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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
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Condolence

BLEVINS, HON. FRANK

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:04): I move:

That the House of Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of Hon. Frank Trevor Blevins, former member of this house and the Legislative Council, and places on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious service and, as a mark of respect to his memory, the sitting of the house be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

It is my sad duty to inform the house of the passing of Frank Trevor Blevins, who passed away peacefully at home in North Adelaide on Saturday, 8 September. It is hard to imagine we will never again hear Frank's lilting Mancunian accent advising us and encouraging us. Many on this side of the house are devastated by this news.

Frank served in the Legislative Council for over a decade before he became the member for Whyalla. He served this house as the member for Whyalla and then as the member for Giles for a further 12 years. Frank held a range of ministries over his 22 years in public life. Frank Trevor Blevins rose to the position of deputy premier of South Australia. He was a loyal servant of the ALP and to South Australia, and he was a good friend.

Frank was born in 1939 in Manchester, England. Raised in a working class area of inner Manchester, Frank became a merchant seaman at the age of 16. The oceans and fate delivered him to Australia where he soon became involved in the trade union movement. Through his industrial affiliations he worked hard to achieve a system of proportional representation in the upper house, an ongoing legacy he left to South Australian politics. It is only natural that a person of Frank's deep convictions would eventually be attracted to public life, and so it came to pass. In his first speech to the Legislative Council made on 13 August 1975, Frank asserted that, and I quote:

I do not believe that any person has the right to exploit the labour of any other human being for his own personal gain or personal well-being. To me, the making of profit through exploitation is immoral.

Well, the words 'left-wing, militant trade union official' and 'elegant' are not commonly found used in the same sentence, but that was Frank: an uncompromising set of beliefs and values yet a smooth operator. Frank's decade of service in the Legislative Council was focused on the portfolios of forestry, agriculture and fisheries, which he held between 1983 and 1985 and correctional services, a responsibility he held from February 1984.

Actually, that reminds me of a conversation I had with Frank about Corrections, because he found the portfolio in an awful state. He said that he must have been missing something, so he contacted Don Dunstan to ask, 'Don, what went wrong, what happened in Corrections?' He said, 'Comrade, that was next.' So the great Don Dunstan, a great reformer that he was, apparently did not get around to Correctional Services. That was typical of Frank. He was given a hard job to do and he did it with grace and aplomb.

From December 1985 he served in the House of Assembly as member for Whyalla, a city he migrated to from England in 1965. Frank was profoundly committed to Whyalla. When he became deputy premier he announced that it was a great honour but it would not adversely affect his service to Whyalla. 'Everyone knows my rules', he said at the time: 'Thursday afternoon home to Whyalla, apart from state convention and the Grand Prix, and I leave home again every Sunday night.' Frank was an outstanding servant of Whyalla, South Australia and the Labor Party. His loyalty to Whyalla was beyond question.

During his career he was called 'Blevins the unabashed' and was seen to be a wild card in the Bannon cabinet, but he never felt compromised prosecuting the party's position and could not imagine, to use his words, 'The great ALP doing anything that would so outrage my conscience so as to make me vote against it.' He was able to serve in a broad range of portfolios because he had an impressive capacity to get on top of any issue, however complex. He prepared diligently, understood the issues, made sound judgements and, perhaps most importantly, made strong decisions.

I remember Frank saying to me once, when things got tough somewhere, 'Look, trouble for a minister is just an opportunity; it's an opportunity to shine.' Frank used to imagine people sitting at home when he was dealing with a difficult issue thinking to themselves, 'It's all okay; Frank's got this under control', and it was great advice.

Effective ministers have productive relationships with their senior public servants, and public servants seemed to like Frank, who listened to them and was always honest with them. His straightforward nature transcended his professional, political and personal relationships. He was always upfront and sincere. He would never hesitate to say something hard to you if he felt it needed to be said, but it was done without fanfare or hysterics; just clear advice, and he would never repeat it.

When Frank was appointed deputy premier unopposed in 1992, he promised to keep a low profile. He believed that there was no public role for the deputy premier. Whether or not one agrees with this assessment is irrelevant. What is important to remember is his loyalty to premier Lynn Arnold, with whom he formed a leadership team that successfully merged an academic approach with a passionate trade unionist beyond reproach.

Although Frank may not have been considered as an academic in the Lynn Arnold mould, he nonetheless had a superb intellectual capacity. He was incredibly well read and was able to apply his knowledge to political life with great dexterity.

Frank was a great visionary. He continued to support a strong role for government when the fashion was economic rationalism. It was a foresight that led him to his decision to invest in the electromagnetic mapping of the state, which caused the resurgence of mining exploration which in turn has led to the revival of the South Australian mining sector that we are seeing today.

You need to remember when he made that decision. He made that decision in the depths of the State Bank crisis. Obviously, resources were incredibly scarce, yet he decided to carve out something that was important for the future. To be able to think clearly in that way, under such extraordinary pressure, is a mark of a true statesman.

He also understood the changing focus of progressive politics. In 1992, he said the left should now stand for industrial development. It is about jobs. It is not only about crying out for safety nets. He believed the progressive side of politics must fight to rebuild, particularly in the manufacturing industry. Today, as we assert the role of a strong government as a necessary transition to advanced manufacturing and think of the benefits that mining exploration have delivered and will deliver to South Australia, we acknowledge that Frank saw this first.

Intelligent, hardworking, loyal, visionary, Frank was above all respected across the political spectrum because he was thoroughly decent. He was an extraordinarily generous human being in every sense of the word. He respected staff and he respected the partners of MPs.

Many will certainly miss his kindness, which manifested itself in the form of food that he would skilfully prepare and then deliver. At Christmas time, we enjoyed his mince pies and shortbread. If you were going on a long trip, he would also omit the chocolate so that it would not melt in the car, such was his attention to detail. His boiled fruitcake was legendary. A staff member in my office was so taken with his ginger cake that Frank made a point of delivering an entire cake in person when completed.

It was only food—a curry here or a biscuit there—but it was always delivered when things got really tough, just when you needed it. Some people, especially blokes or some people with a certain reserve, express their love in different ways. Frank did it through the care and attention that he paid to the preparation of food and the delivery of that to people.

Frank remained active after he retired from parliamentary service. He continued to serve on a number of state government boards, including SA Water. He continued to attend sub-branch meetings and participate in community life. He remained an active and much loved member of the South Australian branch of the Fabian Society. He lived a full life. The contributions he made are lasting and his memory will endure.

On a personal note, Frank touched many of us on this side of the chamber. I can still vividly remember the afternoon at the Elephant and Castle Hotel when Frank came back from Trades Hall to read the results of the Legislative Council vote in the upper house that was won by my father, who was replacing Frank as member for the Legislative Council when he swapped to the seat of Whyalla. He read the results out and there was much cheering, at least from half the room, and then he gave Dad a big hug. I just remember the sense of joy of that moment.

I also recall, a number of years later, sitting somewhere near Stephanie Key, and it was the first time, I think, Frank had seen Stephanie after she had been preselected as the candidate for what is now Ashford. Frank enthusiastically congratulated her and I vividly remember him saying something like, 'You will have the time of your life. This is going to be a wonderful time.'

I can recall Jane Lomax-Smith telling me how important Frank was to her. Of course you would remember that Jane was not of the Labor Party in that traditional party sense, so getting her to understand the labyrinthine processes of the Labor Party and the traditions was a feat, and that fell to Frank to assist her. He was like a translator of the strange and magnificent ways of the Labor Party, and it was very important to Jane, and I know that she valued it deeply.

I can also recall Frank's encouragement, and when Frank said something kind to you it meant a lot more than perhaps compliments that you get that are thrown around like confetti, because he rarely gave them and because he was such a great man it meant such an enormous amount.

