HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-12-02 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

Adjournment Debate

Adjournment Debate

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:26): I move:

That the council at its rising do adjourn until Tuesday 3 May 2022.

I will outline for members of the council that it is the government's position that this chamber should sit whatever days the House of Assembly sits, so I have only used 3 May at this stage because I understand there is to be a debate this afternoon in the House of Assembly and we will not know when the House of Assembly adjourns to, as to whether it is after the election—which was the normal practice in 2013 and 2017, prior to the last two elections—or not.

I also accept that the majority in this chamber, whether the assembly does or does not sit, may seek to amend the motion. I indicate that if the assembly is sitting next week then certainly the government would accept an amendment for this house to sit next week, or whatever the date is that the House of Assembly sits. The other thing I will say for the benefit of members is that this will allow members (if it is our last sitting day) to farewell members, if they wish. If it is not, then there will be another go at it, some other week or weeks, whatever that is.

I would propose, and I have advised the Leader of the Opposition of this, that after members have spoken to this particular motion I would seek leave to suspend the sitting of the council until we do know when the House of Assembly is going to adjourn to and then this house can decide what particular date it wants to adjourn to in the full knowledge of whether or not the House of Assembly is sitting.

I will give the usual thankyous for the end of this particular year's parliamentary session. I thank you, Mr President, for being the President of this particular chamber. I thank the whips, although one is absent today but in his absence I thank the whips for the work they do. I thank all other members of the Legislative Council for, generally, the productive way we work together in terms of the operations of the Legislative Council.

I thank the clerks and the table staff for everything they do for all of us, whether it be in this chamber or on the very many parliamentary committees that we have. I certainly thank the messengers—Mario and the team—for everything they have done for us this year. I thank Hansard for everything they do to fix all of our problems and errors. I thank the catering staff, caretakers, protective security and all the others who tend to all of our needs here in parliament each and every year. I also thank the library staff for everything they do for members collectively.

As I said, this may or may not be the last sitting day for the parliament and/or the Legislative Council, so with that there are a number who have indicated that they are going to retire. Mr President, I wish you and the Hon. Mr Wortley very well and best wishes for whatever future challenges there might be in our still COVID environment. I wish you well and I thank you for your public service to both your parties and also to the community that you have served. It may or may not be the Hon. Mr Darley's—again, he is absent today—final sitting day or days. I thank him for his public service and his contribution and I certainly wish him the very best for the future as well.

As I flagged four years ago, this will be my last run around, so I want to at this particular time thank my party because if my party did not endorse me almost 100 years ago I would not be here. I know I owe my parliamentary career and political career to my party and I thank them and all the various people who have been within the party over those many years. I thank also all of my parliamentary colleagues, in particular my parliamentary colleagues present in the Legislative Council and in the House of Assembly, but I also collectively thank the very many parliamentary colleagues I have served with over many years.

As I said to our new Governor when she was installed, it certainly brought home to me that I had made the right decision about retiring when the daughter of an ex parliamentary colleague was now the Governor of the state. It was affirmation that the decision I had made, that it was time for me to sail off into the political sunset, was correct.

I want to thank the very many staff members over many years who have served me, both my current staff who have been outstanding and the many staff over many years who have worked with me. I thank them. I thank the many public servants in two iterations in government, in the nineties and the last four years. We have outstanding public servants in this state, and I publicly acknowledge the service that they provide. I thank in particular the ones I have had the pleasure of working with.

I also thank the many members of the media. I have generally had a productive relationship with most of them and I thank them for that level of cooperation over many years. Many of the ones I have worked with over many years have retired, but I thank past members of the media and also the current members of the media.

I obviously want to thank my family, in particular my wife, Marie, for her support. We are coming up to I think it is almost the 49th anniversary of our very first date. We remember the anniversary of our first date, which was at the grandly titled University of Adelaide MedBall, which was certainly not that. It was a swim through at the University of Adelaide out in, I think, a park somewhere in Walkerville. It was grandly titled, but anyway I thank Marie very much for her love and support for, as I said, almost 49 years. She has only known politics all through that time.

I thank also my four children: Ben, Tim, Matt and Hannah. They have only known politics. Ben is now just over 40. They have been there through all of it, so I thank them very much for their love and support over that long period of time.

Finally, I want to thank the many members of the general public I have engaged with over 40 years in one way or another. In particular, can I take an indicative group: the very many patrons I have met over the years at the Myer food court who have very generously shared with me their views about my competence or otherwise in a free fashion over those many years.

What I can say to the Minister for Health is that I think the one benefit I have seen from the global pandemic we have endured with COVID-19 is that with the compulsory wearing of masks I have noticed a slightly lower level of public abuse than I have endured in recent times because at least some people do not recognise me because I am wearing a mask. So there was one upside in relation to mask wearing as a result of COVID-19.

In concluding, can I quote the immortal words of that great Australian orator Jeff Fenech, 'I love youse all.'

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:34): It is my duty to place on the record some comments in appreciation and thanks to the Hon. Rob Lucas for his service to the Legislative Council as a member since 1982, for his time as a minister in the Brown, Olsen, Kerin and now Marshall governments, for his careful stewardship of countless pieces of legislation which will be enshrined in the law of the state—and therefore he exists within the statutes forever—and as a parliamentary colleague of mine since 2003.

We did seek to have a special motion for the Hon. Mr Lucas, but being the humble man that he is he flatly refused, and so we are respecting his wishes. While many of us have been fortunate to get to know Rob well over the last few years, I would like to place on the record some of his highlights. He might not agree with them, but here we are. We have been trawling through the records to obtain details of his life.

Rob Lucas was born in the small town of Kure, Japan, in 1953, and moved to Mount Gambier at the age of just seven months old. His father, Bob, served as a corporal with the army postwar and met his mother, Yvonne, an interpreter and typist for Army public relations. At the time Robert joined the Legislative Council, he was only the second member who could trace their immediate heritage to an ethnic group other than Anglo-Saxon. I am pleased that we have seen strong growth in the diversity of the people who are now in these chambers, especially of Asian heritage.

Having arrived in South Australia in 1954, Rob went to study at Marist Brothers Agricultural College and Mount Gambier High School before attending the University of Adelaide, where he earned bachelor degrees in economics and science as well as a masters degree in business administration.

In 1978, he married his lovely wife, Marie, who has no doubt been a bedrock in all future success for him. Rob went on to work for the Liberal Party, serving in the role of assistant state director of the South Australian division immediately prior to his election to the Forty-Fifth Parliament in November 1982. At the age of just 29, Rob joined the Legislative Council as the youngest member of the council at that time, and he probably holds some form of record since. This election saw a change of government and the completion of the Tonkin premiership, and also saw the introduction of daylight saving in our state.

