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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-06-27 Daily Xml
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Condolence

Cashmore, Hon. J.L.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:47): With the leave of the council, I move:

That the Legislative Council expresses its deep regret at the recent death of the Hon. Jennifer Lilian Cashmore AM, former minister of the Crown and member of the House of Assembly, and places on record its appreciation of her distinguished public service and that, as a mark of respect to her memory, the sitting of the council be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

I rise today on behalf of the government to commemorate the remarkable life and work of the Hon. Jennifer Cashmore AM, to mark our respect and appreciation for her contributions and legacy and to offer our sincere condolences to her many friends and to her family.

Jennifer Cashmore was born in 1937 to parents Arthur and Myrtle, as the fifth child of six. After a brief career in journalism and advertising, and after welcoming three children—Frances, Christine and Stuart—with Mr Ian Adamson, Ms Cashmore was selected as the member for Coles. She was the third ever woman elected as a member of this parliament. She went on to become the second woman appointed to state cabinet and the very first female to be appointed as Minister for Health.

Her sharp intellect and strategy on matters such as the viability of the State Bank prior to its collapse and her campaign against the development of Wilpena Pound are well known, well respected and well traversed. I think it is a very human trait to look up to the advocacy and achievements of leaders in relation to issues or causes that we hold dear ourselves. Thus, it is the Hon. Ms Jennifer Cashmore's staunch activism for quality palliative care and those who are dying that inspires me and which I think will form a significant part of her ongoing legacy in this state.

In 1990, as a private member, Ms Cashmore moved to establish a select committee for the law and practice relating to dying and death. Nearly 30 years later, I had the privilege of being part of building on that work with the committee in the last parliament that was the Joint Committee on End-of-Life Choices. In establishing her committee, Ms Cashmore sought to have it examine whether there were adequate options for dying with dignity and referred to the existing lack of emphasis on the needs of dying patients, the death-denying attitudes that existed in the medical profession, and the broad interest in the community at the time in measures at the end of life. Ms Cashmore posed the question at the time, which was likely quite a controversial one:

Are we such a death-denying society that we cannot listen to the strongly held and well argued views of people who believe that they should have some right of self-determination over the nature of their end?

After the committee reported, the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Bill was passed in 1995. It is thought to be the first legislation in the world to include the words 'palliative care' in the title and the first to provide legislated support for the relief of pain and distress. Ms Cashmore was pivotal in giving rights and a voice to the dying. The groundwork she laid in ensuring that the end of life should be dignified paved the way for careful safeguarded laws in relation to voluntary assisted dying that we have in this place.

Indeed, she was given credit for her work in palliative care by many during debates on bills that deal with these matters. It was only fitting that Ms Cashmore's advocacy for palliative care and assisted dying was marked in the eulogy at her funeral last week as one of her greatest political and societal achievements.

Jennifer Cashmore AM will be remembered as a giant of South Australian politics. She was described at her funeral as a brilliant speaker and debater, an active local member and a staunch advocate. She was also lovingly remembered as a kind, caring and gentle mother to her three children whose brilliant work in their respective roles as Governor of South Australia, Supreme Court Judge and chaplain will continue to build on Ms Cashmore's own legacy. On behalf of this government, we send our heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved Ms Jennifer Cashmore across her 86 years and pay our respects to her memory. Vale Jennifer Cashmore.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:52): It is an honour to rise today to celebrate the life of Jennifer Lilian Cashmore AM, a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to public service and to the community of South Australia. Born on 5 December 1937, Jennifer became a trailblazer in state politics as well as a compassionate advocate for numerous causes long after her political career closed.

Her formative education at Walford Anglican School for Girls is said to have instilled her with discipline, with hard work and a need to serve the community. Ms Cashmore, the daughter of a master baker, was once quoted as saying of her upbringing, 'We were brought up to plan for a job, do the job and follow up afterwards.' Jennifer certainly lived by that ethos of hard work and completionism.