A few months ago I went to Calvary Hospital to see Frank and he was still full of hope. He was making positive plans about the progress of his palliative care. He understood what it all meant and he was making those plans. Sadly, things progressed much more rapidly than we all hoped. Frank, of course, as I said earlier, passed on Saturday. He voted in the election but couldn't bear to wait for the result, so he slipped away before 6pm. It is great to see some of Frank's former colleagues here today, and also, I understand, Frank's daughter Little Doreen. My thoughts are with Frank's wife, Doreen, and the rest of his family, his friends and his former colleagues.

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): I rise to second this motion on behalf of the South Australian Liberal Party, and I offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Frank Blevins, an outstanding contributor to the Australian Labor Party and to this parliament over many years. Indeed, reading through the many parliamentary papers that document Frank's time in both this house and the Legislative Council where his career began back in 1975, there is very little Frank did not do. In terms of ministerial responsibilities and portfolios, he nearly held them all over his 22 years of service to this parliament: forests, fisheries and agriculture, health, transport, labour and correctional services. His obvious talent and ability also recognised with the senior roles of treasurer and deputy premier.

For a man who emigrated to Australia from England in 1956, who began his working life as a merchant seaman (the same occupation as my father) and then tug boat worker and union official at the harbor in Whyalla, it is a truly remarkable and outstanding record. And yet it was these early life experiences, these humble beginnings, that cemented Frank's core values and beliefs, and made him such a smart political operator. Frank's breadth of knowledge, tough negotiation skills and his drive and determination, earned him, quite appropriately, the media nickname of Mr Fix-it in the cabinet of John Bannon. And the results of his many successes are still evident here today. For instance, Frank was widely regarded as the first minister to fully address the many problems at the Yatala prison—problems that affected both inmates and staff.

Frank also had a deep understanding of the importance of our state's regions, regularly acknowledging the importance of agriculture in our economy. While his views may have been different from those on this side of the house from time to time, it is impossible not to admire and respect someone with such strength of conviction. It is with these words that I endorse the Premier's motion and pass on the opposition's condolences to the family and friends of Frank Blevins at this very sad time.

The SPEAKER: Deputy Premier.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:18): Thank you Mr Speaker. I wish to also briefly add a few words in relation to this motion concerning Frank Blevins. I guess I have the honour of being a successor in title in some respects to Frank who held the office I presently occupy between 1992 and 1993. I did not have the good fortune of serving with him in the parliament, although everybody I know who did spoke extremely highly of him. I did, however, have many other encounters with Frank and all of them were of a very positive nature.

For example, shortly after I was elected to this place, you, Mr Speaker, wearing a different guise, asked me to participate in the Law Foundation, and I was delighted to discover that my colleague in the Law Foundation was none other than Frank Blevins, amongst others. He always brought tremendous wisdom to the task of allocating grants, where there are many open mouths and limited funds. He always had a very canny way of sorting out which proposals should go forward and which should not.

I also had the privilege on one occasion of speaking at the Adelaide sub-branch. They must have been short of speakers; that must be why they called me in. After speaking at the sub-branch, I was fortunate enough to be presented with one of the boiled fruitcakes, which I have to say was a magnificent boiled fruitcake. I did mention to my mother that, although her fruitcakes were good, they were not quite as good as Frank's. That did not go down all that well, actually, but it lifted her game a bit. I digress.

Many years ago, in the dying days of the Bannon government, I recall there being a debate in the parliament about which I was extremely personally concerned, which was the introduction of poker machines. I have, for whatever reason, always had a deep concern about the impact of these on the community and I remember telephoning Mario Feleppa, who at that stage was the swing vote in the upper house, encouraging him to do what I described as the right thing and ignore everyone else who was talking to him.

An honourable member: That was effective, wasn't it?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Anyway. But I do remember Frank entering that debate very vigorously and, although I completely disagreed with him, I remember him saying something to the effect of, 'Poker machines are a measure for egalitarianism because they enable even the working man to have a punt and not have to go to the Casino.' I totally disagreed with that, but I thought it was a marvellous way of him arguing his case.

I have had many personal encounters with Frank over the years; all of them have been thoroughly enjoyable from my point of view. He was never a person to force himself or be intrusive about his opinions. However, if you were in a position where you sought advice, it would always be forthcoming and extremely wise, and it would be given in the most generous of terms. Frank was a thoroughly decent man. He was a man who retained that sort of contemporary vitality to the end of his life. He was a person who was connected with this place and the general community to the end of his life. I extend my sincere condolences to all of his family and friends.

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:22): I rise today to do something I hoped never to do. Even when he received a devastating diagnosis of severe cancer, I could not believe Frank would not overcome this obstacle as he had overcome so many in the past. Frank Blevins has been there for so long for so many of us that it seemed like he would be ever present, ever guiding, ever seeking to bring out our best.

Many of Frank's achievements have already been canvassed, so I want to principally focus on his support for women. Frank has been particularly important to many women in the political field. He has been generous with his quiet guidance when many of us found that, lacking role models and not being members of a traditional organisation, it was hard to get the mentoring needed by people taking up new roles.

Jane Lomax-Smith asked him why he did this. The fact that so many of his staff were women and that new members facing a difficult situation were told by others to 'ask Frank' made it clear that he was different from others. Frank told her that, after having two daughters, he realised he did not want them to go through what he had seen other women put up with, and he had to start by example. Jane also thought he was on a continuous mission to improve those of us he cared about.

When discussing what I might include in this contribution, I found that many women wished they could record their thanks to Frank and they provided me with heartfelt messages, so I am proud to be making this contribution on their behalf. I also noticed that many people mentioned cake; Mr Speaker, I am not making a display, but I do have a Frank Blevins cake here that we can all honour, and perhaps share later. The first contribution comes from Carolyn Pickles, former leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council. Carolyn says:

Frank Blevins was a typical down-to-earth man from the north of England, a man with enormous charm, wit and good common sense. He made a great friend and mentor. I met Frank in the Labor Party and as an ex-pom we got on pretty well. He gave me good advice about how to work in the Labor Party to get myself preselected, no mean feat in the days when I first stood for pre-selection—women just weren't even noticed too much then.

Maybe Frank had a good nose for determined women, particularly those in the left of politics On my first day in Caucus he had me sit next to him, and his advice was 'listen and learn', pretty good advice as it turned out. Frank typified a working-class man who had climbed the slippery ladder to gain a significant place in our State's history, but never forgot where he came from. The accent didn't change, the sartorial taste may have, and he loved the country he had chosen to live in.

On a personal level, Frank continued to give advice to those he got on with and many he didn't. He was unfailingly polite to the opposite side in the days when it was OK to be so. He had a lot of courage and it is significant that he introduced the first bill in parliament to recognise that people wished to die in dignity.

I recall my dear mother asking me to get one of those forms from Frank...before I left for a long stay in England. She believed most strongly in voluntary euthanasia and wanted to avail herself of every opportunity to die with dignity if she 'dropped off her perch' while I was away. I was to use a later version of that same legislation when my husband was dying of cancer. Frank's contribution in this area showed his very real compassion for human beings and I thank him for that.

Once I left parliament I still kept in touch with Frank, and we would often have a nice lunch together, and talk of politics and how we should have changed the world. His view was that if one could shift things even slightly to the left of the spectrum, then one had indeed moved a mountain. I think Frank moved quite a few mountains in his time. His courage, following his accident, was just typical of the man. He was stoical while often in great pain, but still managed to make jokes about his artificial leg. He certainly got me off climbing ladders to clean gutters etc.

My last memory of Frank is visiting his home, where it was obvious that he was not in good shape. I was not permitted to stay long, but we had a good conversation about federal politics. He was clearly aware that he was very drugged and had a joke about it. I felt great sadness when I left Frank and Doreen that day as I realised from past experience, that his life would not last much longer.