In 1983, Rob delivered his maiden speech in this chamber and made reference to some of the basic values he held as a Liberal, namely, those of fairness and equality opportunity, which have no doubt played a role in guiding his decision-making on all matters which have been before him here over the past 39 and a bit years.

Serving his first few years here as a diligent member of the loyal opposition, Rob was elevated in 1985 to the front bench. In 1989, he assumed the additional role of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, a position he held until the election of the Brown government in 1993, when he joined the cabinet and Executive Council for the first time as the Minister for Education and Children's Services, as well as continuing his leadership role within the parliamentary Liberal team as the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

In 1997, Rob was sworn in as Treasurer. As he stated in his first budget speech, our state could not hope to grow and prosper as long it was weighed down by the crippling State Bank debt and its costs. By the time of his last budget in that government, delivered on 31 May 2001, the outlook for South Australia was much more positive.

Following the election of the Rann government in 2002, he returned again to the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and held many important portfolios, 21 portfolios across those 16 years, including treasury, police and health, to name just a few. While not in government for this period, he played a significant role in legislative and policy development, which is to the benefit of all South Australians.

Following the election of the Marshall Liberal government in 2018, Rob obviously became Treasurer again and together with the rest of our parliamentary Liberal team we have shared in the privilege of delivering a plan for South Australia and delivering on the mandate entrusted to us by the people of South Australia.

In his entire career, he has served with integrity and diligence every single day. Whether it is responding to the impacts of a global pandemic, delivering $17.9 billion in critical infrastructure investment so that we as a government can continue to get on with building what matters, or growing our health spending to $7.4 billion this financial year, his work has continued to go from strength to strength.

In preparing my contribution today, I have come across some interesting facts. For instance, upon Rob's impending retirement at the next state election, he will have been a member of parliament for 14,378 days. It might be comparable to the number of doughnuts he has consumed in that time! He has also contributed to over 850 debates in this chamber, potentially close to a thousand contributions. He has had many great achievements, including, for example, as the first Treasurer to be appointed from the other house, which is a break from traditional Westminster conventions.

It is quite difficult to summarise what is a truly remarkable parliamentary career in a single speech; however, I hope that I have conveyed some of the enormous appreciation of the government and members in this place for everything he has done. We have already mentioned the Myer food court, so I am sure that will continue to be a highlight. We wish Rob all the best for his retirement in whatever the future holds. To Rob and his wife, Marie, his four children, Ben, Tim, Matt and Hannah, and his growing cluster of grandchildren, we wish them every future health and wellbeing.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:41): I rise, too, to pay tribute to retiring members. Given the constraints of the day and because the Hon. Rob Lucas made it very clear to the party room of his desire to make these valedictories low key, I will make my remarks short and understated. The Hon. Rob Lucas is a legend of the Legislative Council. He is the fourth longest serving member of this place in its 178 years. On 19 March 2022, the Treasurer would have served more than 39 years in this place. As I said, only three members of this place have served longer.

The Hon. Rob Lucas believes in the role of the Legislative Council as a house of review. He embodies the culture of this place: calm, considered, collaborative. I suspect he thinks the council should be more calm, more considered, more collaborative. The Hon. Rob Lucas is a legend within the government of South Australia. The leader is not gradually dimming the lights as he leaves stage left. At the end of a marathon four decades' service, he is still an active Treasurer in a reformist government. His stellar stewardship of the economy and the finances of the state during the global pandemic is the crowning achievement of a distinguished career. He leaves parliament at the time of his choosing and at the top of his game.

The Hon. Rob Lucas is a legend of the Liberal Party and its values. He has been a lead campaigner for our party for more than 40 years, even before he came into this place. Within the parliament, the Hon. Rob Lucas has been a strong, consistent, conservative voice in this chamber, rooted in his Catholic faith. The leader will be sorely missed. The Premier, other ministers and me rely on his depth of knowledge, his substantial expertise and his wise counsel. I wish him all the best for his future endeavours and dare to hope that he might still find time to provide us with his counsel.

I would also like to acknowledge the service of the Hon. John Dawkins. The President was born in Gawler and spent his childhood living on a farm in the Gawler River. He has never lost his roots in rural South Australia. He received an Associate Diploma in Farm Management from Glenormiston Agricultural College and, having studied journalism, still maintains an active interest in rural media.

I first met the Hon. John Dawkins when he served federal members and subsequent to that he was elected to this place on 11 October 1997. In particular, as Minister for Health and Wellbeing, I want to acknowledge the service of the Hon. John Dawkins for his strong contribution to suicide prevention, not only at the state level but also at the national level. He was the inaugural chair of the Suicide Prevention Council and a key proponent for the Suicide Prevention Bill which passed this place yesterday. I wish John and Sheila all the best for the future.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:45): I rise to support the remarks of my colleagues, the Hon. Michelle Lensink and the Hon. Stephen Wade. I will not regurgitate the statistical information that is most important about the Hon. Rob Lucas; it is very much appreciated but there is no need for me to repeat it.

What I would like to do is make sure that I put on the record for eternity some of the things that the people of South Australia really do need to know about the Hon. Rob Lucas and our friendship over the years. I acknowledge the fact that he has been a calming influence, not only on this chamber but certainly on myself. He is a very self-deprecating fellow and pretty cheeky. As a friend, I can say that he would take great delight in taking the micky out of his friends in any sort of public environment that we were in, but was always happy to receive as good as he gave.

A long-suffering West Adelaide Football Club fan, a St Kilda fan, perhaps not so much a long-suffering Manchester United fan, because they have certainly brought him some joy over the journey—not so good at the moment. However, I am sure the Hon. Rob Lucas in his retirement will not have to tape games and watch them at 2am and 3am while he is beavering away working through his ministerial duties that he has taken home. Hopefully, he will do that at a reasonable time.

He is fortunate to have a fantastic family—his lovely wife, Marie, and terrific children and grandchildren. I am sure they will bring him an enormous amount of joy going forward. I know he has always been a wonderful father, and I am sure his grandchildren will be quite amused when they are old enough to realise the incredible service he has given to the people of South Australia.

Rob is an incredibly loyal friend and he is an incredibly loyal member of the Liberal Party. He has always put the party before himself. I remember one particular time when he was unfairly dealt a backward slap by a new leader of our party, and I think I was encouraging him and I to be quite radical, but he said, 'Calm down, young fellow. You've got a longer career ahead of you and you've got to ride the ups and downs of politics'—always the calming influence.

People out there in voter land would not know that Rob's knowledge of sport is really quite incredible, both Australian and international, and not just covering the major sports that most would think of but right across the spectrum. How he was never South Australia's best minister for sport and recreation is beyond me. I know the Hon. Frank Pangallo is well-versed in many sports but the Hon. Rob Lucas would certainly take some stacking.

