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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-06 Daily Xml
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Members

MEMBERS, NEW AND FORMER

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:11): I seek leave to move a motion without notice expressing the thanks of the council to former members and to welcome new members and express condolences.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I move:

That this council expresses thanks to former members, the Hons R.D. Lawson, C.V. Schaefer and D.N. Winderlich; welcomes new members, the Hons T.A. Jennings, J.S. Lee and K.L. Vincent; and expresses sincere condolences to the family of the late Dr Paul Collier at his untimely passing.

I will be fairly brief, as this is a traditional motion that is moved at the start of each session. Fortunately, at the end of the previous parliamentary session, we had the opportunity to express our thanks to a number of the former members—that is, those whom we knew were retiring—and to acknowledge their work in this place, and I again refer to the comments I made last year in relation to the Hon. Caroline Schaefer and the Hon. Robert Lawson.

At that time I mentioned their enormous contribution to this state, so I will not revisit that debate but, rather, wish them well in their pursuits beyond their parliamentary career. The Hon. David Winderlich does not rejoin us this year, being unsuccessful in retaining the position he assumed following the retirement of the Hon. Sandra Kanck. David was here a short time, but in his own way made a mark on this place.

Sadly, the lead candidate for the Dignity for Disabled Party, Dr Paul Collier, passed away during the election campaign, but he too has made his mark in the history of this place. Dr Collier's name remained on the ballot, and he would have been elected to this place if not for his sudden death on 9 March. Responsibility for taking on his legacy now falls to the Hon. Kelly Vincent, and I welcome her to this place. Ms Vincent is the youngest ever legislative councillor, and the first member of Dignity for Disability to be elected to parliament, and she is therefore already a trailblazer in many ways.

In welcoming all the new councillors to this place, I would also like to note that all three are women. I am not quite sure whether that is the first time this has ever happened in the history of the Legislative Council but, if so, then this is yet another milestone for this parliament. To the Hon. Jing Lee, on the other side of the chamber, and the Hon. Tammy Jennings, on the crossbench as the newest Greens MP, welcome.

Working in this place can be daunting. Not only is the legislative chamber itself a formidable work environment, as you take the call and make your contribution in the full glare of the public, but also there is so much to comprehend in terms of standing orders and conventions. So, I wish you all well in your endeavours and trust that the clerks, attendants and your fellow councillors provide you with all the help and support you need as you come to terms with your new responsibilities as elected members representing the people of this state.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:14): I rise on behalf of the opposition to second the motion and to speak to it, and my colleague the Hon. Stephen Wade has some comments he would like to make.

Last year, we thanked the Hon. Caroline Schaefer and the Hon. Robert Lawson and wished them well in their endeavours. I, along with the Leader of the government and a number of my colleagues, made a significant contribution at the time. I also join with the government in noting that the Hon. David Winderlich has not rejoined us here. Although he spent only a brief time in the Legislative Council, he certainly made a robust contribution in this place, involving community activities and the local government area.

Of course, today we are joined by three new members. As I think the Hon. Caroline Schaefer said to me eight years ago, when I was part of the new team, this day—apart from the day you are married or the day the birth of your children occurs (if you are fortunate enough to have children)—is one of the most important days of your life.

I welcome Kelly Vincent, and I am sure that this is one of the most important days in her life, as she takes on the wonderful role in this parliament of representing the disability sector. We on this side of the council warmly welcome her. We also welcome Tammy Jennings of the Greens. It is nice to have a female member of the Greens in this place. It is refreshing to see that not all members of the Greens are adorned with facial hair and are much more pleasant to look at than the Hon. Mark Parnell.

Of course, in my own team we welcome the Hon. Jing Lee, who I am sure will make a significant contribution. It is great to have in our midst someone from the Asian community as part of the broader Legislative Council team. I know that a number of Jing's supporters were in the gallery today when parliament was opened and she was sworn in. We certainly look forward to her great contribution.

I did not have the pleasure of knowing or meeting Dr Paul Collier, but I have heard a number of people speak of the wonderful contribution he made to this state, especially in the disability sector. I will now hand over to the Hon. Stephen Wade, who did know Dr Collier at a personal level and who is better placed to make some comments on behalf of the team.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:17): I am pleased to support this motion. I associate myself with the remarks of both the Leader of the Government and the Leader of the Opposition in acknowledging the service of former members, welcoming new members and expressing condolences on the death of Dr Paul Collier.

I have previously spoken in this council recognising the service of the Hon. Robert Lawson and the Hon. Caroline Schaefer, and I acknowledge the service of the Hon. David Winderlich, particularly his strong commitment to community engagement.