My thoughts to go to Doreen, his life partner since she was 15 and his children who I know have been a great help during these last months. Doreen, too, is one of those steadfast no-nonsense north countrywomen, but I know she will miss him terribly, as we all will.

I know that there will be many speeches today in memory of Frank so it is with great gratitude that I thank Gay for allowing me, through her, to record some of my thoughts about Frank. There are so many words one could say about him, but best we keep those to a later day when the sadness has worn off a little. I will miss him as will all his many, many, Labor Party friends. Vale, Frank.

Anne Levy, former president of the Legislative Council—the first female president—and minister in the former Labor government, entered the Legislative Council at the same time as Frank in 1975. That was the same year I was elected as the state secretary of the then Administrative and Clerical Officers' Association, and when I first met Frank. Anne says:

Frank was a voracious reader, though not much fiction in his literary diet. In recent years he took to philosophy, and would sing the praises of modern philosophers like Grayling. And I think he read every book on left-wing politics ever written.

I recall one time when he was briefly minister of agriculture when he fronted a demonstration of farmers on the steps of Parliament House. He gave a rousing speech, in which he told them off in no uncertain terms. He later said he enjoyed getting it off his chest, and as there were no Labor voters among them he couldn't lose any votes for the Government!

And don't forget his loyalty to the Manchester United football team, in the UK. He had a Manchester United cap which he wore on cold days as his hair thinned, and he would get up at 4am to watch on the tele his team play in the football [what we call soccer] season.

A little known achievement of Frank is his contribution to the Art Gallery. I commissioned a study on redeveloping the cultural institutions on North Terrace, and it was agreed that we start with the Art Gallery. As Treasurer, despite this being in the constrained years after the State Bank, he supported me strongly on the basis that any civilised city should have such institutions and have them well-funded (though I doubt he ever set foot in any of them). We started the new wing of the Gallery.

Frank was a deeply compassionate man with great sympathy for the underdog and anyone in trouble. I do recall that when my husband, Keith, died Frank showed more compassion and understanding than anyone else in caucus, though that is a long time ago now.

The rights of workers and the working class were always top of his agenda. I think many of us know Janey Nicholson, who was a very long-term personal assistant of Frank, and Kaye Noske, who, for a time, was his media adviser and speechwriter. They have asked me to make the following contribution:

Frank was a man who understood the importance of maintaining the dignity of public office. He maintained appearances at all times. He would have an odd glass of wine, but was never what you'd call a drinker. He was always impeccably dressed for work. Even in a casual environment, his jeans always had ironed creases. He was fond of saying that people in glasshouses...well, you know how the saying goes.

When he developed heart trouble after the 1993 election, he was still keeping up appearances. No-one knew of his illness, and he didn't want anyone to know he could no longer walk up the front steps of parliament, and so he used to walk around the back of the house. Long after surgery, he thought his secret was a great joke, although at the time it was a very serious situation. Even after having part of his leg amputated, an array of broken bones and a variety of injuries that defy explanation, he seemed to relish the challenge of bouncing back and regaining his independence. His resilience in dealing with his health issues in retirement were simply a reflection of his behaviour during his working life. He had remarkable tenacity and determination.

Every Thursday afternoon, he would return to Whyalla so that he could spend Fridays in the electorate office. The employees in that office were like family. They were long-term employees. He knew them socially as well as through work, and he maintained contact with them long after he'd retired. The atmosphere in this office was light, breezy and business-like, and they kept a tight ship in terms of maximising Frank's time in the office.

He never took Whyalla for granted. When the seat changed to Giles and the boundaries took in more agricultural land, he spent time getting to know new stakeholders. In 1993, when just 10 ALP seats were held, Giles was one of them. He had a fearsome reputation as a minister. When asked where you worked by someone in government, the response was usually a very knowing, 'Ah.' Even today, the mention of his name is met with enormous respect. 'You always knew where you stood with Frank,' is something that is said frequently by stakeholders, even the ones in agriculture.

He didn't suffer fools. He was keen to make sure people got the advice they needed from him and got on with it. In retirement, he used to joke about his bark being worse than his bite, but in reality there were few prepared to take the risk, just in case. He expected a lot from his team and he was clear about his expectations. This in many ways made it easy to work with Frank. He set the rules that he expected others to follow. He never left an in-tray unattended. Not one piece of paper was left in the in-tray for longer than a day. He read everything; he understood everything.

When he was in the electorate office on Fridays, we used to marvel at how many folders would be put in the in-tray. There were days when we used to marvel at the enormous towers of paper that would await Frank on Monday morning, but by lunchtime Monday or before, the in-tray would be empty. Everything needing his signature would have been signed. Everything requiring noting would have been noted. His days ran like clockwork. Meetings rarely ran over time. He trusted his staff.

On one occasion he joked that he was so busy travelling, it would be easy to forget where he was...but he was heard to say that if he was ever to get lost he wouldn't worry at all because all he'd have to do was call Janey, his personal assistant at the time, and she would tell him where he was and how to get back to the hotel.

Here is a person who, staring down the barrel of a state bank disaster, convinced his cabinet to sign off on a budget bid that would see the government fund a project called the South Australian Exploration Initiative to start creating a picture of the mineral prospects in the state. It was a long-term initiative that would lead to a mining revival in the state many years later. Imagine being at that cabinet meeting. Consider in the light of the State Bank disaster how challenging it would have been to convince a cabinet to agree to spend $40 million on the project that would not deliver short-term gains for a government that could have used a quick win or two.

He didn't spend a lot of time in the kitchen as a Minister. But he enjoyed spicy food and he could also cook a pretty good curry. In retirement, he turned his hand to baking cakes and biscuits and was actually quite good at it. This was something that surprised many, and often delighted the regular and very grateful recipients, who included Premiers, Ministers, their staff and his own former staff.

The following is from Anne Bunning, long-term adviser and what we now call chief of staff:

Frank said of his time in the Seamen's Union: The bosses always said good things about me: they said I was always well dressed and I was always on time. Absolute loyalty—to his socialist values, the ALP, to workers, to his staff, his family, his friends, and to women.

Those were hallmarks of Frank's character.

Frank was an early supporter of gender equality and I remember him telling me that one day as Minister of Agriculture he had been invited to a lunch with the Metropolitan Milk Board. The lunch was at a gentleman's club on Hutt Street, not that it was officially called that, but clearly that was what it was, because when Frank arrived with his adviser—who was a woman—he was told that he could come in the front door but his adviser would need to go around to the back entrance. What did Frank do? He politely replied, 'No problem, we can both go through the back entrance.' So the formal party all walked through the kitchen together to the lunch.

I heard a similar story when he was in Iraq: as Minister of Agriculture he was there to sign an agreement with the Iraqi government and visit the South Australians working on the South Australian government's dryland farming demonstration farm in the north. When Frank arrived in Iraq, he was told by the Ambassador that it would not be possible to visit the demonstration farm as there had been bombing there overnight and his safety could not be guaranteed. Frank's response? 'Well, if it's not safe for me, it's not safe for the workers.' The end result—Frank went north to Erbil [to see the project] the next day.

When he became minister in 1983, his portfolio was minister of agriculture: not a natural fit for a former Seaman but Frank made it his own and the farmers in fact loved him (that was what Frank said, anyway); the farmers came to know that with Frank they would get a straight story and that if he supported a particular proposal, then it would definitely happen. Frank never lost a cabinet submission and he always did what he said he would do.

One thing the farmers were not so fond of was Frank's persistent advice to them that the Farmers' Federation was a union and they could learn much from the union movement. I remember the big farmers' march in the mid 80's when the farmers drove their tractors to town and filled Elder Park. Frank was delighted to accept their invitation to speak at the rally. I can still hear his Manchester accent ringing out up King William Street congratulating the farmers on their union solidarity and comparing it with the great union actions of the past. The more the farmers booed and heckled, the more strident Frank got. A very exciting and memorable day.