I am sure the Hon. Rob Lucas and I, when he is a retired gent, will find time to hunt down a serve of lamb's fry and bacon somewhere. That has been one of our favourite pastimes—which we have not done for a little while. Sadly, neither of our wives are all that interested in cooking it for us, but I have put in a bit of work, I have to say, over the last 18 months during COVID to improve my skills in that area, so I might be able to lure him away from some sporting replay that he is watching and give him a reasonable feed of lamb's fry and bacon.

Rob, you have been an incredible friend—and this is not a eulogy. I am thinking that we might catch up occasionally, usually probably when it is your buy and not my buy, but looking forward to the next chapter of your life. However, you have a bit to do between now and March because you have to make sure that you help steward our great party to another election victory.

In closing, I would also poke a little bit of fun at the Hon. Russell Wortley. I met Russell Wortley when we were both schoolboys in long pants kicking around the back streets of Pooraka and we both still laugh about how we finished up in the Legislative Council, a fellow from Whyalla and a guy from Pooraka. I am sure that Russell will not be left behind the door when good things are given out. He has always managed to land on his feet and I am sure he will enjoy a long and happy retirement.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:50): I know that the Hon. Rob Lucas is thrilled to have everyone speak about him and his incredible service to the Legislative Council for nearly 40 years.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: He gave you some notes, didn't he?

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: Absolutely. The Hon. Rob Lucas's service to the people of South Australia and to the council, as the Father of the House, is quite remarkable. Having known the Hon. Rob Lucas and his family for nearly three decades, it has been an incredible privilege to be working as his colleague in this place for the final eight months of his career. I have enjoyed listening, observing and seeing the master at work. He remains the ultimate professional. I can never really quite believe how relaxed he always remains.

I have been watching his career for over 30 years and he is a wonderful role model to our parliamentary team, our party and to me. His economic management is second to none. I know the coronavirus pandemic has presented its challenges but we are all in this incredible position here today as a state because of his economic management and vision.

The Hon. Rob Lucas has left incredibly big shoes to fill. He has certainly left an incredible legacy for other parliamentarians to follow and for South Australians, who he has dedicated much of his life to, to benefit from. I sincerely hope he enjoys the next stage of his life with his wonderful wife, Marie, his children and his grandchildren.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:51): I also join the other honourable members to pay tribute to our dear colleague the Hon. Rob Lucas. Even though we knew this day was coming for a while, since he announced that this would be the last term of parliament for him, it is still going to be really difficult to imagine the Parliament of South Australia without the presence of the Hon. Rob Lucas.

He actively discouraged all of us in the joint party room to speak about him, but it is hard to follow, I suppose, the instructions this time. Many of my friends have asked, 'Are you sure the Hon. Rob Lucas has not changed his mind?' I said, 'I have asked him many times and many of us have asked him many times. He definitely has not changed his mind.' And the other question would be, 'Is the Hon. Rob Lucas the longest serving member of parliament in South Australia?' Close to it, as the Hon. Stephen Wade has mentioned. Sir John Lancelot Stirling OBE actually served for 48 years, from 1881 to 1932.

Despite the fact that the Hon. Rob Lucas has not served the longest, he has definitely had the most outstanding and distinguished parliamentary career and we need to acknowledge and pay tribute to his achievements. Personal achievement does not just mean something for him or his family, or the Liberal Party. His achievement has carried through to deliver many community services to all South Australians and we ought to be very grateful.

The fact that the Hon. Rob Lucas also has Asian heritage—his mother was of Japanese ancestry—that itself means a lot to me, as an MP with Asian heritage, because it is something that I look up to. Over the years, he has been a great mentor. He symbolises something. When I hear negative comments such as, 'You are just a first-generation migrant. What makes you think that you are better than the white Australians in serving us in South Australia, or in Australia?' these sorts of comments, when I look at somebody like the Hon. Rob Lucas, he is someone who I truly value.

He gives hope to multicultural community groups and to myself. He is a person of dignity, he is a person with intellectual capacity, and he is someone who really believes in delivering services and serving the community. He has knowledge and wisdom. Many colleagues have already commented that he is as cool as a cucumber. He is always able to maintain that calmness and composure as the Father of the House—and now he is not just that, he can be seen as the grandfather of the house and grandfather to his grandchildren.

Another remark I want to make is this: some of my trainees, when I asked them, 'What was the most memorable time for you when you were a trainee in parliament?' they said, 'Working for you, Jing, but the most memorable time is actually having conversations with the Hon. Rob Lucas.' One particular trainee came up to me and I said, 'What would you consider as the most memorable time?' He said, 'Most of the time the trainees are young people working here, a bit fearful of the Hon. Rob Lucas because of his stature and his position. However, when you do get to sit down next to him, he treats everybody equally, he is considerate and he is friendly.' This particular trainee said to me, 'Just having a conversation with Rob Lucas makes you feel special, makes you feel that you are the most important person in the world.' That is the sort of comment he probably has not heard, and I think it is good to acknowledge that.

If you are ever going to have yum cha with the Hon. Rob Lucas, just remember this: he only needs to have fried rice, soy sauce and dim sum, because that will make him really happy. The rest of the yum cha dishes are a bit too fancy, so you do not have to go to the extent of ordering too many yum cha dishes for him.

I recently had lunch in the Parliament House dining room. A number of staff came to me and said, 'Is it true that the Hon. Rob Lucas will be retiring?' I said, 'Yes indeed.' They said, 'Can you please wish him the very best wishes because people don't realise how funny and how humorous, how humane, he is, because when he serves drinks at the parliamentary Christmas party he is always really friendly, he always wants to be the first to serve those Christmas drinks to the staffers'—not to the MPs but to the staffers. So I want to convey those particular best wishes and thanks for the Hon. Rob Lucas.

Finally, I want to wish the Hon. Rob Lucas and his family, his lovely wife, Marie, the very best upon his retirement. I do not think this is the last time we will see him in parliament. I do not think this is the time to say farewell as such, but I want to wish him and his family the very best. I would also like to acknowledge the other contributions by other honourable members who are retiring. I wish everybody best wishes for their retirement.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:58): One of the unfortunate aspects of being the seventh speaker is that much of what I was going to say has been said, so members might be pleased to hear that I will not be repeating a lot of it. I found myself crossing things off as they were listed as previous members spoke.

Can I echo the Treasurer's comments that he made with respect to the staff in their various forms in this building: we are very well served, whether it be by the Clerk himself or all of those who work under him. Sincere thanks to all of you. You make our lives much easier and much better. I know that the service is done most sincerely and I want you to know that it is sincerely appreciated, so thank you.