I take this opportunity to wish the Hon. Jing Lee a long and illustrious career. It would be fair to say that Jing has already had a big impact on our party. She is a woman of great capacity and energy. She is a proud Australian of Asian heritage, with a strong business background, and I wish her all the best. I also welcome Tammy Jennings and Kelly Vincent.

On behalf of the Liberal team, I would particularly like to focus on the aspect of the motion that expresses condolences at the death of Dr Paul Collier. I know that we are not the first parliament in Australia to do so. On Thursday 18 March 2010, the Senate of the commonwealth parliament agreed to a motion put by Senator Mitch Fifield, Liberal shadow minister for disabilities, which noted '[Dr Paul Collier's] tireless and passionate work in seeking to improve the lives of people with disabilities and the valuable contribution he made to the community'.

Paul's stature at both the state and national level is also shown by the fact that minister Rankine attended his funeral, as did Senator Birmingham, who sought leave of the Senate to do so. Often it is not until funerals that you realise how much you have in common with a person. Having known Paul for years, it was not until his funeral that I became aware that we shared a passion for Monty Python. His funeral included the playing of Always Look on the Bright Side, from the Life of Brian.

It was equally fitting that the service commenced with the theme song from the movie The Battle of Britain. Paul was fanatical about anything to do with aircraft and the Air Force. When he came to Australia at the age of 18, for what was to be a temporary move, his intention was always to return to the UK to take up a career as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, having been an RAF air cadet and having passed his pilot aptitude tests.

However, in January 1985, whilst driving in Adelaide to his 21st birthday celebration, Paul was involved in a motor vehicle accident just south of Marree, which accident resulted in quadriplegia. Far from seeing this tragedy as the conclusion of his dreams, Paul took it up as a new chapter in his life. In 1990, he undertook a degree in computer science at the University of Adelaide. In 1995, he returned to the UK to undertake a PhD in military history at Oxford University, which he successfully concluded with a focus on the impact of logistical challenges of the German-North African campaign in the Second World War.

Paul will be most remembered by South Australians for his tireless advocacy for people with disability. On his return to South Australia, Paul found a disability support system which he considered to be far inferior to that in the UK. Paul fought tirelessly for true inclusion of people with disability, often comparing the exclusionary approach of Australian services to a form of apartheid. Paul recognised the need for a fundamental shift in the way disability support is delivered, stating firmly that 'It's not a case of just new money: it's a case of new ideas.'

While Paul had a physical disability, he was alert to the needs of people with a range of disabilities. In the recent election campaign, little more than a week before he died, I will always remember Paul's insistence on interrupting a public meeting to take the opportunity to assert the right of people with limited cognitive ability to make choices about their own life.

It is extremely sad that in the middle of the campaign Paul suffered a brain haemorrhage and died. I understand that this is the first time that a person's name has appeared on a South Australian ballot paper after their death. Paul's activism was very broad. He was not merely a political activist: he was also active in a range of areas such as being the chair of the ministerial advisory council, chair of Arts Access SA and, of course, the founder of Dignity for Disability. He also served on the boards of the National Disability Advisory Council and the ABC Advisory Council, and, while he was in the United Kingdom, he served on the board of the Spinal Injuries Association.

Paul was known for his work across the political divide, focusing on achieving the best outcomes for people with disability. His focus on outcomes was demonstrated in his leadership of Dignity for Disability and in the focus of d4d's election platform in the recent election.

I know that for Paul, today would be a very proud day. When he stood for the Legislative Council in 2006, during the campaign he used ropes and planks to get his wheelchair up the steps of Parliament House to demonstrate:

...the way that ordinary South Australians have been excluded from the corridors of power and making decisions within government.

Paul would have been so proud today with the swearing in of the Hon. Kelly Vincent, and I know that the honourable member's service will do Paul and the disability movement proud.

I offer my sincere condolences to the friends and family of Paul: to his mother, Wendy; his sister, Joanne; his brother-in-law, David; and the three nephews of whom he was so proud.

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:23): On behalf of the Greens, I, too, rise to support the motion. We give thanks for the contribution that was made by the members who are not with us this term: the Hons Caroline Schaefer, Robert Lawson and David Winderlich. I might make a comment about the Hon. David Winderlich, who was my neighbour, if you like, in both our office in Parliament House and on the benches here in the chamber. David ran an excellent campaign. He focused very heavily on local people and local issues but, as events turned out, the bar was just too high for an Independent to achieve a statewide vote sufficient enough to be elected. However, I agree with previous speakers that David made an important contribution in his brief time here, and I think he has left his mark.

The Greens also welcome the new members. Jing Lee, it is great to have you as a colleague in parliament; Kelly Vincent, as well; but I especially want to welcome my own Greens colleague, Tammy Jennings. Tammy and I have had some very productive discussions over the last little while, working out how we will carve up the affairs of state between us, how we can best achieve our vision for a green, more sustainable future, a fairer future, for all South Australians. I am looking forward to working with Tammy and I hope that we, too, can make a difference.