The South Australian Potato Board did meet its match with Frank, though, when they tried to prosecute a Mount Gambier grower for selling potatoes in the wrong sized bags; that was the end of the potato board and selling potatoes was deregulated shortly afterwards.

Again, Anne refers to the cakes, but she has a particular reason for doing so. She remembers when her son—and I will go back to reading in Anne's voice:

...I remember when my son was in intensive care for many weeks—Frank walked into the RAH every day with some of his famous and beautiful homemade fruit cake and on the way he would pick up coffee and lunch. Many days he just left it with the lavender ladies but he always made sure there was a food parcel waiting.

Despite not being born in Australia, his commitment to the concept of a fair go was unchallenged; Frank always listened to you, even if he didn't agree with your position, he would always listen.

Frank also had a very long political memory—and if you crossed him on something he viewed as significant, he would place it in his store; then maybe [many] years later he would ensure that you paid. You would probably never know why you failed, but Frank did.

Some brief comments from former minister Lea Stevens and her husband Mike:

I didn't really get to know Frank Blevins until I entered parliament in 1994 and shared the back bench with him for some months...as part of the 11-member Opposition—me as a newly elected MP and he as one of the small number of former members remaining after the 1993 election. I was aware of his significant achievements as a Minister in numerous portfolios and also of his reputation as a tough operator in difficult situations but from that time on I saw up close, in many situations, Frank's values, characteristics and skills.

Above all he was true to his beliefs of the greatest possible freedoms for the individual tempered by the context of fairness, equity and justice for all, particularly the battlers who made up much of the constituency of the electorates held by the ALP. He was always a Labor man and always constructive, clear and articulate in defending the rights of the little people and reminding us of the obligations on our party to defend their interests in particular.

Frank was an outstanding leader—smart, strategic, honest and upfront, tough and resilient but he was also loyal, generous in spirit, and never ego driven. He used that last term as a mentor to the rest of us and gave support and advice on diverse matters from policy and procedures to making speeches and handling difficult situations. He shared his views and listened. He made special fruit cakes and sent texts of encouragement and never forgot birthdays (even this year when he was so ill). He was a great role model but also a great friend and he will be remembered fondly and with gratitude.

Now a contribution from a union with whom he had many dealings as minister. Mark Carroll and Peter Alexander, current and past presidents of the Police Association of South Australia, asked for the following to be recorded:

The Police Association of SA is saddened to hear of the passing of former Minister Frank Blevins. Mr Blevins was greatly respected by the association as a Minister of the Crown and former trade union official. In negotiations with the association he was always able to weigh the public interest with the interests of police officers, particularly in the area of superannuation.

Mr Blevins always looked for the common ground in negotiations and believed in the concept of win-win. He was a man of deep principle who lived by the creed of the 'fair go'. He was a good and decent man, who always held the courage of his convictions. And as a negotiator, he was firm but fair.

Mr Blevins was his own man and yet always treated others equally, regardless of status or station. Egalitarian, in every sense, his respect for humanity endeared him to all members of the community.

He will be sadly missed.

I thank members for their indulgence in this long contribution. Jill Bottrall, long-term media adviser to the former premier, has written:

When I last spoke to Frank on the phone a few weeks back we shared a laugh and he seemed far more concerned about me than himself.

It was vintage Frank. He was always cheery and never stopped caring about the Ministerial staff—who he always thought of as the workers.

Prior to the 2010 election, when I would get home from work too late to prepare a meal, Frank was most concerned. So he and Doreen would cook up pots of vegetarian curry and rice and divide them into individual servings, so I could take them home and pop them in the freezer. It was their way of helping the cause and ensuring I ate well.

Frank never lost sight of what drove him to politics or the privileges that being in office had afforded him. As a merchant seaman from Manchester, he remained true to his humble beginnings and his fight for the rights of workers.

When he retired from parliament, he and his wife Doreen moved from Whyalla into a lovely home in North Adelaide and, with a new kitchen installed, he would bake and cook and feed the masses. Frank's signature dish was the Christmas cake—dense, heavy, rich, glorious Christmas cake—which was on offer all year round. When I worked for the former premier, he would text me every fortnight or so and say he was parked outside the State Administration Building, and there was Frank unloading freshly baked cakes or other sweets from his car boot for the media advisers or the premier's staff. This was Frank giving back to those still working for the cause in government.

As an active member of my sub branch, I saw a lot of Frank. He turned up to every monthly meeting that he could.

I do not see her but Jane Lomax-Smith may be in the gallery, and she told me she never quite knew how come she got Frank as her guide and mentor; so, Jane, here is the answer:

In 2001, I asked him if he could see his way clear to being Jane Lomax-Smith's campaign manager. She needed someone who was organised and knew how to run a grass roots campaign, who understood the importance of doorknocking and had an innate sense of public sentiment and how to tap into it.

He was not keen and resisted the idea but, after much convincing, said yes, and then proceeded to run Jane off her feet. He drove her to key parts of the Adelaide electorate and told her which doors to knock on, who she should see and what she should say. He would wait and watch from the car to make sure she did as he said. Frank was efficient and sharp, and his ability to focus was exactly what Jane needed to win the seat from the sitting Liberal member Michael Armitage.

Frank was a voracious reader. He was, in fact, a quiet intellectual. He was an avid collector of books and essays, music and films, and he socialised their distribution by giving so much away safe in the knowledge they would be eventually passed along to others. Frank always emailed articles of interest but to regular visitors he also dispensed goodies from his home. Every time I visited, Frank would disappear into a side room and come out with a package of things he had been collecting between visits.

He introduced me to copies of Mad Men, Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and Breaking Bad, way before anyone had heard of them in Australia. In one of my bundles he had managed to secure the final edition of News of the World. Some months later, I discovered in another package the first edition of Rupert's The Sun, both of which I happily read while munching through a giant slice of his Christmas cake.

Each year, he and Doreen would move to Queensland for a few months to live out the winter in the north. It always seemed a bleak time when they were gone and people would always ask, 'When is Frank back?' We never quite knew until we got the call to come and get some cake.

In 2008, while climbing a ladder to clear his gutters, he fell only a short distance from the ground but broke his leg. It was a severe break—the worst. That he had lost his leg as a result was so unfair on someone who was up at 5am every morning to walk and was so active during the day. But it was not long before he had a prosthetic leg fitted and he was back to being Frank—laughing and cooking, and caring for others. It was a setback but he never complained. It slowed him down marginally but he still turned up to meetings and fundraising events, he still baked, drove his car and distributed books, articles, food, music and movies.

Frank was a very private man, who cherished his life with Doreen and his family. He was especially proud of his grandchildren. When he fell ill this final time, he told only his closest friends (who included former attorney-general Chris Sumner and his wife Suzie Roux). He never liked fuss or attention. From the day he left parliament, he never spoke to the media again. He certainly would not enjoy the attention of this motion. As a self-effacing man he had no idea how much he was loved by so many. He will leave a giant hole in our lives and we will miss his counsel and his wisdom and his wit, forever.

Kym Mayes also asked that he be mentioned among those who send their condolences to the family and who hold him in great esteem. Finally, some comments from me that have not been picked up in the contributions so far. As indicated earlier, Jane Lomax-Smith thought Frank was on a mission to improve everyone. This of course extended to improving the lot of the working class, but it also included improving everyone he cared about.

As Janey Nicholson said, he wanted us all to do our best. We realised that Frank improved us by giving us books to read, TV programs and films to watch, and having extended debates. These were vigorous and well argued. While I do not think he ever convinced me to change my mind, nor I him, and we agreed to differ on a range of subjects, it forced me to be clear about my thinking and able to argue it articulately.

While Anne Levy said she did not know whether Frank had entered an art gallery, he had a deep interest in the work of Laurence Stephen Lowry, Laurie Lowry, an English artist. Many of his drawings and paintings depict Pendlebury, where he lived and worked for over 40 years, and Salford and its surrounding areas. Lowry is famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North-West England in the mid 20th century.