Can I also just take a moment to acknowledge the other members who are retiring, before I turn to the main part of my contribution this afternoon dealing with the Hon. Mr Lucas. I would like to acknowledge the Hon. Mr Wortley, who has announced he will not be recontesting the election next March. He and I were elected on the same day, back on 18 March 2006, nearly 16 years ago now. Whilst I think it is fair to say that he and I have quite divergent political views and views of the world, I have always found that Russell has entered discussions genuinely and that he genuinely has the best interests of the people that he represents at heart. I have always found him to be a decent person and someone who genuinely advocates for those that he represents with a sense of reasonableness and integrity, if I could put it that way.

Members may not be aware that Russell and Dana and their then young son, Che, actually came to my house for dinner some years ago, when I was on the crossbench. We were living in our current house, so it was about nine years ago, because we had only been in there a few weeks—we still had furniture around the place. It was a most enjoyable evening. The reason it came about was that I am a big fan of paella, or pay-eh-ya as the Spanish would say, and Russell claimed to make the best paella in the world. I said, 'Well I'd like to sample some of that,' so he agreed. He actually brought around to my house and cooked on my barbecue a fantastic paella; it was really something to remember. So I thank him for that, and I take the opportunity to wish him well in his future endeavours and Dana and Che as well.

Sir, you have also indicated that it will be your last term, that you will not be seeking re-election in March, and I want to pay tribute to your 24-year career, or 25, would it be, actually, given that it is 2007?

The PRESIDENT: Twenty-four.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Twenty-four. I beg your pardon. Your 24-year career, eight more than I have contributed to this place. You have indeed risen to the highest position in our chamber. You are to be congratulated on being the President. I think you have been a very good President. I think you have been a very fair President and one who has, where possible, gone unnoticed, and that is the sign of a good President. There are times when, of course, you need to assert yourself, and that is what a good President would do—where it is hard not to notice you and appropriate that we should. Can I also say that I am impressed by the fact that you were able to serve as Government Whip for, I think, 16 years?

The PRESIDENT: Unfortunately, Opposition Whip.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Of course, I beg your pardon, Opposition Whip, yes, you are right. That was a faux pas, wasn't it? That is a long time to serve as whip. I wonder if there have been too many more that have served that length of time. As a whip myself I understand that it is a pretty busy and quite important role; the chamber does not function if the whips get it wrong. I want to pay tribute to you for that as well.

You have also had a number of other achievements, including your work—I think the most significant work, really, in some ways, that your career has presented to this place—in the area of suicide prevention, culminating in a great achievement just yesterday, which we have acknowledged on Facebook. I hope you will say a few words about that when you get an opportunity. I do want to acknowledge your service to this place, John. I think you are a very decent human being. I have enjoyed your friendship. Thank you, and may I take this opportunity to wish you and Sheila all the very best for your future.

Now I turn to our leader, the Treasurer, the Hon. Mr Lucas. There is so much I could say. As I said, members have spoken before me, and a lot of it I have had to cross off. There is no point going over the same, but I will touch on a few things that were mentioned by other members.

You have to go right back to 1982 when the Hon. Mr Lucas was originally elected. I was in year 8 at high school, with a bowl cut and a tracksuit top, so it seems a long, long time ago. I was literally 12 years old. I am 51 now, and it is hard to think just how long ago that really was. Anyone who can survive in this place for that length of time I think is well and truly deserving of credit, purely for that alone.

It was not much later, 1993, when Rob was appointed Minister for Education and Children's Services and then Treasurer in 1997. He was, of course, twice Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. I wonder how many members have been a Leader of the Opposition twice in this place. I suspect very few. Leaders of the opposition, if they do not succeed in becoming significant members in government, do not usually get another opportunity, but such was his compelling presence in the chamber and his natural ability to debate so compellingly that really he was the obvious choice. So 40 years in the Legislative Council next year really is literally a lifetime of work that must be acknowledged.

I think the thing about the Hon. Mr Lucas that is quite surprising to some people is that he is actually a reformer—a legislative reformer. Of course, this goes against his public image, if you like. He presents as quite conservative. I guess his Catholic faith has something to do with that but also his extreme frugality. Until recently, he was the only member I was aware of who would use coins or money in the members' bar, and I think he is still quite upset that the members' bar does not take currency. I have not used currency for a number of years; it is a foreign thing to me.

Despite that public persona of conservatism and frugality, the reality is that he is the man who has introduced significant reforms to this place over the years, including the sale of ETSA when he was Treasurer, wiping out some $3.5 billion of state debt. I think this may have been forgotten by some but he also introduced what I think was a very significant reform, that is, the basic skills test in South Australian schools which is now at the core of the NAPLAN testing that we use nationally. There was a lot of opposition at the time to introducing that basic skills test, and yet Rob stood his ground and persisted with the reform because he believed it was the right thing. I am glad he did because I believe it has been a very useful assessment basis for the progress of our kids in schools.

More recently, in this term of government, he has been the architect of land tax reform, lowering the top rate from 3.7 per cent to 2.4 per cent, he reduced the emergency services levy quite substantially, and then significantly reduced the payroll tax impost, particularly wiping it out for small businesses, essentially. It is a record of reform that I think he can be very proud of. It is not something that necessarily the public may automatically associate him with, being a reformer, but when you take the time to look at his record, clearly that is what he is.

If I had to describe the Hon. Mr Lucas in three words, these would be the ones I would choose: I would say intellect, I do not think anyone could dispute that he has a substantial intellect; he is a loyal person, as the Hon. Mr Stephens said, and his loyalty is one of his most admirable qualities; and the other thing that is rare in someone of such high intellect is that he is a truly humble person, and his humility is something that I have grown to greatly respect over my time in this chamber.

One example of that came about in an interview he did recently on the eve of his last budget, and as he was preparing he was interviewed by the ABC. It was at that time after such a lengthy career and so many achievements over the years that journalists automatically turned the questions to the aspect of what legacy will you leave, and what do you perceive your legacy might be? The comments that I will read to you that he gave to that journalist just serve to highlight his humility. He said, and I quote directly:

I'm not much worried about personal legacies; what I'd like people to see me as is part of a team. If the legacy is that I was part of a team, together with the Premier, that showed leadership, showed strength and made the right decisions at the right time, which minimised the number of people that died and saved as many jobs as businesses, I'd like to see that as part of a legacy.

He also admitted that he simply did not have time to be sentimental and to focus on those things, and I quote again:

There's so much work to be done—you don't have time for reflection, emotion and nostalgia—you just get on with the job of trying to make the decisions as best as you can. When you get to my age, you don't worry too much about those sorts of things.

He has always been self-deprecating. I think it has been a truly formidable career and one that will be very hard for anyone to match. I doubt that anyone will do 40 years in the Legislative Council with such esteem, with such humility and with such outstanding results. Certainly, I do not expect to see that in my lifetime. If I can achieve half of what the Hon. Mr Lucas has achieved in his career, and I am well short of that at the moment, I would be truly proud of my service.

