—is the camaraderie. The public does not see it. The public only sees what is portrayed on television. We did an analysis once of how many times the opposition supported the government on bills and I think it was around about the 90 per cent mark, so we agree about more than we disagree. Of course, the theatre of parliament is question time, which is something unique to the British commonwealth system but one I think that makes us all better in government and, indeed, in opposition.

When I talk about that camaraderie, I guess I was heavily influenced when I first entered this building in 1977 and saw the great relationships that occurred across the house between people like Ted Chapman, Des Corcoran and Jack Wright, who had friends on either side of the house, and that is the way it should be. We do not live in the Middle East. We are all patriots and want our state to do well and better. We all want to come into this place, achieve government and, when we leave government, leave our state in better shape than when we found it.

It is interesting that over the years I have found that there is a degree of camaraderie and, indeed, care and support on both sides of the house. Those very few who have carried on acrimony into the bar or outside of parliament, those who do not acknowledge you in the lift, and so on, are the ones who never make it because, ultimately, being a leader, a member of parliament or a minister is about character; and it is people with character who endure, whereas those who try to carry forth their animosity outside of debate, basically, have a fundamental character flaw which means they will not make it.

I want to thank all the staff of parliament for their great work. I am obviously going to be considering my future over the Christmas break. I thank all of the staff of the parliament—Hansard, the library, catering, the people who make this place run, the air conditioning and electrical people, the staff and attendants. There are so many staff in so many areas. We could not do our jobs without them.

The same is true of our personal staff and our staff in our electorate offices. I have had the privilege of working with some outstanding people in my electorate office and, of course, the Minister for Police is one of them. They are our vital ears and eyes in our electorates. Of course, our personal staff, whether we are a minister, Leader of the Opposition or premier, are people to whom we owe an enormous debt. So does the state.

There are people over the years who have worked in my office who sometimes, and it is unfortunately a growing tendency, have been vilified personally, either in the parliament or in the press. They make an outstanding contribution to public life in this state and to making our state a better place for our kids and their kids.

Obviously, parliamentary life has its ups and downs. There is a basic rule: you're in, you're out, you're in and you're out. Very few people can determine their exits, but I think that it has been a great privilege to be not only a member of parliament for the Labor Party in this state just a few years after I arrived as a migrant (that says something about our state and nation), but it is an even greater privilege to have the honour of leading our state.

When you go out and about, whether it is the kids that I have met through the Premier's Reading Challenge over the years or in so many other areas of life, whether it is through multicultural events, business events or going out to the factory floor, South Australians are a terrific people. The vast majority of them are of good will, of decency, and all they want is for their kids to have an even better chance to make the most of their God-given potential compared to themselves.

As I say, I am considering a different life. I want particularly to thank my family for their support over many, many years; and also, of course, particularly my wife, Sasha, whose support to me has been something extraordinary, and we are looking forward to spending more time together in the years ahead.

Thank you to all members, thank you to the staff and thank you to the people of Salisbury for giving me the honour of representing them in this place for 26 years—thank you to them for their patience as well as their very, very strong support. I hope that all of us when we leave this place can all say to ourselves that we have done our best—that is the most that people can ask of us—and that we always regard this place as the people's parliament, not ours. Thank you and au revoir.


[Sitting extended beyond 17:00 on motion of Hon. T.R. Kenyon]


Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (16:52): At this particular time of the year, I also want to thank all members of Parliament House staff, including not only Hansard and the catering divisions but also PNSG, and particularly can I thank Tasoula. I think that everyone here has probably had a few sessions of training on the computer with Tasoula. I thank everyone from cleaners and runners, through to drivers and personal staff.

Madam Speaker, to you, have a good Christmas. You have had a good year, and thank you for your service; and to the two whips, as well. Having been a deputy whip, I understand the pressures the two whips are under, and I commend them for the work they have done.

I want to thank my electorate office staff—Jane Johnston, Ben Page, Nicolle Flint, Cheryl Rollson and trainee Kathryn Hall. I have not had them all at once but on and off over the last few years, and without them I would achieve nothing—they are absolutely fantastic. It has been a very interesting year, Madam Speaker. I think that the parliament has achieved some goals.