Lowry developed a distinctive style of painting and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures, often referred to as matchstick or matchstalk men. Frank particularly liked the fact that Lowry's work celebrated the ordinary—struggling people and the industrial landscape of Salford in which they lived and worked among the belching smokestacks and narrow streets populated by children in their 'sparking clogs'.

Frank told me that in a busy job you have to have a routine; you have to do some things automatically—where you put things, how you prepare for a meeting—otherwise you waste limited brain space on things that do not really matter. Frank had an unusual interest in sport. In addition to his well-known love for Manchester United, he had a special interest in cricket. One of the books he used to improve people was Beyond a Boundary by C.L.R. James. Beyond a Boundary is technically a book about West Indian cricket in the 20th century, but it is described as:

First and foremost an autobiography of a living legend—probably the greatest social theorist of our times...As a testament to a dying colonial society, and a harbinger of Marxist cultural tradition which views human freedom as its central focus, Beyond a Boundary is a classic.

Another little-known aspect of Frank's history is that he became a supporter of Port Power. After the fabulous showdown victory on 4 August, he sent me a message saying, 'Brilliant, can hardly believe it.' My response suggested, 'Wingard for president,' to which he responded, 'Stupendous.' That was such a short time ago, and here we are today marking his death. He was in great pain and heavily drugged, but he continued getting enjoyment out of the ordinary things of life.

In some ways, Frank was a complex man—philosophy, politics, film, sport—but overwhelmingly he was a person who loved and was loyal, first to Doreen and his family, then the labour movement and those he judged as true to its values, the people he worked with, and then his motivational factor—all the disempowered and voiceless people in the community.

Frank has left a hole that will be very hard to fill. I hope this record of his attributes and the testimony of the esteem in which he is held and the love he engendered will be a small comfort to his family. I also hope that it will be an inspiration to many young people who will decide that they would like their obituary to be as warm and fulsome as that of Frank Trevor Blevins.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (14:54): I want to make a brief contribution and commend the previous speakers on their fine speeches. Frank Trevor Blevins was one of this place's great performers and a master of debate. A professional through and through has gone.

Frank was a merchant seaman from Manchester, who served on tugboats and came to the parliament through the unions. Yes, he was a tough, uncompromising left-winger and he was proud of it. He was a friend of my father Howard, though they argued a lot and did not agree on much. I can remember him being here when I first visited. In my eyes, he joined Labor greats like the late Hugh Hudson, Jack Wright, Geoff Virgo and Jack Slater.

Frank was still here, of course, when I arrived here in early 1990. I was in awe of this person's debating skills, particularly when you consider his minimal education. As a young pollie, you would study debating styles and how to craft yourself in this place. He would stand up when the house was often in uproar, particularly during those State Bank years when the house was truly in uproar.

He would stand there strong in his place, look straight at us and, at the same tempo, go at us hammer and tongs. In six or seven minutes, he would change the whole tempo of the debate. He would just change the matter, drop his voice and, by the time he had finished, the house was in total silence. I do not know where he learned that skill from—he probably learnt it from life—but I have never forgotten that and I commented to my father about it.

I first had close contact with Frank before I got here. As minister of agriculture, he set up the advisory council to keep himself abreast of the real issues because he made no secret about the fact that he did not know anything about the farmers. So, he set up SARAC, and I served on that.

As minister of agriculture, he was tough and stoic. I can remember the farmers marches, as has been mentioned. There were 4,000 or 5,000 farmers and friends walking down from Victoria Square down to Elder Park, and Frank addressed the seething mob with typical Blevins aplomb. Unbending, unapologetic, he never changed, he never complained and he never compromised.

I think it rather strange in this place, and others would say the same, that a right-winger like me, opposite in every way, got on so well with Frank. Like with the late Jack Slater, we often sat down and chatted about all manner of issues, particularly on the bowling green. Frank Blevins was also the parliamentary bowls club auditor, so he was certainly multiskilled.

Frank Blevins was highly trusted on both sides of this house. I am careful of what I say but, in those days, there were confidential discussions across this house on all manner of touchy issues. It was always Frank who represented Labor and it was usually Bruce Eastick from our side, at least in my time here. It is a shame that it does not seem to happen today. Deals were struck and Frank Blevins's word was absolute—no leaks, no theatrics, no looking back. He was highly principled, as has already been said.

When Frank was around, even in retirement, you knew because a group would always gather around to listen to the wisdom that was always his and his great sense of dry wit and humour. I think Frank Blevins's dedication, style and conviction can be a lesson to us all. He knew what he wanted; he never forgot his background and never forgot who put him here. He was our foe on this side of the house, but you could not help but admire him.

I, like many members, was quite shocked and saddened to hear of Frank's death yesterday. Forget the politics, forget the differences; he was respected by us all. To his wife Doreen and his family and friends our sincere condolences. Vale, Frank Blevins.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:58): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. My fondest memory of Frank Blevins is election night 1993, when I was your campaign manager and Spence did not fall. I remember, sir, after 48 hours of no sleep listening to you, terrified that we were going to lose the seat in a landslide.

An honourable member: Nothing's changed.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Nothing's changed. Having spent all day being spat on at polling booths and trying to defend the indefensible, I got back to the Rosetta Street RSL, turned the TV on and there was Frank Blevins, deputy premier. The media crossed to him and a young journalist said, 'Deputy premier, this is a devastating loss for the Labor Party. Aren't you humiliated?' He said, 'What are you talking about? We won 10 seats. This is a great result.' That was Frank Blevins, and that, for me, really changed my mind about him because, quite frankly, I was from a different part of the party from Frank, and I was very young at the time—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: You still are!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Compared to some. I was in the right of the party, he was in the left of the party and we saw him as someone who did not share our views. As I got to know him, I realised how wrong I was. Even though he barracked for the wrong football club, Manchester United instead of Liverpool, and we had many conversations about that. I remember him sitting in Adrian Pederick's seat in the years between 1993 to 1997 when there were 10, and then 11 when Robyn came into the parliament, and seeing them put up with what were overwhelming odds, and seeing members of parliament get up and try to defend the former government's record, and seeing Frank get up there and try and make an argument, and it was a very good argument and he did it very well.

He gave me lots of sympathy, he gave me lots of advice—unsolicited, friendly advice, which I took. When my daughter was born prematurely he was one of the first to ring, and I think there is a certain symmetry to Frank dying on a day when a government died. I think the fact that he voted before the end of the day by postal vote says so much about who he is and what kind of man he was. Even though I did not share his politics, I did not share his views, I did not share his world view of the Labor Party—although we had very different views, I respect him tremendously, and I respect him for a decision that he made as treasurer. I have spoken to people in the mining industry about this and they all remember him fondly and they say this, and I have heard this said by people in the department who were there when he made this decision: if we had done nothing after the State Bank to help try and grow prosperity and grow jobs, we would be condemned forever.

Frank made decisions as treasurer by committing $23½ million between June 1992 to June 1996 for the South Australian Exploration Initiative which became a bipartisan initiative which has turned into PACE, something governments across Australia and, indeed, the world are copying. This state owes him and people like him a great debt. When he started this program, after four years, metres of drilling activity trebled, and private mineral exploration rose from $17.2 million in 1991 to $53 million in 1997. The area under state mineral licence was only 14 per cent. By the end of this spend it was up to 40 per cent in 1997.

The level of company exploration in the South Australian Exploration Initiative rose from 5 per cent in 1993 to 70 per cent in 1997. Exploration success directly attributable to that initiative include Challenger and Golf Bore gold deposits in the Northern Gawler Craton; Campfire Bore, Tunkillia and Nuckulla Hill prospects in the Gawler Craton; and iron ore deposits near Coober Pedy which are coming into fruition now. We stand on the shoulders of giants and Frank Blevins is one of those giants. I will miss him.