Could I take the opportunity to wish Rob, Marie, their four children and their four grandchildren the very best for a future which is well deserved.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (16:09): I rise to speak to this adjournment motion. Firstly, I would like to thank all the people in this place for their support over the last 18 months, other members, Legislative Council staff and other support staff. It has been a period like no other and I am grateful to the wonderful people in this chamber, as well as the wonderful wider South Australian community, for all their kindness and support.

I would now like to take the opportunity to acknowledge my colleague the Hon. Rob Lucas. There are many reasons to celebrate 1982. It was of course the year that the Treasurer was first elected into the Legislative Council, and it was also the year that I was born. The Treasurer is someone I have had the enormous pleasure of serving the wonderful people of South Australia alongside with. While my service is just beginning, hopefully, I reflect on the wonderful example that he sets. Hands in pockets, always calm and measured, he is someone I aspire to. I have also had the privilege of serving on our state executive with the Hon. Rob Lucas for a number of years prior to my election into this place and in this role, similarly, he was always reliable and steadfast.

I would like to thank my colleague the Treasurer for his service, leadership and guidance. He has been an absolute staple in politics in South Australia certainly in my lifetime. There is not much that has happened in South Australia over the past nearly four decades that the Hon. Rob Lucas has not been involved in. He was patient initially in opposition and then served our state in government from 1993 to 2002, when he also led the government in this house.

He has held many portfolios and shadow portfolios that we have already heard about; however, I think he will be best remembered for his fiscal management. Having held the Treasurer or shadow treasurer portfolio for 19 years, he was there to assist with the clean-up after the collapse of the State Bank in the early nineties, and we could not have asked for a better Treasurer to guide us through the COVID-19 pandemic. My husband often comments that he wishes I had learned more about financial management and the difference between ‘nice to have’ and ‘must have’ in my time working with the Treasurer.

As a small business owner prior to entering politics and someone who lives and is raising a family in the Riverland, I am acutely aware of the difference a Liberal government makes and the importance of strong financial leadership from our Treasurer. Treasurer, it has been an absolute honour getting to serve, albeit for a short time, with you. You have left a legacy of dedication, service, hard work and conservative fiscal management. I wish you, Marie and your wider family all the best in your retirement. Thank you, and I am not sure how the Myer food court will survive without your patronage.

I would also like to acknowledge the service to this chamber of yourself, Mr President. I remember fondly your encouragement of me to pursue a career in politics and reflect on those words all those years ago in relation to where I now stand in this place. It has been a pleasure serving the wonderful people of South Australia alongside you. While my service, again, is just beginning, I reflect that your political career started alongside my uncle, Neil Andrew. I congratulate you on your long and successful career in this place. I want to thank you for your service and wish you, Sheila and your wider family all the best in your retirement.

I would also like to acknowledge the Hon. Russell Wortley for his service to the Labor Party and to this chamber. I have enjoyed my time with the honourable member on the Natural Resources Committee, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone here a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. I look forward to coming back to this side of the chamber when the new session of parliament commences in 2022.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (16:13): I rise to also acknowledge those who are leaving this place, first of all the Hon. Rob Lucas. Almost 50 years is a considerable achievement in any workplace. I suggest that this workplace has some peculiarities and so I observe that 40 years in this particular workplace is a particular achievement.

One of the traditions of this place, I am told, is that we put aside our political differences, however great they may be, to honour the service of colleagues as they are leaving this place. The Hon. Rob Lucas has often spoken about the importance of traditions. His respect for the parliamentary processes and traditions is something we have heard about on a number of occasions, and I believe he holds that respect for tradition very wholeheartedly and sincerely.

I can only speak about my own experience of the Hon. Rob Lucas, which is that he has been forthright, polite and helpful, and I thank him for that. Indeed, my Labor colleagues advised me when I came here myself, not quite four years ago, that if the Hon. Rob Lucas has made a commitment then he will honour it. I think that is an important value to acknowledge in any place and particularly in this one.

He is also a good conversationalist. On the rare occasions that I have found myself next to him at a social occasion, I have perhaps been surprised to find what things we do have in common or what conversations we can share with some pleasure. We can learn something from everyone around us, I think, and I have been able to learn a number of things from the Hon. Rob Lucas. One of them is that there are times to be concise and then there are times to speak like Rob Lucas. That is a compliment; trust me.

I also acknowledge the other members of this place who are leaving, including the Hon. John Dawkins. I acknowledge, Mr President, your 24 years here and thank you for your service as President. I also acknowledge, of course, my colleague the Hon. Russell Wortley, who was President before my time.

One of the things I particularly recall with fondness in regard to Russell is when he came down to Mount Gambier before I was elected and we were doing various electioneering things. We happened to go past the street where I had lived as a teenager. I pointed out the house, which I think my parents would acknowledge was extremely modest, and Russell commented something about his own upbringing and reflected on the fact of how far we had come.

I did recall that in my maiden speech, when I was talking about the wonders of our democracy and the fact that people can come from very humble beginnings in Australia and come to be lawmakers. I also wish Russell very well in whatever his future endeavours may be. For all those who are leaving, one hopes that everyone comes to this place with a desire to serve. I want to thank you all for your service and wish you the best for your futures.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (16:16): I too would like to acknowledge the fabulous career of Rob Lucas. As has been pointed out, 40 years in any job is certainly a milestone, but to do it in the Public Service and to do it in the distinguished way that the Hon. Rob Lucas has done is a credit to him. I am scratching my head thinking about when I first met Rob Lucas. It was in 1985. He had just been elected. He had only been in the job for about three years, and he arrived at the offices of News Ltd, which were across the road. I think they were just preparing for the next state election.

I remember being called up to the room and a number of Liberal stalwarts were there: Roger Goldsworthy, Martin Cameron and the bow-tied Legh Davis were there, and the one who really struck me was the fresh-faced Rob Lucas. Now he has salt-and-peppery hair, but it was certainly striking dark hair that he had. I remember the grin across his face when I shook his hand. We were about the same age, I think, at the time.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Anyway, that is when I actually first met him. I will not go into any detail about the nature of the meeting that day. I will keep it confidential. I may actually leave it for my memoirs one day. That is where I first met him, and he did make an impression upon me, as a young journalist at the time. Over the years, our paths have crisscrossed, not as frequently as they have with others, but I must say that on the occasions that they did I found him an utterly professional individual, quite forthright and a very good media performer.

Even to this day, he does exceptionally well when he has to do media interviews and also speak on various issues. He is quite gifted in doing that. He also has a great habit of coming up with nicknames for politicians. I think we can recall that for the Hon. Tom Koutsantonis he dubbed him Turbo Tom and I think one of his nicknames for the Hon. Russell Wortley was Fabio.