Ms Cashmore was a pioneering force in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1977 to 1993, representing the eastern suburbs seat of Coles, now largely the electoral district of Morialta. She was only the third woman to be elected to the South Australian House of Assembly, helping to pave the way for future generations of women in politics. As Minister for Health and Minister for Tourism during the Tonkin government from 1979 to 1982, she became the first woman in cabinet since Joyce Steele OBE. It was an opportunity to showcase her ability to lead with both wisdom and empathy, which Ms Cashmore seized with both hands.

Her tenure of 16 years was marked by an unwavering commitment to her constituents in the former seat of Coles, as well as by her dedication to the principles of the Liberal Party. There was a pervasive sexist vitriol which so commonly emanated from our state parliament in the early years of her political career, one at which she never—at least never publicly—batted an eyelash.

She did not swear, she did not get drunk, she did not engage in antics. One of her most remembered qualities was her concrete resolve to take a battle face on and present her case, no matter how unpopular, if she believed it was important. This often gave public comparisons to the UK's Iron Lady, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. It was written in The Advertiser once that she could out-think and out-debate most of her parliamentary colleagues.

'I went into politics because I was concerned about the world my children would grow up in,' Ms Cashmore once said, and I think we all absolutely understand this drive and desire. Ms Cashmore had hope for the future in South Australia that was forward thinking, 'clever and ingenious', in her own words. I agree with her notion that, and I quote, 'There is no wealth without productivity and that comes from two sources and two sources only: the land and our intellect.'

Ms Cashmore believed that government was becoming too centralised, at the expense of ordinary citizens losing their power of autonomy and opportunity. As I noted earlier, Jennifer was firm in her Liberal values and views. No matter if she disagreed with details, she absolutely believed that individuals, families and businesses have a greater role to play in the success of our state and that decentralised power must be handed back to the people.

Her forward-thinking nature was evident when she raised critical questions about the financial viability of the State Bank before its collapse, the destruction caused by feral animals and the impediments to accessing palliative care. In 1992, Jennifer demonstrated her fearless spirit by contesting the leadership of our party, a testament to her unwavering belief in her vision for the future. Though she was not successful, her courage and determination inspired many, particularly young women with leadership aspirations. She will be remembered as a mentor to many who followed, including in the current parliamentary team.

She served on the Ministerial Advisory Board on Ageing, chaired the South Australian Association for Hospice and Palliative Care and was patron of the Alzheimer's Association SA. She was appointed to the inaugural board of the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund, the National Childcare Accreditation Council and served on the first board of the Environmental Protection Authority in 1995.

Her continued service to South Australia was recognised nationally when Ms Cashmore was honoured as a member of the Order of Australia in 1998. This prestigious accolade was a testament to her contribution to the community, particularly in the realms of palliative care, women's issues and economic development, alongside her significant work within the South Australian parliament.

Recently, Jennifer attended the Playford Trust's 40th anniversary celebrations. She had been involved in the trust for many years, especially in its support for young South Australians pursuing education and research in STEM fields. She lived an active public life until the last, and several of our Legislative Council colleagues saw and acknowledged Ms Cashmore at a rally on the steps of Parliament House as recently as June to show her opposition to the proposed cuts and restructure of the South Australian Museum. Her presence was met with loud applause from the near-thousand South Australians in attendance, marking her return to Parliament House for the first time in over a decade.

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge another crucial role of Ms Cashmore's life—that of a devoted mother. Jennifer raised three remarkably high-achieving children: Her Excellency the Hon. Frances Adamson, the current Governor of South Australia; Christine Adamson, a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales; and Stuart Adamson, an Anglican chaplain. Her legacy lives on through them, reflecting her values of service to community, justice and belief in values.