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:03): You often hear the term 'a man for all seasons' and I really think that is a term that could be applied to Frank Blevins. I remember him as a regular at the United Trades and Labor Council. I first saw him when he was there representing the Seafarers Union, now the Maritime Union of Australia. This representation went on for quite some time because he was also representing the Whyalla Trades and Labor Council. I saw him from afar and quite often he would contribute to debate and I remember being very impressed with his contributions.

His representation at the United Trades and Labor Council went on, and even when he was a member of parliament he was very happy to be part of that union group at TLC meetings. Later he became a speaker at TLC meetings, quite often very difficult ones because, of course, Frank Blevins held a number of ministerial positions, he quite often had to deal with issues to do with, what was then, a very big Public Service—well, it is still a big Public Service but it was huge in those days—people will remember the Highways Department, the Engineering & Water Supply Department, the Department of Marine and Harbors, and so on. As an industrial officer at the Trades and Labor Council, I can say that there seemed to be a dispute that governments needed to deal with in all of those areas. Frank and his predecessor in that position, Jack Wright, had a lot to deal with and both of those men really did know how to speak to workers and to the unions that represented them.

I also had the—I am not sure if it was a privilege, but the Trades and Labor Council decided that I would be the coordinator, with the then minister for the public sector and industrial relations, on the Government Agency Review Group. Some of you will remember that that was a very big exercise of basically cutting back and rationalising the public sector. We had weekly meetings with minister Blevins and then we would meet with minister Blevins and whoever the relevant minister was for the portfolio that was going to be cut. You can imagine the feeling in the union movement about these proposals and also the introduction of temporary voluntary separation packages and the negotiations that went into that.

During that time, also as the minister for labour, again following on from Jack Wright as the minister for labour, there were a number of significant pieces of legislation that were negotiated and then put through parliament: the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act; the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act; and, with attorney-general Sumner, significant amendments to what is now the Equal Opportunity Act.

There were big changes with regard to superannuation. When I first started as a union official in the early 1980s, very few women (less than 4 per cent) in the public sector actually had any superannuation of any note whatsoever. Along with the comments made by the member for Reynell, a lot of workers in the blue-collar areas had very poor schemes—quite often gratuity retirement schemes, or very poor superannuation schemes, not to mention some of the white-collar workers. This was a big equity issue in the public sector itself.

I am sure at some stage as a minister Frank had responsibility for the Electricity Trust of South Australia. I remember in this particular dispute—it is the only time I have ever seen Frank get really angry, where he did say to me as the chief negotiator on behalf of the unions, 'If the lights so much as flickered...'. I never ever heard what would happen if they did, but I knew in my heart that I would try to make sure that they did not even flicker, because of not only my respect but also a certain amount of fear that I had for minister Blevins.

We have mentioned his skills with regard to cooking and also his commitment to equal rights for women. One example I can give is, when we established Emily's List in South Australia in 1997, I remember that Joan Kirner, who is the originator of Emily's List Australia, came over to Adelaide and we had a big fundraiser where people were asked to contribute meals to a dinner that we were going to have. I remember Frank being very competitive and, being a cook myself, I thought, 'Well, I will show this Frank Blevins that my lamb shanks casserole is just as good as his lamb shanks casserole,' so he decided that he would cook something different because he did not want to embarrass me by having a superior contribution. The fact was that I think he was the only man who did actually contribute a meal to this dinner.

Ms Thompson interjecting:

The Hon. S.W. KEY: The member for Reynell reminds me that he was getting this all organised because he was about to go away, but he did not want to miss out on making a contribution. As has been mentioned, he did like to have philosophical debates. He was interested in swapping books, usually non-fiction books. As soon as he realised that I was interested in reading, and particularly interested in history and history of the labour movement, books started appearing at Trades Hall. Later, when I got into this place, they started appearing in my pigeon hole here.

He also, particularly if you had a disagreement with him on an issue, would be very strong on newspaper clippings, particularly from The Guardian, which he read regularly. If you had a slightly different point of view, Frank would continue to argue his case with literature, newspaper clippings and then, later on, emails, citing different references just to point out where you may be going wrong with your point of view. This was all done very respectfully, I have to say, and usually in the end I would say, 'Frank, I think you were correct in the first place.'

Frank went on to then embrace videos and DVDs. Strangely, it was Frank who introduced my husband Kevin and I to Breaking Bad. When I watched Breaking Bad (which is a wonderful series), I was very interested that this was something that he recommended. Frank also introduced us to House of Cards, which many people in here I am sure would have seen, and one of the most recent debates I had with him was whether the UK version of House of Cards was better than the USA version with Kevin Spacey. Frank was very much of the view that the American version, he was sad to say, was better than the English version.

Frank also introduced me to Game of Thrones—something that I am not sure whether I like, but I do think is a good production. For those of you who have seen the program, it is far too violent for me, but the politics of Game of Thrones is very interesting, and that was also something that Frank liked to discuss in detail.

Kevin and I consider ourselves to be reasonable cooks, but, as I said, because Frank was such a fabulous cook, when we would invite him and Doreen around for dinner we would always be very nervous because we knew that we would be entertaining people who knew their stuff. They were always very kind and great company to have over, but there was always that nervousness there, certainly on my part.

More recently, Steve Georganas (now the former member for Hindmarsh) had a fundraiser, an old-fashioned afternoon tea, and Frank supplied the most beautiful cake for that particular event, and we were very grateful to him. He could not come to the event because he was not feeling very well, but he made sure that the cakes were delivered so that his and Doreen's contribution was there.

In addition to, as the member for Schubert said, being the auditor of the Parliamentary Bowls Committee, I understand Frank was also the auditor of the Wine Club, and I think he was also the auditor of the Parliamentary Labor Caucus for a while as well. So, Frank provided a lot of support to some of the activities that happen in this place.

I also remember that he was a very strong supporter of at least the first two superannuation schemes, that various members in this place may be members of, and was very concerned about the more recent superannuation scheme, which I agree needs to be reformed. This was something that he felt very strongly about, and I just hope that his suggestions for reform are taken up at some time for the members who are on that scheme.

I am going to miss Frank a lot. He was someone who had been in my life since the early 80s, and, as I said, someone that I had watched and admired for a long time, and he was always very supportive. In recent times, I would quite often get text messages from him complementing or wanting to talk about particular things that were happening.

I know that the people of Ashford—certainly the EO staff and people who are associated with the Ashford electorate office—would like me to say that they will really miss him too, because Frank would arrive and give great support to the staff, and make it quite obvious that he was very much a pro-worker person, and believed that everybody should have the opportunity to develop themselves.

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:14): From the many contributions today, it has been possible to glean much of the character of our comrade, Frank Blevins. He was a friend and mentor to many, and although I always knew of him, I only first met him during my time on Peter Duncan's staff at the Makin electorate office in the late 1980s.

Peter knew Frank well from their time as parliamentary colleagues and before, as they had met in November 1972 during Peter's time in Whyalla as a lawyer for the Miscellaneous Workers' Union. They became lifelong friends and close political comrades, forging their friendship as they assisted workers in the dispute over the closure of the James North glove factory, which saw the sacking of 30 people. Frank was in the thick of the dispute as an official of the Whyalla Trades and Labour Council.

Later, when Frank was preselected as a candidate for the Labor Party for the unwinnable northern district of the old gerrymandered Legislative Council, they worked out a campaign strategy, executed with the help of a team of supporters. Despite voting for the council being voluntary, when people voted for the assembly, they exercised their council vote at the same time.

As a result, at the 1975 state election, and much to the shock of the political establishment, Frank Blevins was elected. Subsequently, a democratic system of election for the Legislative Council was put in place, and it survives to this day. Frank's role in this important reform has not previously been recognised as widely as it should be, and he has a long and impressive history of other achievements.

Frank was always a great inspiration to many, and Peter tells me he always tried to be true to his political, social and moral values. Frank only compromised when it was justified in terms of the bigger picture or the greater good. He was often surrounded by those who could not see the big picture, and sometimes this limited possibilities and his effectiveness. Peter can remember hearing Frank say in his raspy north English accent, 'What advantage am I missing from a formal education?' for Frank had learned on the job, in struggles alongside a man called Eliot V. Elliott, the legendary secretary of the former Seamen's Union of Australia, now MUA.

Frank's innate sense of fairness and a fair go always stood him in good stead during his political life. He never forgot where he had come from, always fought hard for what he believed in, and delivered for those he represented. Peter wanted to extend his sympathy to Doreen and all Frank's family. Peter was proud and grateful that Frank was and remained a lifelong friend and comrade. For my part, while I was never the recipient of a cake, Frank was always supportive whenever we spoke and a great listener.

His accident shocked us all, and I am told, despite everything, he was happy to have had the same leg as Heather Mills. His illness was crushing and his death a terrible loss. He will be greatly missed and always remembered as a giant of the labour movement and the Australian Labor Party. My condolences, along with those of the former member for Florey, Bob Gregory, and all of the members of the Florey sub-branch, go to Doreen and family.

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (15:17): I will be very brief. I think everyone has learnt about the great contribution of Frank Blevins. He was an excellent minister, an excellent MP and he was a great bloke. My condolences go to his family and friends.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna) (15:18): I am happy to endorse this motion and extend to Doreen and Frank's family my sincere condolences on behalf of myself and my wife. Many things have been said about Frank today, and I do not want to go over all of the traffic. I happily received gifts from Frank as well, and he was a very generous and kind man, but I wanted to talk about his political toughness. When faced with an easy choice and a hard choice, he would go for the hard choice pretty well all the time. In his political career, he could have had an easy life. He was a member of the Legislative Council. There are probably fewer easier lives than being a minister in the Legislative Council.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Former members of the Legislative Council are shaking their head, Mr Speaker. They cannot say anything here, fortunately. He chose the hard thing at that time, because in 1985, the Labor Party was facing a loss of the seat of Whyalla. The former member, the member at the time, looked like he was going to lose. He was stood down and there was a very strong local Independent who could well have taken the seat, and as we at that time had lost the seat of Elizabeth and the seat of Semaphore, there was great concern in the party that we would lose the seat. Frank stepped forward and contested that seat and did the hard thing. He was a minister and he could have stayed a minister in the upper house, but he chose to put it all on the line and to contest that seat. If he had not succeeded, he would have had to walk away from politics, and I know that is what he said and that is what he thought and that is what he would have done, but he did the tough thing.

In 1988, after John Cornwall stood down as minister for health, Frank stepped into that role. It was a role he held for only eight months and he determined when he was in that position to do something useful with it. He could have sat in the health portfolio for eight months and just allowed it to move around him but he decided to do something meaningful and the thing he did was the most meaningful thing for women in this state: he introduced the pregnancy advisory service, which is still going strong.

It is the best service of its kind in Australia and I know that the Hon. Anne Levy encouraged him to take that policy position, and I congratulate her on that, but that was because Frank decided, even though he had a relatively short amount of time in that portfolio, to do something substantial with it and that service is, as I say, still going strong.

In 1992 after the State Bank disaster and after John Bannon and Don Hopgood stood down from their positions in the leadership of the Labor Party, Frank stepped up to the plate again and became deputy premier and treasurer. No more difficult job could you have during that time, I would have thought, than to be treasurer of the state, and others have talked about how he handled that position with great integrity and gusto.

I think in every way I can imagine, Frank was a tough man. He did the difficult things at the right time for the benefit of the party and I am sure that in his family those qualities came through. Certainly in his own personal life, when it came to his health over the last few years, he equally took those things that had happened to him—the loss of his leg and the cancer—and dealt with them with that same resilience and that same toughness. He was a remarkable man and he will be missed deeply by his many friends on this side of the house.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Small Business) (15:21): Some members here may recall in the late 1990s, there were some legal arguments about the internal rules of the Labor Party going around. There needed to be a resolution of that and it was done through an internal party ballot. It was a deeply factional time and a deeply factional issue and there was a lot of controversy around the process of that ballot. It had to be a fair ballot and it had to be seen to be a fair ballot. At that time, the party turned to Frank.

Frank was made party returning officer and there was not a word of criticism about his appointment because he was trusted by everybody from all sides of the party to run that ballot fairly and to be seen to be running it fairly. I had the very great pleasure—or honour, really—to be a deputy returning officer at that time, conducting the ballot and working with Frank.

I very much valued my opportunity to work with him. It was the first time I had met him and what struck me, as a young member of the party, was having someone so senior to work with who was respectful, who we were able to give advice to and who told you when he did not know something and would listen to your advice on how to do something. That was quite an experience for someone as young as I was at the time.

After the ballots were finished, he then bought us all a little FM/AM radio with headphones to listen to and I still have mine and I still occasionally use it. Two things struck me about Frank at that time: firstly, his respect—and that had two aspects, the respect he was held in by the party and his respect for other people—and the other thing was his generosity. He could have bought us a beer or something afterwards. He did not have to buy us a radio but he did and I certainly appreciated it at the time, being a poor student.

I can also say that he had a slight larrikin streak. A few years ago I was able to go for a drive with him. I was driving a friend's car and it was a Corvette, a very powerful car. We were wandering along the streets and I was observing the road speed signs assiduously; I was absolutely observing them. Frank quietly suggested to me that it might be fun to put the foot down and see what the car could do and maybe turn the wheel while I was doing that and see if I could get it to do some circle work. As a minister for road safety at the time, I politely declined his invitation, but I still appreciated his sense of fun.

While we were driving that car he taught me two things. He said that he wanted to do things. He never backed away (when he was minister) from the opportunity to do things. That is what he was there for. He said he woke up every day wanting to do something, and I took that to heart. The other thing I took to heart was he said, 'Every now and then just take a day off.' He said, 'Ring up, cancel all of your appointments, take a day off and have time to think because you need time to think.' I have to confess that I am actually not as brave as Frank. I have not been able to do that.

The final point I would like to make is that a few years ago I had the very great fortune to be involved in the PACE program and the formulation of that program. I was conscious at the time, in fact acutely aware, that I was building on work already done by fellows before me on both sides of the house, but acutely aware that it was started by Frank. So, I am very proud to have been a part of the continuation of that work in some small way. With those words, I offer my sympathies and condolences to the family and salute the memory of Frank Blevins.

The Hon. L.R. BREUER (Giles) (15:25): I will be very brief because we have been here for quite some time, but it is moving to hear all of the tributes that are being paid to the Hon. Frank Blevins. I was very sad to hear of the death of the Hon. Frank Blevins, who served Whyalla for many years as our local member. He was a very strong and powerful advocate for our area, which was much appreciated, and as a minister and a deputy premier he was able to get some real gains and some real attention for Whyalla.

Frank lived in our community. He was one of the great wave of UK migrants who came to Whyalla in the sixties and seventies. He lived in our community, he worked in our community, he understood our community and he never forgot our community, despite becoming one of the most powerful men in the state. I think that country members are probably a bit more under scrutiny (perhaps) than some of our city counterparts because we are so well known, you cannot go anywhere without being recognised. We are instantly recognised by locals and Frank was certainly known by everyone in Whyalla.

One of the things that always amused me is that despite being minister for much of his time, he continued to drive himself around Whyalla in his very well worn, very old Kingswood, I think it was, which was recognisable by everyone. It took him all around town. He never ever had any pretentions to grandeur in Whyalla, which was much appreciated by the locals. He came home every weekend, which was really good to see. He continued to advocate in Adelaide after his retirement and he maintained a very active role in the Labor Party, and still Whyalla was very much mentioned in all that he did.