The Hon. Rob Lucas actually introduced me to a new noun when I started here in parliament some nearly four years ago. I had never come across this word until the Hon. Rob Lucas used it, and it was 'perineum'. I then had to look it up and it is an actually an obscure place on the body, in a place where the 'sun don't shine', and I am sure Mr Lucas knew occasions in this place when to use that word.

As I said, he has been quite a warm and generous man with his time and his sage advice. In fact, he was actually the first MP I met within this place soon after we were elected. I had quite an enjoyable meeting with Mr Lucas. I will always remember one of the first things he said, 'And there won't be any Dorothy Dixers.' I do not think that was a promise that they were able to keep.

I have always noted his measured demeanour in this place in debate and during question time and, as has been pointed out, that habit of his hands in his pockets. He certainly knows how to restrain himself, particularly in debates when they get volatile. I always watch to see how he reacts. It is very difficult to really egg the Hon. Rob Lucas to that point.

He is adept at one thing, I have noticed, in question time—he is a master of winding down the clock if he has to, and he has done that. He does it without any notes and that really shows the intellect that he has, as has been pointed out, on topics that have been raised. His knowledge of the parliamentary process, after such a long time, as you would expect from such a veteran, is quite proficient. As I said, I have found him quite knowledgeable on many of the topics that have been thrown up at him.

I think this place will actually miss Rob Lucas. As I said, he does present in quite a measured way and I have found him quite an able and admirable leader in this place for the government in the period I have been here. I have also found on occasions that we have had some banter, but I enjoy his company. So I think he will be missed. As has been pointed out, I do not think the food hall at Myer will miss him because I think Rob Lucas will still probably attend there.

The other thing I remember about Rob is, in my media career—my media career started in 1971—he is one MP that I do not think there has really been that much scandal about. I cannot recall a Rob Lucas scandal in the media. There may have been one thing about a government car or something, but really there has been no scandal with him. He was always proud of the car that he had. I think it was the Hyundai, was it not?

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: Volkswagen, VDub.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: The VDub, but you had a Hyundai as well, did you?

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: Yes.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Yes, you had the Hyundai and the VDub as well. I would hope you would have donated those to the National Motor Museum or something. I will finish off and say that he is quite a measured person and he would have actually made a good member of our party, he is such a centrist. I am sure Nick Xenophon would have welcomed him. Anyway, I would like to wish the Hon. Rob Lucas and his family all the best. He has given tremendous service to the state of South Australia, and I am sure that many in the community would acknowledge his presence in this place.

I would also like to acknowledge the others who are leaving us: firstly, you, Mr President. Your contributions to this parliament have been enormous in the service you have given to both your party and the people of South Australia, and the great work you have done in suicide prevention. It is fantastic that you are able to finish in this place on the day that bill has gone through and will shortly receive assent.

That is a great credit to the work you have done in that capacity and the work you have done in other areas as well, including in regional areas. Your interest in rural press has been acknowledged in this place and the work you have done there. I know you have often got up and spoken of places you have gone to—certainly regional newspaper awards and evenings—acknowledging the work that regional press does and its importance to the community. You have been at the forefront of promoting that and you have also done great work elsewhere in this parliament. I think you will be missed.

I have found you to be quite a forceful and imposing President in my period here. You have been quite kind to me in recent weeks regarding my brief explanations. You have not come down on me all that much. I have learnt a lot from you, Mr President, and I think you have retained great control in this place. You have brought an air of dignity to the role and I thank you for your service in that position. I wish you and Sheila all the best. I am sure we will see you here quite regularly and I will always enjoy having a chat with both of you when you are present here.

Finally, to the Hon. Russell Wortley. One thing that you find in this place is that there are really nice people, good people, good blokes, and I find that Russell is a decent bloke. Over the years, our paths have not crossed all that much journalistically but I was at Today Tonight when Hendrick Gout launched a series against Russell Wortley. I had no part in that, and I will admit that, but I always remember being red-faced if I ever bumped into Russell or Dana if they were dining at Scuzzi's cafe on O'Connell Street.

The thing is that Russell actually took that in his stride and let it pass as if, 'You know, that's what happens when you're an MP. You are going to have to cop that in the cut and thrust of the world that we are in.' I thought that was indicative of the nature of Russell Wortley. The other thing I found was that he has a tremendous appearance, he has kept the mullet alive, but the thing I notice is that Russell does not have grey hair.

He has been a valuable contributor on the committees that I have been on. I have worked with him on the timber committee with the Hon. Clare Scriven, and he also worked on my ICAC committee, along with the Hon. Tammy Franks and others in this place, the Hon. Nicola Centofanti and the Hon. Heidi Girolamo, and he was a valuable contributor. I always appreciated the advice that Russell had.

Again, he had a calming influence, he took things in his stride and I certainly enjoyed working with him. I was very appreciative of the way he presented himself and also the advice that he gave me. He has been in this place as a President as well, and during that period I understand that he certainly presented the position with dignity and professionalism, which is important.

So I wish both you and Sheila all the best, Mr President. Russell is not here at the moment, but I wish him all the best in what he endeavours to do and I am sure that we will enjoy the famous Russell Wortley iced coffee, which he introduced me to when we were in Mount Gambier. How I take my iced coffee now is Russell Wortley style. Thank you again and all the best for Christmas and the new year to all the members in here.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (16:30): What can be said about the impenetrable Robert Ivan Lucas, the father of the SA Parliament, that has not already been said? They say that blue blood must run through his veins and after serving as assistant state director and almost 40 years in this place, in various portfolios and lots and lots of patience in opposition, and his unwavering and dogged loyalty to the Liberal Party, I reckon they are on point.

During those almost four decades of political service he has almost seen as many Liberal leaders, I think, but even that has not steered him off course. His impact and influence on this place cannot and should not be understated. I often wonder if there is anything that makes him flinch. If there is, it certainly does not show. In fact, so convincing is he that our Treasurer has something of a reputation—he may not know this—of making others in this place second-guess their own support for certain positions they take.

I have certainly heard some very funny accounts of his time in opposition when certain people in government questioned their own policies, during very lively debates in this place, as a result of the now Treasurer's very eloquent and convincing arguments. He is not a lawyer, as he always reminds us, but he certainly has a way with words and articulates his arguments convincingly. I have had text messages from very frustrated people during the course of debates to substantiate those very convincing arguments.

Since coming to this place I have always said to stakeholders and representatives, if there is money involved and you want to get the job done, then your first priority should be to get the Treasurer over the line. How you go about this is another question altogether. We know that is a challenge in itself because, as we all know, it can feel like moving mountains, and that is only when you think you stand half a chance of convincing the Treasurer that something is a good idea.

