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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-27 Daily Xml
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Condolence

Appleby, Mrs. J.E.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier, Minister for Defence and Space Industries) (14:02): By leave, I move:

That the House of Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of Mrs June Appleby, former member of the House of Assembly, and places on record its appreciation of her meritorious service and that, as a mark of respect to her memory, the sitting of the house be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

I stand with the sad duty of informing the house of the passing of June Appleby, who served in this chamber as the Labor MP for Brighton and Hayward and who passed away on Friday 7 November.

June's political career began in March 1983 when she was elected as the member for Brighton and served until the 1985 boundary redistribution that created the seat of Hayward. It is notable that she entered into parliament at the same election as Susan Lenehan, the second and third Labor women to serve in the House of Assembly.

Their example was to inspire an ever growing number of resolute Labor women to enter this parliament over the years and decades ahead. Today, women represent almost half of this government's MPs and members of the Legislative Council and a majority of our ministers. Both Susan and June were to enjoy careers of great significance, with Lenehan rising to serve in the Bannon cabinet and Appleby appointed South Australia's first female Government Whip, serving in the role from 1985 until the end of the parliament in 1989.

It was a job she excelled at, developing a reputation as a hard taskmaster—that is important for a whip—who did not suffer fools. Mark Brindal, who won her seat for the Liberals in 1989, unkindly claimed 'there were Labor members who thought well of me to be released from her discipline'. However, the truth is that June Appleby was driven by a deep and enduring compassion for those doing it hard.

One of her greatest passions was addressing the devastating impacts of unemployment, particularly among older workers, and the need for our state to build a strong economy capable of lifting South Australia's labour market. She took aim at employers who took training subsidies for young workers and fired them once they became eligible for adult wages. She was a lioness when defending the safety of women in the workplace, particularly during South Australia's mid-eighties penchant for topless waitressing.

But it was within the community that her greatest impact was felt, an impact that continues to this day. As a staunch champion of the rights of disabled South Australians, June spearheaded pioneering legislation making it mandatory for state and local government to provide designated disabled parking spaces. That legislation laid the groundwork for further action to acknowledge and improve accessibility throughout the state at shopping centres, sports grounds, restaurants, places of worship—every sphere of public life. At the time, amazingly, the idea seemed controversial. Now it is taken for granted as an expected right, as it should be.

June Appleby's advocacy for greater accessibility made possible greater dignity, agency and freedom for disabled South Australians. Her example speaks to the important things we can achieve with the power of parliament. The reason she did so was simple. As she said in her maiden speech, 'Every person should have reason to be proud of our state.' I am sure everyone here shares this guiding principle in their own work inside and outside of the building.

We offer our condolences to her beloved husband, Maurice, to her family, particularly those who have lost their adored aunty and great-aunty, and to all those whose lives she touched. I commend the motion to the house.

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