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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-12 Daily Xml
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Condolence

BROOMHILL, HON. G.R.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:21): With the leave of the council, I move:

That the Legislative Council expresses its deep regret at the recent death of the Hon. Glen Broomhill, former minister of the crown and member of the House of Assembly, and places on record its appreciation of his distinguished and meritorious public service.

Last year we were saddened to learn of the death of Glen Broomhill. He died on Boxing Day, aged 74, after a lengthy illness. Glen Broomhill was a talented and much respected parliamentarian and minister who served South Australia with distinction from 1965 until 1979. He was regarded by all who knew him, including both sides of politics, as a man of decency and integrity whose commitment to public life was surpassed only by his devotion to his family.

He was regarded as a rising star of the Australian Labor Party when he first won the seat of West Torrens in 1965 at age 32. He held the distinction of being the first Australian minister to hold the portfolio of conservation, or environment as it has become known. However, Glen Broomhill's most enduring achievement was as the architect of South Australia's visionary container deposits legislation. That initiative, one of the first of its kind in the world, continues to stand as a landmark to environmental awareness.

Glen Raymond Broomhill was born in Adelaide on 20 January 1933. A child of the Depression era, he saw his father, Joseph, supplement his painter's income by selling mallee roots that he collected while on regular trips to the Riverland. Glen was educated at Richmond Primary School and Goodwood Boys Technical School, which he left at age 16 to serve an apprenticeship as a dental technician. Glen also played Colts football for Glenelg, and his passion for the Tigers remained undiminished until his passing.

It was also during that period that he became actively involved in the trade union movement. In 1956 he was elected as an organiser of the South Australian branch of the Federal Miscellaneous Workers Union and, within two years, at just 25 he became the union's state secretary as well as its federal vice president. Glen's commitment to the union's membership was highlighted by the fact that he was an advocate and employee representative on nine wages boards until 1965. That was when he entered state parliament at the election which ended the Playford era of conservatism and brought to office Frank Walsh's Labor government.

At just 32 years of age, Glen's standing within the electorate of West Torrens enabled him to increase the majority of the retiring member, Fred Walsh. That was despite him standing against the Liberal and Country League candidate, P.T. 'Bo' Morton, who was a former Sturt and South Australian football champion. Glen's political development was strongly nurtured and influenced by his uncle, the former senator and Labor Party stalwart, Jim Toohey. He also received backing from another influential source, the long-serving federal member for Hindmarsh, Clyde Cameron. Indeed, it was Clyde, bedridden in Canberra with a bout of the mumps in late 1963, who furiously lobbied via long-distance telephone calls to help Glen win preselection for West Torrens.

Glen entered the House of Assembly in 1965 as its youngest member, and he wasted no time in speaking out on behalf of young Australians. In his maiden speech he voiced his concern that people under the age of 30 were ineligible to take up a seat in the Legislative Council. The year after his election, Glen was appointed as government whip, and it was a position that he held in government and opposition until 1970, when Don Dunstan elevated him into what is still regarded as one of the most talented ministries this state has seen. Alongside Don Dunstan, the ministry included such great performers as Des Corcoran, Len King, Hugh Hudson and Geoff Virgo, amongst others. This was a time when the Dunstan government's reforms were the talk of the nation. Don gave South Australia a national voice that far outweighed our size and lifted this state from rock bottom to Australian pre-eminence.

Glen was initially appointed minister for labour and industry. However, within six months, he added to his portfolio the roles of minister for conservation and minister assisting the premier. The fact that he was given the responsibility as the nation's first minister specifically charged with the conservation portfolio speaks volumes for the regard in which he was held.

In his political memoirs, Don Dunstan painted a glowing picture of Glen Broomhill when he said:

He was a sensitive, conscientious man who brought balance, good sense and concern to all that he did.

He then added:

Jim Toohey's nephew, he exhibited many of his uncle's traits, and his calm and pleasant manner concealed a sharp wit which those who attacked him discovered to their discomfort.

Don recounted an example of Glen's rapier-like wit in those memoirs, when he recounted the following:

Glen grew some sideburns—

which, if one looks at the photographs in the House of Assembly gallery, were pretty common around that time; they were certainly very fashionable amongst the younger members at that time—

...and one of the dimmer lights...of the LCL questioned him in the chamber about it. Glen rose and said, 'I am unfortunate enough to have large, prominent ears which I do not feel enhance my beauty. I grew additional hair in order to hide an unprepossessing feature, an example I advise the honourable member to follow by growing a moustache and a beard.

It was that dry, understated sense of humour that kindles the fondest memories amongst Glen's family, friends and former colleagues. He was also renowned as one of the keenest billiard players amongst members of parliament.

Over a five-year ministerial career, Glen held a range of portfolios, including fisheries, planning and development, community welfare and tourism. In 1973, he became the state's first minister for recreation and sport. During his tenure as a minister, Glen introduced a series of far-reaching initiatives, including the establishment of the Coast Protection Board, and a large increase in the areas of national parks and river wetlands. He oversaw the establishment of a quarry levy and measures to improve the appearance of the Adelaide Hills face zone.

Glen was also deeply concerned about population growth and overcrowding problems along the ribbon of land between Gawler and Aldinga. For that reason, he was a passionate supporter of the proposed development at Monarto, in addition to being the architect of that project. He was greatly disappointed when the Monarto scheme was later scrapped. That plan certainly attracted its critics but, in retrospect, it looks increasingly wise as well as visionary.

Glen's major legacy was the introduction of the container deposit legislation completed in 1975 that saw cans and bottles reduced drastically as a source of litter across the state. The success of that initiative was largely due to Glen's commitment to the cause and his refusal to back down in the face of fierce industry opposition. Progressive governments throughout the United States and Europe have since embraced the container deposit scheme and calls continue for it to be adopted by other Australian states.

It is fitting that, just weeks after Glen's death at the palliative care unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Ian Kiernan, the chairman of Clean Up Australia, was here in Adelaide singing the praises of our container deposit scheme. This legislation has not only significantly increased the recovery rate of beverage containers in this state, where around 80 per cent of glass bottles are recovered compared with around 36 per cent nationally, but it has also yielded important environmental benefits by reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. In addition, the scheme is estimated to produce embodied water savings of up to 5 megalitres per year.

Glen Broomhill was just 47 years old when he announced his retirement from politics at the 1979 election. Having stood down from the ministry in 1975 because of his wife Jill's failing health, Glen won the admiration and support of colleagues, constituents and the community when he forewent his political career to care for her full time. His devotion to his beloved Jill as she battled illness also led him to serve on the board of Multiple Sclerosis South Australia and the Northern Territory for more than a decade.

Glen's commitment to public life remained strong until very recently, as he played an influential role on the board of ETSA, as well as serving as deputy chairman of the power line environment committee.

Glen Broomhill is remembered with deep fondness as a quiet, unassuming man who harboured a great sense of humour and an even stronger sense of family and community. On behalf of all members on this side of the Legislative Council, I extend my condolences to the family and friends of Glen, especially to his daughters Jan and Julie and his son Greg.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): I rise on behalf of the Liberal members of this council to speak to the motion. Glen Broomhill was regarded as a genuine statesman of the South Australian parliament. He began his career as a dental mechanic and was closely involved with the Australian Labor Party and the union movement and, as the Leader of the Government indicated, by the age of 25 he was the secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers Union. He was a lifelong resident of the West Torrens electorate and won Labor preselection in that seat. He was elected to the seat of West Torrens in 1965 and in 1968 assumed the new seat of Henley Beach.

It is interesting to note that in his maiden speech he referred to some significant issues in relation to transport corridors, and he said, 'It is recognised that these additional highways are necessary to meet the ever-increasing requirements of our traffic needs.' Some 40 years on it appears we still have ever-increasing traffic needs in this city.

Calling on his very strong union background, his first cabinet post was in the labour and industry portfolio. He had quite a distinguished career in the Labor cabinet, and I might just mention all of his positions: minister for labour and industry, minister for conservation, minister assisting the Premier, minister for environment and conservation, minister for recreation and sport, minister for fisheries, minister for tourism, minister for the environment, minister for planning and development and minister for community welfare. As the Leader of the Government also mentioned, he was government and opposition whip for some 11 years.

With a good deal of integrity, Mr Broomhill assumed the responsibility for the unpopular Friday night late shopping hours referendum, which he carried through. With young children himself, he was also an advocate for better funding for basic education resources and demanded better housing and health programs for families in South Australia.

In 1970 he took on the portfolio of environment and conservation. He was never one to shy away from a challenge and faced head-on the multitude of issues that he was bombarded with. As the Leader of the Government indicated, certainly the pressure he came under from industry with the introduction of the container deposit legislation would have taken some courage. The container deposit legislation is something, I think, all South Australians are rightly proud of, with our record in recycling and keeping our recycling rates high.

His ability to listen and maintain an open mind and perform well under pressure were tested in this new position, but he continued to perform well. With his quiet and non-aggressive nature Glen Broomhill made strong and valid arguments during parliamentary sittings. Refraining from the often fiery and reactive environment within the chamber, he quickly became highly respected by all members.