Of course, there are always those issues that divide us, like gambling, where we know the Treasurer will never budge, not even an inch, but despite the topic you can always be assured he will have come to this place having done his homework and always ready to defend the government's position with the fervour and passion that he is so renowned for. As a political stalwart he knows—better than any I have experienced—how to get under your skin. I will never forget the Treasurer telling us problem gamblers would walk over hot coals to get to a poker machine, nor did I necessarily disagree with him. While our views on gambling policy will always be poles apart, those words certainly had the desired effect on me, even as a staff member.

When there is a deal to be done, though, I have found the Treasurer to be an effective and trustworthy negotiator, even if he does drive a very difficult bargain. If you are only concerned about dollars and cents, then it is my very firm view that he makes an exceptional Treasurer because he makes tough calls without batting an eyelid. I think those in his party, all of the members sitting on this side, and others who have had the benefit of his counsel over the years, are richer and certainly much wiser for that experience.

I have known the Treasurer since starting in this place as a raw, naive, bright-eyed law graduate working for Nick Xenophon—your good friend Nick Xenophon—and sometimes those 17 years feel like a life sentence. So how you have lasted almost 40 years is well and truly beyond me. But in all seriousness, over that time the one thing that has always struck me about the Treasurer is that his word is his honour. I have had firsthand experience of that and I will always be very grateful for it.

Away from the rough-and-tumble of politics, I have always known you to be a good—I do not know why I am getting upset over the Treasurer, but you know these things happen.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens: You really do like him, don't you.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: I do. He is a good man who is firm is his beliefs and I am actually just sorry it took me as long as it did to get to appreciate him. On the retirement of the Hon. Mark Parnell and despite our political divide I declared that he was up there with the finest. In fact, I said Mr Parnell sat at number one of my top three. Ditto you, Treasurer, and thank you, sincerely. I look forward to crossing paths with you—this is going to be a very busy Myer food centre—in the food court and beyond in the years ahead. I hope that the extra time you have with your family and grandkids is rich and rewarding.

I would like to also say, Mr President, a big thank you to you for your service as President. I do not know if we will ever again find a voice quite as strong as yours in this place. You have certainly done an exceptional job at keeping a very rowdy group of people under control. You have supported many of the requests that I have put to you. I have always found it very good to deal with you. You are a true gentleman and a pleasure to deal with.

I think your advocacy and work on suicide prevention and surrogacy will go down as your greatest achievements in this place, Mr President. I, too, join my colleagues in wishing you and Sheila well in your retirement.

The Hon. Russell Wortley, who is not here, has always kept me very entertained.

The PRESIDENT: We should not be reflecting on whether a member is here or not, but I am allowing it to happen.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: I will not do that. The Hon. Russell Wortley, who sits across from us, has always kept me very entertained, as minister in this place and as the former President of this place, for his very unique style and ways of doing things.

I remember the first time I met Russell, and he has not changed at all. I do not think it is often that we have a husband and wife serving in this place at the same time—probably for very good reason, even if it is just your home life—but I guess it certainly makes it easier to appreciate each other's work commitments. I have always found the Hon. Russell Wortley good to deal with. He is a decent man.

But I think where I have had a better insight into the things that drive him and his passion is through his work on committees, because that is where the things that are important to Russell Wortley shine through. So I echo the sentiments of other members in relation to the Hon. Russell Wortley. I am sure there will be many more multicultural events that we will continue to see him at over the course of the years.

As I have said in this place before, if there is one thing that I love about coming to this place, it is the chats that I have every day with the staff around the building, so at this time of the year I would like to thank all those staff who keep the wheels turning in this place: Frank, James and Reece, who save me almost every day when I forget my pass; Craig, who helps with just about everything; and Ben, who in my opinion runs the most important part of this building. These are the people who work here each and every day and who make what we do possible and I am exceptionally grateful for the chats that we have and for the friendships that we have formed along the way.

I would like to acknowledge a messenger who used to work in this chamber, Antoni, who left us to go and work for the other chamber but has since decided to return home to the UK. I certainly enjoyed the many years of conversations and chats that I had with Antoni about our families and home matters and so forth, and I wish him and his family well.

To our clerks and the table staff: to Chris, Guy, Leslie, Emma, Anthony and Kate, thank you. To Todd, Karen, Charles and our beloved Mario, who keep everything working in here, thank you. To parliamentary counsel, led by Aimee Travers; the library staff, led by Dr Weste; catering; caretakers; security personnel; and of course Nicky and Karen, who make every day in this place a joy and deserve their very special mention: thank you all. And to Hansard, who make sense of all the scribbled notes, thank you. I wish all of you well, I wish you good health and I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy festive season.

In closing, to my team as well and my colleague Frank Pangallo; to Sean and Adrienne and Jody and Tina and Mariam and Claire, who has only just left us, thank you in more ways than one for putting up with me—for one, for my chaotic ways—for keeping us grounded and for helping us get through another year in this place. You are all amazing, and we would not be able to do this without you. I wish all honourable members a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:39): Serving in this place, there is only one other greater honour, and that is family. To be in this place is an incredible achievement for everyone. I can certainly agree with the Hon. Clare Scriven that I never thought I would be getting up to say words about the Hon. Rob Lucas.

I do feel like all my little stories have been taken, even ones I thought were going to be quite unique. The Hon. Nicola Centofanti, I discovered I have something in common with you today, because my line was going to be, 'The only thing I think I have in common with the Hon. Rob Lucas is that the year I was born was the year you were elected.' You have been here all my lifetime. I have not known a parliament without you in it, and I do want to thank you for your service. I have more often not agreed with your opinions, but you are a true, loyal person to your party and to your beliefs, and that should always be truly respected.

Some of your colleagues said it was quite hard to pick one legacy that you wanted to leave for your party. Perhaps I was going to use the story the Hon. Frank Pangallo used: it was for your old faithful servant, your Hyundai. I understand now the ministerial fleets are G80 Hyundais, so perhaps that was going to be your legacy for the state.

I know it will be very hard for the bar here to break their long-serving tradition to have a long mac waiting on the front bar for you after question time. I did enjoy sitting next to you at the President's dinner, because the Hon. Rob Lucas does not like cheese, and I love cheese, so that was a very good combination. I was going to get you a farewell present, but I did not have time to drop into Foodland and grab a barbecue chicken from the back of the store.

I would also like to thank the Hon. Russell Wortley. He went from being a plumber and gasfitter to the head of the gas sub-branch of the TWU and on to being a minister of this great state and also a President of this chamber. Russell has always put the interests of workers first. He is also the person who helped open the door for me in my political career. Way back in 2006, I was his staff member. For this I will forever be grateful.

Russell has always put the interests of workers first, and his working love is the TWU family, but his real love, which I think we all see on a regular basis, is his love for Dana and his son, Che. So I do thank him for his support and his friendship over the many years.