In relation to the late Dr Paul Collier, many of us have been in the position where we have been with someone and we have found out that the following day they have died. The day before Paul had his brain haemorrhage, we were sitting directly across the road from Parliament House in a cafe. Paul was drinking iced tea, from memory, talking about the election and politics, just as we had done during the previous state election in 2006 and, in fact, on several occasions in between. Paul's commitment to the cause of a better go for people with disabilities was not just about the elections; it was about everyday life—and he was a regular visitor here to Parliament House.

One adjective that I think sums up Paul's character is persistence: he would just keep going against all the odds. I can remember during the 2006 election campaign, both of us found ourselves left off a list for some talkback radio we were both keen to be part of. We steeled each other and we thought, 'If we hold our ground, and we hang around, they will have to interview us,' and they did—both of us—on the steps of Parliament House. He was a persistent fellow.

I, too, attended his funeral and, as we often find, we discover more about a person after they have gone than we knew about them during their life, and I fully endorse the remarks of the Hon. Stephen Wade. He was a remarkable person and we found out a lot about him after he had left us.

The Greens, too, extend their condolences to Paul's family and friends, and we look forward to working with Kelly, as the representative of the Dignity for Disability Party, in advancing the work that was so much a part of Paul's life.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:26): I rise briefly on behalf of Family First to support the motion. I extend a special welcome to the new members of the chamber, the Hon. Jing Lee, the Hon. Tammy Jennings and the Hon. Kelly Vincent. I believe that you have embarked on an honourable career, and I wish each of you well in your endeavours. We may not agree all the time, although we will probably agree more than we disagree, and I look forward to the interesting times ahead.

I think all of us have a touch of sadness today at the passing of Paul Collier. I was privileged to meet with Dr Collier on a number of occasions, as he had pressed me to assist in a particular cause for people with disabilities—not that we needed a lot of pushing. He was also very active in preference discussions on a number of occasions with respect to Family First and its preferences in the lead-up to this past election, and the election of 2006, when we were able to reach an arrangement with the Dignity for Disabled Party on each occasion.

Dr Collier, of course, as others have said, had a real interest in aviation and was somebody who I think many of us came to admire. His intellect was outstanding. His passion for the things of life was quite astonishing. He was somebody who, I think, inspired everyone. He certainly inspired me—and I say that quite sincerely. He was full of life in a way that some of us wish we were on some occasions.

Dr Collier's untimely death was a tragedy, for not only members of parliament but also the state as a whole. He had reached a point of absolute determination to influence the political process. I think it is true to say that he really has influenced the political process in a very significant way through the election of his colleague, the Hon. Kelly Vincent.

I think that at some level all South Australians would have a sense of pride and joy that the efforts of Paul Collier have not gone to waste through the election of his colleague, the Hon. Kelly Vincent. As I said, I wish her well, and I take this moment to remember his contribution and pay our respects to his family.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:28): I congratulate new members of parliament, and I wish them every success and encourage them to enjoy the opportunity that they have, with the rest of us, to further improve the state of South Australia. I particularly want to support the condolence motion for Dr Paul Collier. I was privileged to be his local member of parliament for 13 years in the lower house.

You always remember those people who come to see you early in the piece. You know they are going to be strong contributors to you as a member of parliament, irrespective of the colour of politics they may or may not support. Frankly, I never knew what particular colour Paul supported—that was the quality and the calibre of the person.

He came to see me very early in 1994 and, whilst he could have come to me with his chin down low, complaining about personal situations, that was never Paul. In fact, in all the times that I met Paul in my office, he very rarely spoke about his own personal situation. It was, almost without exception, about what he wanted to see done to improve the quality of life and the equity that government and parliament should be providing for people with a disability.

Paul taught me a lot from day one. Back then, he was at the University of Adelaide, and one thing he did complain about was the disabled taxi service and the fact that he became a bit frustrated, to say the least, when he would order a taxi after a lecture and would then wait on the footpath in his wheelchair. Even though it could be very hot or very wet, the taxi would sometimes take an hour to arrive. That is totally unacceptable, and further improvement is still needed there.

These were the sorts of example that Paul would continually talk to me about. Paul came into my electorate office almost as though he owned it. He would come straight into the office, always looking for a coffee, but most importantly I remember him for his big smile. As serious as a matter was, Paul Collier always had a humorous side.

He came in on one particular occasion and really opened my eyes with respect to how little attention to detail parliaments pay in supporting people with a disability, and that was when he got the opportunity to go to Oxford. I will not go into the details here now but I was able to assist Paul with one small but important aspect in ensuring that we could facilitate his going to Oxford to get his PhD and become Dr Paul Collier. To this day I am still not sure whether federal parliament has changed the rules to make it easier for people with a disability who are overseas for a period longer than just a few months. That is something that we should talk about here at another time with a view to ensuring that it is taken up in the federal parliament.

As I said, for 13 years I had the privilege, as a lower house member, of working directly with Paul. When he got his new home at Woodcroft I was able to go around there and he was very proud of it and showed me how good that home was. He was an integral part of the Woodcroft community. You could see that with the celebration of his life at his funeral, when a lot of local people from the south came along, as well as a cross-section of the entire community. In coming into the Legislative Council, Paul kept in contact because his absolute desire was always to ensure the betterment of the disability community within South Australia.

To Wendy, Joanne, Paul's brother-in-law, his nephews and his extended family I offer my sympathy. It is not an easy time for them but an opportunity exists to celebrate the fact that Kelly Vincent is here because of Paul's initial commitment to raise the profile. Paul Collier's efforts will now be ever present in the long term. With Kelly and the other crossbenchers—there are seven of us now—we have a bit of strength and flexibility, and we need to capitalise on that. One of the important areas will be supporting Kelly and our South Australian community in an endeavour to get equity and justice for disability services. That is the least we can do for Paul Collier. I say, finally, that Dr Paul Collier is a fantastic example of a person dedicated to other people rather than himself.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (15:33): I would also like to support this motion and recognise the efforts of the Hon. Rob Lawson, the Hon. Caroline Schaefer and the Hon. David Winderlich, who are no longer with us. I must say that I did hope that the Hon. David Winderlich would have had some chance of returning to the chamber but it was not to be.

I would also like to welcome the Hon. Jing Lee, the Hon. Tammy Jennings and the Hon. Kelly Vincent to the chamber. I know that this will be an experience for them all. As the Hon. Robert Brokenshire said, I hope you enjoy what lies ahead.

Very briefly, I support the condolence motion for Dr Paul Collier. I met Dr Collier three weeks after I first came into this place, after the 2006 election, and then three times after that. We did not have a close relationship but he was very forthcoming in his views on what needed to be done in this state and this country for people with a disability. I remember having a conversation with him about the difference between life here now for him and what it was like in the UK. He did feel like a prisoner with the way the system is set up here, compared with the freedoms and privileges he had in the UK and the sorts of services that were available to him, and a lot of his interests did depend on the individualised funding packages for people with a disability to allow them the independence to choose the services they most needed, and where and when they needed those services.

Dr Paul Collier will be greatly missed in this state and it was only two days before his passing that he was on the steps at the front of Parliament House protesting with other people for dignity for the disabled and other social justice issues. It was a great shock to hear, two days later, that he had passed away. I know that Kelly Vincent will do him justice in this place and I know she will make a difference and that his memory will live on.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:36): I would like to say a few words about Dr Paul Collier. You will forgive me if I am a little emotional as it is not only my first day in the chamber but also I find myself speaking of the death of a friend, which is always a difficult thing to do. Not only do we realise how much we do not know about a person until their funeral, but often we do not realise how tightly they have wound themselves around our hearts, so forgive me as I struggle. I am not off to a good start.

I have spoken many times about Dr Collier's tireless advocacy, energy and inspiration, so if I may I will try to make a slightly different point. All of us sitting in this chamber today, whether we represent the Liberal Party, the Labor Party, Family First or whoever, basically are here to attempt to make a difference in this state, a positive difference, and that is without a doubt what Paul Collier attempted to do. In fact, that is what he succeeded in doing, however short lived his time may have been. He did make a difference. As long as that spirit is alive in this chamber, Dr Collier will live on.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:37): I rise to support the motion. I commend the achievements of the Hons Caroline Schaefer, Robert Lawson and David Winderlich. I also express a warm welcome to the new members of the Legislative Council—Hon. Jing Lee, Hon. Tammy Jennings, and my offsider, the Hon. Kelly Vincent. I did not know Paul Collier, but I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends.

The PRESIDENT (15:38): I also express my condolences to Dr Paul Collier's family. I know that he was a pioneer in enabling Dignity for Disability to have representation in the Legislative Council. I also express best wishes to the Hons Mr Lawson and Ms Schaefer for their future and take the opportunity to extend best wishes to the Hon. David Winderlich in whatever endeavours he undertakes in future.

On behalf of myself and chamber staff I welcome our three new work colleagues and wish them all the best for the next eight years. It is a job for eight years and not everybody out in the workforce has the privilege of saying they have a job for eight years these days, so I am sure they will make the most of it and make a solid contribution to the state of South Australia. Welcome. I am always available, as are the chamber staff, to assist if needed.

Motion carried.

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