To her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I offer sincere condolences, but I know they surely take pride in Jennifer and the life she lived. On 10 June 2024, at the age of 86, Jennifer Lilian Cashmore left us, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, of strength and trailblazing achievements. As a member of parliament she knew both victory and defeat. As a student of classic liberalism she understood the benefit of being fiscally prudent and socially forward.

Today, we honour her memory, celebrating a life well lived and a woman who made an indelible mark on our state. Rest in peace, Jennifer Lilian Cashmore: your contributions will forever be remembered and your spirit will continue to inspire us all. Vale Jennifer Lilian Cashmore AM.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:59): I rise to add to the tributes honouring the Hon. Jennifer Cashmore AM and to offer my sincere condolences to her family and friends, including her children, our Governor, Her Excellency the Hon. Frances Adamson AC, as well as New South Wales Supreme Court Justice Christine Adamson and Reverend Stuart Adamson.

Ms Cashmore was an inspiration for many women on both sides of politics, being only the third woman elected to the House of Assembly in 1977. As others have noted, she was a Liberal Party MP from 1977 to 1993 and served as Minister for Health and Minister for Tourism in the Tonkin government from 1979 to 1982. For 12 of her almost 17 years in parliament, she was the only woman representing her party in the House of Assembly.

During those 17 years, she made several courageous moves for the betterment of our state including threatening to stand in front of bulldozers to oppose development at Wilpena Pound and indicating her intention to cross the floor in 1988 to support a ban on tobacco advertising. Ms Cashmore advocated passionately for many causes, but particularly for quality palliative care. After leaving parliament, Ms Cashmore was Chair of the Palliative Care SA (PCSA) Board from 1993 to 1996 and was a life member of PCSA. Her strong advocacy on this issue contributed to the passing of the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Bill on 6 April 1995.

In the last couple of years of Ms Cashmore's time in parliament, I began working in the political sphere. I remember her as determined and articulate. While obviously our party political views were different, she was nevertheless a role model for women in politics and was instrumental in breaking down barriers to women entering parliament. I had the pleasure of speaking with her at an event at Government House—I think it was for International Women's Day—and she continued to command respect and, obviously, command affection.

Once again, I offer my sincere condolences to Her Excellency our Governor and to family members as we remember a life well lived in the service of others and of our state. May she rest in peace. Vale Jennifer Cashmore.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (16:01): I rise today with great sadness to join other honourable members to speak on a condolence motion for the Hon. Jennifer Cashmore AM. I wish to convey my deepest condolences to Her Excellency the Governor of South Australia, family members, friends and all those who knew and loved Jennifer. I would like to take this opportunity today to pay tribute to the Hon. Jennifer Cashmore, who was a trailblazer of our state and our country.

Throughout her distinguished career, she made an incredible impact on public policies that shaped the social and economic development of our state. Some honourable members may recall during our debate in this chamber on the motion on the South Australian Museum I mentioned that the Hon. Jennifer Cashmore attended the rally on the steps of Parliament House and opposed the funding cuts and the proposed restructure of the South Australian Museum.

When the Hon. John Gardner acknowledged her presence at the rally during his speech, Jennifer's attendance was applauded loudly by nearly 1,000 South Australians at the rally, welcoming her back to Parliament House for the first time in more than a decade. I remember that day vividly. The Hon. John Gardner knew I was attending the Museum rally and rang me in the morning to inform me that Jennifer would be at the rally in her wheelchair. John asked whether I would be happy to accompany Jennifer during the duration of the rally. I said, 'Of course. It would be my pleasure.'

On the day, I approached Jennifer and said hello and reintroduced myself. She said to me, with her gorgeous signature smile, 'Yes, Jing, I know who you are. We have met. I believe this is the third time we have met. Great to see you again.' I was astounded and amazed at how good her memory was. It was incredibly inspiring to see her strong stand for the South Australian Museum as it was something so important to her and so close to her heart.

It was a coolish day that morning. I noticed that she was getting a bit cold so my husband, Eddie, and I, along with the Hon. Di Laidlaw, formed a human fortress to shield her from the cold wind. While Jennifer looked frail but in good spirits that morning, I never thought that our meeting at the rally would be the last time we would meet.

We were all saddened by the news of the passing of Jennifer on 10 June 2024. It was a terribly sad day for the Liberal Party of South Australia. Not long after the announcement came through about the passing of former Premier Steele Hall, we learnt other sad news about Jennifer's passing through a phone message before the media had published the news.

I did not actually believe that we lost two remarkable Liberal Party giants on the same day, so I went onto the Governor's Facebook page just to be 100 per cent sure. When I read the beautiful tribute by Her Excellency the Governor on her page about her beloved mother, it confirmed Jennifer's sad departure from this world.

I became quite emotional when I heard the news, as I reflected on my own personal loss of my beautiful mama some years ago. Losing someone as significant as my mother was a time of deep sorrow for me. No-one in the world can replace the unique bond and love of a mother. My thoughts and prayers are for family members who are currently mourning the deep loss of their beloved mother. I quote from a statement published on social media on the Governor's Facebook page:

In paying tribute to her late mother, the Governor said she was a remarkable woman and a courageous trailblazer in many areas, including environmental protection, and in drawing attention to the failure of the State Bank of South Australia.

The Hon. Jennifer Cashmore was a lifelong campaigner for women's equality. Through her compassion and dedication to public service she instilled in her three children a strong sense of service and community commitment. Jennifer Cashmore is survived by her three children: the Hon. Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia; Justice Christine Adamson, Judge of Appeal of the New South Wales Supreme Court; and Reverend Stuart Adamson, Associate Dean of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care at Morling College in Sydney.

The incredible accomplishments and leadership of her three children demonstrate the profound influence and impact she had in their lives and chosen careers. Jennifer was well loved and respected, and she demonstrated that she was a strong and capable political leader and community advocate and, at the same time, a loving and caring mother who provided the best opportunities for her children.

The Hon. Jennifer Cashmore was born in 1937, educated in Adelaide and elected as the member for Coles, now Morialta, in 1977. She became the third woman to be elected to the House of Assembly in South Australia's history. She served her community as a local MP for 16 years until her retirement in 1993. During her time in parliament, Jennifer became the second female member to sit around the cabinet table, from 1979 to 1982. She served as Minister for Health and Minister for Tourism during the Tonkin Liberal government. Between 1982 and 1989 she held several shadow portfolios, including environment and planning, the arts and the economy.

Jennifer Cashmore was a pioneer of women's progress in public life in South Australia. She broke through barriers and took active steps to support those who followed her. In 1991, Jennifer published a book called A Chance in Life. The title of the book was inspired by a quote from Robert Menzies in 1972 in which he said, 'The State owes every responsible citizen not only a chance in life but a self respecting life.'

I want to take this opportunity to use two examples that Jennifer described in her book, A Chance in Life, in regard to women's voices. She spoke about speaking simply, clearly and being polite. She also spoke about the lesson of trying to see the other person's point of view. I quote:

Remembering that in public life, the other person is nearly always a man, we must also remember that men are not the enemy.

They are our fathers, our brothers, our lovers, our husbands, our friends, and our colleagues, or our customers or voters, whatever the case may be. If we put ourselves in the position of those men who are close to us to see things through their eyes, very often we will take a different approach.

She went on to provide two examples, and I thought honourable members might enjoy knowing these stories that characterised the clarity of mind, intellect and strength of Jennifer as a political leader. In her words, and I quote:

I recall in a vigorous party room discussion on child care policy there was a reluctance to adopt the position which I thought was the correct one. Totally frustrated with my colleagues' inability to see the need for flexible accessible child care, I just burst out: 'Don't you realise that if we simply provide child care but fail to reorganise society so the interests of children are paramount, a whole generation of people, myself included, may never have grandchildren. We'll never have the pleasure of being grandparents, because our daughters and daughters-inlaw will simply find it too hard to have both a career and a family. We will end up the losers.' To my amazement, one of the toughest minded of my colleagues whom I would have expected to be the last person to advocate increased child care, said, 'Jennifer's right. I don't think I am ever going to be a grandfather. My daughter is almost past child bearing age and she is absolutely committed to her career.' This personal perspective gave him a totally different insight from his political perspective.