To you, Mr President, I would like to thank you for your excellent advocacy of the country press association, a dear love of mine from my first job outside study. It was through a country newspaper, and you have been at every country press awards that I have ever been to, so thank you for your support in that area. When you leave, we have two people leave the parliament: you and Sheila. It has been lovely to see the support she gives you. I am sure that will continue outside this chamber.

I would also like to thank every member in this chamber and wish you a merry Christmas and particularly to our staff, who keep this place running.

The Hon. T.T. NGO (16:43): I, too, would like to say a few words to you, Mr President. When I got elected eight years ago, in 2014, straightaway I was allocated the whip position for the government. I remember the first day here I had no idea what 'whip' meant and what I was meant to do. But I found the Hon. John Dawkins. He was then the Opposition Whip and was a very good and experienced whip. Throughout that time he never played politics. He never set traps for someone new here or got me to make mistakes.

I think the only mistake I made was one time with Peter Malinauskas, I think in the first week he got here; we got mixed up with the pairs and Peter got locked out. I think that was the only mistake. Jokes aside, throughout my career here I have found the Hon. John Dawkins to be very nice and very helpful. What I liked most is that he never played politics, and whenever I needed help, he explained how the whip works and he passed on his experience to me. So I appreciate his guidance and help throughout all those years, and his friendship since he has been the President and in various roles around the chamber. Good luck with your retirement with Sheila, and I hope I continue to have a friendship with you.

Another person I would like to acknowledge is the Hon. Russell Wortley. As many honourable members have said, the Hon. Russell Wortley is very cool. I am not sure between the Hon. Rob Lucas and the Hon. Russell Wortley who is more cool, but they both play the game hard. However, behind the scenes, Russell does not have any anger or carry-on, nor does he take things personally once the battle is over. I would like to thank him for his friendship and for his contribution to this parliament.

The third person I would like to acknowledge is the Treasurer. Before I started here, I was working as a staffer for Minister Jack Snelling and I got to understand the roles of public servants and members behind the scenes. When we were in government then, everyone was fearful of the Hon. Rob Lucas because he played the game hard in opposition—hard and often ruthless.

Before I arrived here I was warned that Rob is tough and rough, and I was really nervous sitting across the chamber from Rob sitting in the front staring at me. I was petrified. I remember the very first day—I cannot remember who advised me, it could have been various members, that Rob had an Asian background, his mother was Japanese. I thought, 'That's good. At least we can relate somehow.' So the very first day here I went out and tried to make friends with Rob. I said, 'Rob, we are Asian—we are brothers, okay—so go easy on me.'

The truth is that in opposition the Hon. Rob Lucas often attacked and gave government members a lot of stick. I remember one time he picked out each individual member and he went through them one by one and said how useless they were and all that stuff. I cannot remember who was sitting next to me, it could have been the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars, and I thought, 'Oh no, I am next.' I was getting nervous and I thought, 'What is he going to say about me?' Anyway, when he got to me, he thought about it and he said, 'Hm,' and he left me alone and moved on to the next one. To me, that was really good. I did come over and thank him afterwards.

To put all that aside, Rob played the game hard but behind the scenes the Hon. Rob Lucas is very kind and very generous. Like other honourable members said, what I like about the Hon. Rob Lucas is that whatever he says, he sticks to it.

I think, in business or in the work we do here, honouring our words is very important. Very often people think politicians are slime and only look after our own interests, but the Hon. Rob Lucas is completely different. He keeps that tradition where words mean something. It is very important and it is a credit to him that he keeps that tradition, even though he plays the game very hard.

I also know that the Hon. Rob Lucas looks after the new members. Often, other members who have been here longer are on good wickets and on a better scheme than most new members, but Rob, to his credit, who has been here the longest, always stands up for new members when we talk about the working conditions of elected members here. Not only that, he even goes out in the media to defend the working conditions of new members. You do not find anyone here who would do that except for Rob. As a new member, I am very appreciative of that because not very often do people speak up on someone else's behalf.

I know that when former Premier Jay Weatherill, when he was no longer in politics, broke his leg, Rob was the Treasurer. Because Jay Weatherill did not have a car, Rob got his driver to drive Jay around for five or six months while Jay was recovering. Rob did not have a driver, so he was using his Hyundai to drive around. It shows his care for other members behind the scenes. Not many people are aware of that kind of story and he does not go around and brag about it or leak it to the media so they can print the story about him and make him look good. It just shows that he is a real person.

As soon as I was elected as a member here, I found Rob maintained that friendship and relationship even in this house. I know now he is the Treasurer, and every now and then I would text him and ask him things. He would text me back. I know my staff are in awe of him because every now and then I would send him a letter about something and he would sign the acknowledgement letter back to me.

The first time my staff got that letter they said, 'Tung, come here. Look at that. The Treasurer actually signed your acknowledgement letter.' I know they were very impressed with the Treasurer doing that because usually you get a junior staff member to sign the acknowledgement letter, but having the Treasurer sign the acknowledgement letter to a member of parliament or to myself, I thought, was very good of him.

Another matter the Hon. Jing Lee touched on was Rob's Asian background. As an Asian person myself, I am very proud of him. When I mention to a lot of my friends that Rob has an Asian background and he is half-Asian, they are all in awe of him and just cannot believe that someone with an Asian background has been able to achieve so much. Unfortunately, that story has not been promoted widely, but I am trying my best to promote that he is a person we can relate to and all feel proud of his achievements.

The only thing I am still not able to get Rob to do is try Asian food. Very often he will hang around the Myer Centre. I think, being brought up in Mount Gambier, maybe the Asian or Chinese food was terrible there, as he seems to not be very keen on Asian food. I hope that now he has more time I will be able to take him out to some of the Vietnamese places so that he can change his tastebuds and I can make him into a real Asian.

Another thing about Rob is he has an incredible memory. I know when he was in opposition and I was on the government's Budget and Finance Committee he remembered things from way back, minor things. During his questioning, you were sitting there and you could see that he would set traps. It could be two or three meetings prior to that, and a lot of people cannot remember things that go way back, and they would often say something and because Rob has such a great memory he was able to get public servants or government ministers into trouble.

I think now that he has a lot of time, with his great memory of this place, maybe he could write a memoir or something about the history of this place because no-one else is able to tell the story. I know he is shaking his head, but he has such a good knowledge and it would be useful for others down the track, future members, to be able to read the history of this place, while he still remembers.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank him for his contribution to the state of South Australia. Good luck to him and his wife, Marie. One of the great things about this place is that we can fight very hard but afterwards we can always be friends. Hopefully, I can continue that friendship with him. I hope to be able to catch up with him every now and then.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I. Pnevmatikos.

Sitting suspended from 16:57 to 17:20.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT