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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-07-10 Daily Xml
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MEMBER FOR SCHUBERT

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (15:23): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I take this opportunity to officially inform the house that I will not be seeking endorsement for my seat of Schubert and that I will therefore retire, after 24 years, from this parliament in March 2014.

An honourable member: Don't go.

Mr VENNING: Anyone got a hanky? It has been a wonderful privilege to represent a great electorate for so long, even though it has changed dramatically in those 24 years. I make this official announcement now so that people interested in replacing me can make their own public announcements and begin the process that will happen later this year.

Mrs Redmond: No-one can replace you, Ivan.

Mr VENNING: Well, they will have to learn. So I have one year, 247 days and 14 hours left as the member for Schubert. I can assure this house and the people of Schubert that I will go to the end at full throttle. I will not coast over the line. I believe there are certain things I can and must do as the retiring member that a new member would not readily take on.

I will continue to fight to achieve a new hospital for the Barossa with even more vigour and for the reinstatement of the wine train—I am forever the optimist and I think it is actually getting closer. I will also push for council boundaries in the region to be examined and amended along modern geographical lines. I would also like to see the completion of the wonderful restoration of the Hill & Son Grand Organ, the old Adelaide Town Hall organ, now situated in the Tanunda hall. In addition, I want to do all I can to address the inequity of fuel prices in the Barossa Valley, and I will paint a bridge in the near future.

Dualling of the Sturt Highway, at least to Blanchetown, stage 1, I believe is a priority. Even though it is not in my electorate of Schubert, I think dualling Highway 1 from Port Wakefield to Snowtown and then to Port Pirie and Port Augusta is a very important state project. I remind the house that the bituminising of the Morgan-Burra road was done under the previous Liberal government and it cost $19.6 million, so nothing is impossible.

This is not my valedictory but at this point in time, as I reflect on my future, and therefore my past, I will be making detailed comment in my last days in this place. However, I will mention briefly my humble gratitude and thanks to the people of Schubert (previously the Custance electorate): you have given me a great honour and opportunity that I will never forget. Yes, you worked me hard, but you have been totally worth it. You have shown me in so many ways that you have appreciated it.

To the Liberal Party, thank you very much. I know that I was often a bit hard to handle, but the results speak for themselves—for instance, I know that premier Olsen was not amused when I distributed a bottle of unfiltered Barossa water to all members in this place but, again, it was a means to an end and today our region has filtered water.

To the Schubert Liberal team, I have been blessed with the best and most professional outfit, totally focused and outcome driven. To my campaign chairman, Peter Frazer, and previous SEC president, Mrs Stephanie Martin, I am eternally grateful. To all my branch officials and members and to my leader, Isobel Redmond, to my colleagues here past and present, thank you very much. I have appreciated your support and friendship over all these years. I will see you all over the next 18 months to express my gratitude. To my community leaders, mayors, councillors and others, I really have enjoyed a great relationship with you all.

To my family and Kay my wife, yes, I publicly admit that as many people voted for her as for me. She has been a fantastic support, giving me the freedom to pursue my political career and my private whims, and she filled all the gaps. I look forward to returning home and learning how to cook, wash and be a better grandpa to my eight grandchildren.

Finally, I was a teetotaller before I was elected, so as I leave this place it will be a very enjoyable habit that I will take with me. I look forward to sharing a red with you all over the next 20 months and ever after. Again, thank you all. There is a point in time, and that time has arrived. I have enjoyed the friendship of members on both sides of this house and I hope that continues into the future. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: Member for Schubert, of course you are breaking all the rules, but I know that you will be very sorely missed in this place when you leave. You are one of the most popular members in the place on both sides of the house, and we wish you all the best. You have been a great advocate for the country, which is certainly after my heart. You will be able to spend more time with Kay and also with your pig, Bertha. One of the most memorable speeches I have ever heard in this place was how much you loved your pig, Bertha.

Mr VENNING: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Good luck to you.

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