Another story I would like to share, which was also quoted in the book:

Recently I was asked to give a talk to a class of 11 year-old schoolboys on the achievements of South Australian women over the last 150-odd years. Instinct told me that the boys really wouldn't be interested. Somehow I had to make it interesting. I asked which of them had sisters and I asked them to envisage the time before the Married Women's Property Act came into being. How would they have felt had their parents left property to their sister and if their sister, upon marrying, no longer owned that property because the law said it belonged to her husband? They didn't like the thought of that at all.

Then I asked how they would feel if I told half of them they had a vote, they could make the laws, they could earn money and they could decide how the country would be run. The other half would be made to stay at home and do the dishes. They would not have a right to education, to earn an income or to own property. They were outraged at the prospect that anyone could do that to them. But when I explained this had been done to women for centuries, it gave them new understanding.

That is proof of Jennifer's character and who she was. Jennifer also led reform work in South Australia's palliative care laws, which many honourable members have mentioned already. End-of-life law reform of this era in South Australia was world leading and is directly attributable to Jennifer Cashmore's work.

In her book A Chance in Life she actually devoted a whole chapter to death and dying, and for someone from a multicultural background I think some of the things that she thought about were really significant. I would like to quote from that:

First, we should understand that the essential issues that need to be resolved are not medical, but ethical. We need to find ways of expressing our human and spiritual values in the decisions that are made about medical treatment of the dying. Doctors and nurses should not be left to make these decisions on their own. The community, through Parliament, must establish the legal framework and provide the resources so that community values, the law and clinical practice are in tune.

The needs and values of patients and their families should be paramount. Their wishes need to be understood and respected as far as humanly possible. We must understand that while we recognise this as important for the living, it is equally important for the dying. This is particularly so in Australia were many people come from cultures different from those of the health professionals who care for them at the end of their lives.

It shows a lot of the empathy and sympathy that Jennifer showed in her work. She continued to do great philanthropic work during her time in parliament, and also in public service. She was, as many honourable members have already mentioned, awarded a Member of the Order of Australia during the Governor-General's Australia Day awards in 1998.

Jennifer was a trailblazer and an inspiring role model for me and, I am sure, for so many. Some people may have wished to know what she thought her role as a politician was, and to honour her legacy and memory I would like to quote her own words. She said this:

As a Member of Parliament, I believe it is my responsibility to try, as often as possible, to say what other people are thinking but perhaps not expressing, so that those I represent feel they have a voice. Another obligation—more difficult by far to fulfil—is actually to make people think. We need to see ourselves not only as individuals but as a very important part of society. When we do that, we are forced to think about the relationship between thought and action, action and reaction. We are forced to think not just about our own lives but about the lives of others we depend on and who depend on us—our families, our employers, our colleagues, our country. In other words, we are forced to think politically. The more people can think politically, the more power they have to influence their future in ways of their own choosing.

These are the words of wisdom and high standards that I believe all honourable members aspire to, and are doing.

Jennifer Cashmore will remain in our hearts and minds as a remarkable human being, a trailblazer in South Australian politics and a dignified woman with a strong voice who spoke clearly and politely, someone with a strong conviction to get things done. We will miss her. We thank you sincerely, the Hon. Jennifer Cashmore, for your incredible contributions to South Australia and to our country.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (16:16): One of the difficulties in speaking down the list on one of these motions, of course, is that much of what I have to say has been traversed by my colleagues. For that reason, my contribution will be fairly concise, but heartfelt nonetheless. For that reason, I join my colleagues in support of this condolence motion on the passing of Jennifer Cashmore AM, who served as a Liberal Party member in the eastern suburbs seat of Coles, now the seat of Morialta, from 1977 to 1993.

Jennifer was the third woman in history to be elected to the other place, as other members have touched on, and was the second to be appointed to cabinet, in 1979, when she served as the Minister for Health and the Minister for Tourism in the Tonkin government. A notable part of Jennifer's legacy, of course, was the fact that she warned of the State Bank collapse and was the first member to raise concerns in parliament pertaining to the lending practices and financial viability of the institution. Reflecting on it in 1992, Jennifer told The Advertiser:

In April 1989, I made a major speech highlighting the vulnerability of the government guarantee and the importance of the treasurer in making sure that normal banking requirements were complied with. The warning signals were sounded loudly and clearly in parliament…and yet those concerns were ignored…

Perhaps if Jennifer's apprehensions had been adhered to, South Australia could have avoided decades of grave economic challenges.

Among Jennifer's other achievements, as has been highlighted by my colleagues as well, was the key role she fulfilled in developing the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act and then dedicating much of her life after parliament to supporting the worthy cause of palliative care in our state. Countless South Australians have certainly been beneficiaries of her pioneering work in this area, and I applaud her for it.

In addition to these efforts, Jennifer was the responsible minister who ushered in critical legislation for the establishment of the Olympic Dam mine. She was also commended for her courage in crossing the floor to support the Labor government's tobacco advertising ban in 1988. It was a decade later that Jennifer received the esteemed Order of Australia.

I am aware that as recently as earlier this year Jennifer attended a rally on the steps of parliament, as my colleagues have outlined, to oppose the state government's restructuring of the South Australian Museum. Her passion and resolve to make a difference for the betterment of our state was clearly always a priority to her and continued to her very last days.

I take this opportunity to convey my most sincere condolences to Jennifer's family, particularly to her children, the Hon. Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia; the Hon. Justice Christine Adamson, a judge of the New South Wales Supreme Court; and the Reverend Stuart Adamson, Associate Dean of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care at Sydney's Morling College. She will be dearly missed, and I wish her family my most sincere condolences.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:19): I rise today to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of the Hon. Jennifer Lilian Cashmore AM, a former member of the House of Assembly and former minister of the Crown.

As a person who has spent his life in politics and in the labour movement, both industrially and politically, it was pretty hard not to know of the exploits of Jennifer Cashmore. I can only imagine how challenging it was to be the only woman in the Liberal Party during those times. She supported many causes. In 1989, she drew to the attention of the parliament and the public in general the very precarious financial situation of the State Bank. If only people had listened to her then we may have been able to avoid the catastrophe which was to follow.

Jennifer Cashmore supported many issues which I felt very strongly about. She supported the Tobacco Products Control Act Amendment Bill and she also engaged in great advocacy for palliative care. I can also remember when she made the comment that she would stand in front of bulldozers to stop a development in the Flinders Ranges. So for someone on the left side of politics, you could have nothing but admiration for the member for Coles.

I got to know Jennifer personally around 1994, after she had left politics. Jennifer was appointed to the Centenary of Federation Advisory Committee at the same time as my partner, Dana. This involved doing a lot of travelling around the country, talking to various state governments and people in the community about what projects could be taken on and delivered on the 100 years of federation. So I got to know Jennifer quite well during those days. I recall having dinner at her place with her husband, Stewart Cockburn, at the time. You could tell then that Jennifer, even after politics, was living a very fulfilled and very happy and interesting life.

With that short contribution, I would like to pay my condolences to the family of Jennifer. I also pay my greatest respects. Vale Jennifer Cashmore.

The PRESIDENT: Honourable members, I extend my condolences to the family and friends of the Hon. Jennifer Cashmore. I ask honourable members to stand in their places to carry the motion in silence.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.

Sitting suspended from 16:22 to 16:36.

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