South Australia, in general, did remember him but occasionally not favourably. After all we have heard today it is interesting to note that some people did not remember him favourably. I remember not long after I was elected, I was coming into Parliament House in a taxi and the taxi driver was very vocal. He wanted to know why I was coming into Parliament House, and I just said I worked here. He asked where I came from, and I said I had come from Whyalla.

When I said I was going to Parliament House he said, 'What are you going there for? It's a mob of mongrels that work in there, especially that Frank Blevins, who had ruined the taxi industry', they were his words. He said to me, 'Do you know him? You come from Whyalla, do you know him? He was a mongrel that bloke. Do you know him?' I sat there and looked at him and eventually I had to say to him, 'Well, actually, mate, I took over his job', and that was the end of the conversation with the taxi driver. It was silence from thereon in.

I came in, of course, to fill in his shoes, but I have never been able to do that and never would be able to do that. I feel very sad for his family and I pay tribute to his amazing life. On behalf of the Whyalla sub-branch of the ALP and the people of Whyalla, I want to pass on my thanks to Frank, to his family, for his outstanding work for Whyalla. I certainly pass on Whyalla's deepest sympathy to his wife Doreen and to his family. In Whyalla we know he was one of ours and the people of Whyalla pay tribute to him.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:30): I rise today to offer my most sincere respect on the passing of Frank. I worked for Frank in the early 1990s. In fact, he gave me my first political job (so you can blame Frank). In fact, two women in the gallery (Hon. Carolyn Pickles and the Hon. Anne Levy) I think may have put my name forward, perhaps with Gay Thompson, who may have suggested that Frank consider me for a job in his office. It was during the period when Lynn Arnold was about to become premier and Frank was about to become treasurer. I did not work for him for a very long time before Frank went on to become treasurer and I then went to work for Terry Groom.

I do have a couple of outstanding memories of that period when I worked for Frank. The first is that I was completely terrified by him all the time because of his intellectual prowess and the gravitas that he took with him everywhere he went. The public servants were horrified when they had to meet with him because of the very presence that he had. I have to say that, as a very young staffer (I am 45 now and was then in my early 20s), I was absolutely in awe of Frank all of the time.

The other thing I remember about Frank is that he was always incredibly well attired. It may seem like a superficial observation to make and people often talk about Paul Keating and his Italian suits, but they had never met Frank Blevins. He never had a hair out of place—and I have to say that he expected his staff to do the same thing. Clearly, I let him down from time to time.

A great deal has been said today about Frank's contribution, and I support all that has been said, and all that hasn't been said also, because there are many of us who fear that we may cry or get rather emotional, because Frank was so dear to so many of us. We are sad at this time about his passing but I have to say we should all feel great joy at a life that was lived very fully, through his work, his family, his wife Doreen and his daughter Doreen. I met daughter Doreen for the first time today but, of course, had already met her through the stories that Frank had told me about her twin girls. She is raising her eyebrows.

His colleagues loved him deeply. The Hon. Chris Sumner did not look very happy when John Hill made his contribution about legislative councillors. I feel we have a great deal to learn from that group of MPs that included Terry Groom, Kym Mayes and Susan Lenehan. I remember Frank's cakes and the little things he did that let you know that he was thinking about you in a very special way. I offer Doreen, the family, his colleagues and all of those who loved him my sincere condolences and express my joy at the life that Frank lived.

The SPEAKER (15:32): I have a message from Mike Rann, who says:

Whether it was industrial relations, health, agriculture, transport or Treasury, Frank earned the respect of his public servants, practitioners and interest groups, as well as parliamentary colleagues from all sides of politics. His opponents respected him. He could talk straight to unionists and bosses, farmers and doctors. Frank could make decisions. If he told you no, that is what he meant. If he said he would fix it, he would. Frank did not lie and was never two-faced. If he disagreed with you, he would tell you. He did not say one thing to your face and another behind your back.

Frank never forgot where he came from or whose side he was on. Despite his tough exterior, he was enormously kind and generous. He supported me and my family during the long hard years in opposition and supported Sasha during her illness, baking her cakes and making me pork pies. Every Christmas, many of his friends would receive his fruit cakes and shortbread.

He had a big heart, and even his accident did not dent his strength of will. Instead of moaning about his bad luck, he wanted to prove it would not hold him back. Above all, he was loyal to his mates, his colleagues, his values and his cause. He was a very good man and a mentor to many. Our deepest sympathy to Doreen and the family.

On my own behalf, I would just like to say that Frank was of course born in Manchester Blackley. He migrated to Australia with Doreen in 1965 and worked on the tug boats in Whyalla. He joined the Whyalla Trades and Labor Council. He was preselected for the ALP for the Legislative Council district of Midland, when we had Legislative Council districts. He had to wait until July 1975 before he was elected under the then new proportional representation system; so he said he was the Labor candidate who served the longest period of waiting between his preselection and his eventual election to parliament.

In his maiden speech in August 1975, he quoted Chief Justice Warren of the United States Supreme Court: 'Legislators represent people not trees or acres.' He went on to say, 'I am a dedicated socialist,' and he concluded: 'Like this chamber, the sooner capitalism is relegated to the history books the better off mankind will be.'

He introduced the Natural Death Act and was the first person in the state to sign a Natural Death Act form saying he wanted no extraordinary measures taken during his terminal illness. He held many portfolios, and was known, as people have mentioned, as Mr Fix-it. I held him in some fear and awe when I joined the caucus as one of two members of the then right wing of the Labor Party. On my first day in caucus I made the mistake of sitting in Frank's corner seat. He walked in, noticed that his seat was occupied, stood in front of it until I got the message that the seat was his. Our relations improved after that. When he was championing the introduction of poker machines, and I came out in opposition, he said, 'What's wrong with voluntary taxes, comrade?'

He said the one thing about Britain that he missed was election night in Britain, which is very different from Australia. We have a continuously updated count, but in Britain the mayor comes on the stage with all the candidates and reads out the result. We have only seen this in the context of Monty Python's Flying Circus and the Monster Raving Loony Party; but it does happen that way, and Frank said he was very sentimental when he watched election night in Britain on the television, particularly the declaration of the poll for his own seat of Manchester Blackley.

For 20 years Frank supplied me weekly with the London Daily Telegraph and The Spectator replete with yellow post-it notes attached to stories that he knew would take my interest, invariably stories about fallen members of the clergy, unholy disputes in the Orthodox and Catholic churches, and civil disorder in post-Communist countries and Eastern Europe. As the member for Reynell said, Frank never forgot, let's say, a defeat in politics. One of my few victories over Frank Blevins was to introduce Labor's new policy on an extended right to self defence for householders in their own home. As a result of that, I got clippings with post-it notes about every householder or farmer in the United Kingdom who killed an intruder after that time.

After the 1993 election we shared an office, the office later shared by the members for Heysen and Bragg. He spent four years emptying his files and giving the clippings to various members of parliament because he thought it would interest them, and it was part of his training the next generation of Labor MPs. He had up in his office a large black and white framed picture of two steelworkers coming off a long shift in Whyalla, with perspiration running down their faces and with matted hair and beards, and I suppose for him that was a reminder of whom it was he was representing in parliament.

Subsequently, of course, after retirement, he moved to Gover Street, North Adelaide, where he did not join the Gover Street West Residents Association, which, I gather, in North Adelaide politics, was something like the contrast between the People's Liberation Front of Judea and the Judean People's Liberation Front. He continued, long after he had left parliament, to attend his Labor Party sub-branch meetings and to manage Jane Lomax-Smith's campaigns for the state district of Adelaide. Frank Blevins was one of the very best things about my time in parliament. Vale, Frank Blevins.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: As a mark of respect, there will be a minute's silence and the house will then be adjourned until the ringing of the bells.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.


[Sitting suspended from 15:41 to 15:51]


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