He was also noted for his extravagant fashion sense and made a habit of donning shorts in the chamber. He was later to indulge in his love of sport as a cabinet reshuffle landed him with the position of recreation and sport minister. He also at that time retained his environment portfolio.

A keen family man, in 1975 Glen Broomhill stepped away from his ministerial postings in order to spend more time with his family and his wife, who was ill, and also to allow newcomers and new members of the Australian Labor Party to attain some of the positions he had held. He remained actively involved in issues for which he advocated, while enjoying more time to play sport, spend time with his family and support his beloved Glenelg football team. As many may have read, he also enjoyed the odd cigarette—and perhaps he would have had a few comments about a bill I intend to introduce in this council in the coming weeks.

He resigned from parliament in 1979 at age 47 to care for his wife and was one of the longest serving members of the House of Assembly at that time. He unfortunately passed away on Boxing Day at the age of 74. I understand that many thanks must be passed on to the staff in the Palliative Care Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. On behalf of members of the opposition, I extend our condolences to his family.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:34): I rise also to speak in support of the honourable member's condolence motion for the late Hon. Glen Broomhill. Given the place the environment occupies in our national consciousness today, it would be easy to take for granted the hard work undertaken to bring this issue into such public prominence; of course, the truth is a very different story.

The role the late Hon. Glen Broomhill played in today's environmental agenda is undeniable. Many here today have spoken of his background, but it is his connection with the environment I would like to say a few words about today. When I took on the environment and conservation role in March 2006, I was mindful of the portfolio's importance, particularly given the many talented ministers who had poured their energy into the role, some of whose names are familiar today and some are not so familiar.

The late Mr Broomhill is, without doubt, a motivator for me and a reminder of the impact and the influence just one person can have. For the benefit of those who have not visited my ministerial office, as you enter through the waiting room, on the northern wall there is a collection of 14 black and white portraits. It is a fairly typical collection of smiling faces, and it portrays the environment ministers of each of the 14 states. Apart from my own photograph, other members of this parliament are lucky enough to be part of that collection.

However, it is the first photograph on the wall—the fresh and very vibrant face of the Hon. Glen Broomhill—that really stands out and commands attention. This picture speaks volumes. There is a simple honesty about Mr Broomhill that brings his portrait to life and overshadows the others on the wall. He is clearly an unassuming man with a wry smile that reveals a man of both purpose and humility. It really is amazing how much a photograph can say about a person, and I am pleased that my first assessment was confirmed when I read through a newspaper article published during his time as environment minister. I think this quote by Stewart Cockburn from October 1971 sums up beautifully Mr Broomhill's impact on the landscape, as follows:

Two or three years ago, only professional politician watchers and personal friends knew much about Glen Broomhill. Today, Mr Broomhill is one of the best known public figures in SA. His face smiles almost daily from the newspapers and television screens. Pretty well every schoolboy and schoolgirl knows about him and the challenges he faces.

The article speaks about the regard in which he was held by his contemporaries and about his efforts in steering the environmental portfolio—a role that was regarded as 'the most important in modern government'. The article continues:

It is a heady atmosphere to live in for this 38 year old son of a former painter and youngest member of state cabinet. Yet his head has not been turned by it. He is still the calm, friendly and decent man who has always been liked personally by nearly everyone who has know him. And so far, he has taken his big job very much in his stride.

This is glowing journalism that no politician would shy away from, I am sure, but there is something about the photo of Glen Broomhill in my office that tells me that he would have been uneasy with such effusive praise. However, in my opinion, it is praise worthy of a great man with a great legacy that continues, and perhaps the greatest legacy was the creation of the container deposit legislation.

Few members of parliament can lay claim to being the architect of a scheme that would later be copied around the world and have a lasting impact for some 30 years without the need for change. Of course, Glen Broomhill has such a legacy and therefore deserves a very special place in South Australia's history. It is fitting, then, that just today the Premier and I announced a doubling of the container deposit to 10¢, a move this government believes will reinvigorate the scheme and bring our container recycling back to record levels. It is a remarkable testament to the Hon. Mr Broomhill that all that is needed to update his greatest achievement in parliament is to change the deposit on a bottle or can from 5¢ to 10¢, and I think there is a serious lesson in pragmatism to be gained from Glen's legacy. So, I reiterate the sentiments of the Hon. Paul Holloway and the Hon. David Ridgway and extend my condolences to the family and friends of Glen.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.

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