I am absolutely delighted to see new life in the City of Adelaide with the Adelaide Oval proposal proceeding, and the government under its new Premier now talking the language of reinvigoration of the City of Adelaide. That was not the language the government was using three years ago—in fact, quite the reverse. It was dragged kicking and screaming to that agenda, but I am delighted now that that has become the mantra, because it is so important to this city that new life is breathed into it.

I am pleased that we have seen a commitment to the creation of an independent commission against corruption. I think that is a wonderful milestone for this parliament. I am delighted that the Roxby Downs indenture has gone ahead, and I hope that the benefits of that will spread across the economy.

Of course, in the year that has passed, we have also faced some challenges that have not yet been answered. One is the River Murray. However, I am sure that, in the year ahead, we will have an opportunity to work on those issues, because it is an uncertain time, both internationally, nationally and at the state level. I do have fears for the new year in terms of the global economy and the impacts that might have on the state. I think that will affect all of us in this place one way or the other. So, we step forward beyond Christmas into the New Year with some trepidation.

I am delighted that the parliament is talking in an open way about lifting the standards. I actually welcome that debate offered by the Premier. I hope it is genuine because, as has been pointed out by the opposition, it also requires the government to answer questions and to enter into that in an open and honest way. To lift the standards of the parliament will require both sides of the house to respond; however, I must say that I do have considerable sympathy for that argument.

I recall coming in here in 1997 and being appalled—literally appalled—at the behaviour. Having come from the business community and after 24 years as an officer in the army, to see the way in which the then opposition behaved—but I must lamentably say some on my own side as well, when we were in government—was appalling. In many ways, it still is. I think we all need to look at ourselves and ask whether or not we can better serve the people of the state by lifting that standard.

I note that the media has a role to play in that. Ask any parent: if you reward bad behaviour, it will be repeated. I think too often the media has rewarded the so-called attack dogs and the so-called head-kickers, and that has become the story instead of the substance. As a result, that behaviour has been repeated. Unless we all—government, opposition and media—get that right, we will not improve the standards. So, let us hope that we can do so.

I add my comments to those made by some others and wish the member for Ramsay and the member for Port Adelaide well. Politics aside, the number of years of service that has been given to the people of South Australia by the member for Ramsay warrants recognition, and I think it behoves us all to say: thank you for your service; well done.

I have disagreed with a lot of what the member for Ramsay has done over the years, and no doubt he has disagreed with some of the things I have done, but that is the nature of politics. What I do recognise is his years of endeavour in the best interests of the people of the state. To have served as premier and leader of his party for that period of time is a commendable achievement, and he should feel proud of his service to the people of South Australia.

Also to the member for Port Adelaide, I hope he finds a more comfortable place, wherever he goes. Again, he has put a lot of years into this place and has, I am sure, done his best for the people he represents. Their service deserves recognition.

Finally, I just want to thank everybody on the staff for the support they give us. Without them, we would achieve absolutely nothing here. I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a great New Year.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (16:58): I add my remarks to those of honourable members and thank all those who make our lives here so much easier and facilitate the smooth operation of the business. For those of us who have been here for some period, some of the processes still remain a mystery to me.

We are ably assisted by the clerks, attendants and officers. I accidentally pressed the duress button the other day and I have never seen the attendant move so quickly. He was a very fearsome sight when he careened down the corridor into my office to save me from what he expected to be imminent harm; in fact, I had just stuck my foot in the wrong place under my desk. So, thank you very much for that very alert response. I felt very safe after that.

I thank all my colleagues on this side of the house for all their support. I particularly thank those opposite. I know we talk a lot about the points of difference between us, but the truth is that much of the work in this place is resolved by agreement. Indeed, I think the Olympic Dam expansion bill was a great example of bipartisanship which allowed an important piece of legislation to proceed in a timely fashion. I think it gave great confidence to BHP to think that, despite a transition in leadership, despite the fact that there were two political parties on either side of the chamber, it was a very smooth debate. It was handled very effectively and efficiently by both the major parties. I want to thank members opposite for the role they played there.

I have already said some things about the member for Port Adelaide and the member for Ramsay, but I want to repeat that their contributions to public affairs in this state have been prodigious. I think they are entitled to the gratitude of the South Australian community. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that they have not only transformed the economic and financial affairs of our state, but also made a massive contribution to all spheres of public endeavour.

I want to thank them for their work, and wish them and their families all the best. In fact, I just passed the former premier in the corridor and he looked like he had lost 10 years. Obviously it can be a good thing, sometimes, leaving this place. I wish him and Kevin and their families all the best in the future and wish all members and staff here a merry Christmas. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for presiding over what can sometimes be an unruly house.

The SPEAKER (17:01): Thank you, members. Before closing, I certainly want to wish all members here in this place a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful break. To the opposition members on my left, I am sorry if I have yelled at you, but I can assure you that, if I have yelled at you, you have deserved it. I say to my colleagues on my right, sometimes it has been a good year, sometimes it has been a difficult year.

I also want to wish all our wonderful staff in this place a very merry Christmas, particularly our clerks, Malcolm and Rick, who have been a great support and help to me, and also my Sergeant Schultz, Paul Collett, Serjeant-at-Arms. They have been a great support for me during this year also.

Many people have said many good things about all our other staff. It is all meant and it is all deserved. We have wonderful catering staff, Hansard staff, building services, library staff, corporate services, committee staff, and chamber staff, who are fantastic—a special thank you to John and Kane up there, and to Nicole, wherever she is today. PNSG, of course, and our security people, are often forgotten, but they are here at all times looking after us.

We really do appreciate all that you do for members. It must be really difficult having to work with 69 different personalities in this building—some good, some bad—but we do all thank you very much for your support, for your service to us, your advice to us and all your hard work. It is very much appreciated by members, and it is a shame that we wait until Christmas to tell you how much you are appreciated. To everyone who works here, thank you.

Special thanks to my staff in Whyalla, but also I think I need to give a special thanks to Josie in the Speaker's office, who keeps people at bay for me, keeps the place going, and does an excellent job. I know she is extremely fair to people, wherever they come from, whatever side they are from. I also give special thanks to the media and to all those camera people that I have told off over the year, and that I have singled out. You do get the message out for us. It is rarely the same message that we put out that we wanted to go out, but the message does go out from there.

We have made mention of the member for Port Adelaide and the member for Ramsay, and of course, I add my best wishes to both of them. We will certainly miss them very much. Our special thoughts are with the member for Ramsay, because I know he and Sasha are going through a very difficult time at present, but I hope that they have a wonderful life ahead of them.

Mike and Kevin have been two of the best performers I have ever seen in this place. They have been brilliant. How formidable they must have been for opposition members, or government members when we were in opposition—particularly when we were in opposition. They were incredible performers. You would see members quiver when they got up and attacked. They were just brilliant performers. We will certainly miss Kevin's sense of humour, too. Some of his comments have been some of the funniest comments I have ever heard in this place. All my best wishes to them; it will be a different place without them, certainly.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas. I want to thank you all for your support for me as Speaker this year. I hope that next year we can have a very prosperous year in this place, and I hope that we have question times that are calm, polite and pleasant. I look forward to them in the next year. So, again, I wish everybody a very merry Christmas and look forward to working with our new Premier next year.

I am very confident that we will have a very good year next year, and I would like to wish everyone a happy new year, and remind you all to please drive safely. I also see the President of the Upper House up there in the gallery, and I wish you and your family a very special merry Christmas; it has been good to work with you this year, and we look forward to next year also. So, best wishes to everyone, and merry Christmas—

Mr Venning: And the police officer.

The SPEAKER: I mentioned security before, and that they play an important role, so merry Christmas to the police officer sitting up there with his head buried. He is obviously reading a very good book—

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: —and who can blame him? But he will see himself immortalised in Hansard forever after today.

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