Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I speak to honour the life and service of a man whose contribution to the Australian Labor Party was profound, enduring and deeply principled: Nick Bolkus. Nick Bolkus was not a loud figure in Australian politics, but he was one who left a lasting impact on this country—a thinker, a reformer, a believer in Labor values and a man who devoted his life to public service with integrity and quiet determination.

Nick entered political life driven not by ego or ambition but by a belief that government could be a powerful force for fairness and opportunity for everyone. He joined the Labor Party as a young man, and from the very beginning he understood that politics was about fair representation for the people of Australia. He represented South Australia in the Senate with distinction, and later served as a minister in the Hawke and Keating governments during one of the most transformative periods in our nation's history. Those were years of big reform, years that reshaped Australia's economy, our education system and our place in the world, and Nick Bolkus was there, working thoughtfully, diligently and often behind the scenes to help make that change possible.

As the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and later as the Minister for Administrative Services, he approached his responsibilities with seriousness and care. He believed that public administration mattered, that institutions mattered and that the way government treated people said everything about the values it stood for. He had a deep respect for multicultural Australia and a clear understanding that our diversity was not a weakness to be managed but a strength to be embraced.

In every role he held, Nick brought a sense of fairness, balance and intellectual rigour. He was not interested in shortcuts. He believed policy should be well-considered, evidence-based and grounded in Labor's enduring commitment to social justice. Nick was also a strong believer in education, both as a policy priority and as a personal calling.

Nick Bolkus represented a particular kind of Labor figure, one defined by substance rather than spectacle. He did not seek the spotlight. He did it because he believed in the hard work of reform, the patient work of persuasion and the enduring importance of institutions. Within the Labor Party, he was highly respected, a thoughtful contributor and a colleague who brought reason and principle to every discussion. He believed deeply in party unity and in the idea that Labor, at its best, is stronger when it listens, debates and moves forward together. For many members and colleagues, Nick was also a mentor. He gave advice freely, offered encouragement generously and was always willing to share his experience with those coming up behind him. That generosity of spirit is one of the great quiet gifts of public life.

In South Australia and across the Labor movement nationally, his passing will be felt deeply, not just because of the offices he held but because of the values he embodied: decency, thoughtfulness, service. Nick Bolkus acts as a reminder that good government is built on patience, preparation and principle. Condolence motions ask us to reflect not just on a life lived but on a legacy left behind. Nick Bolkus leaves a legacy of service, of reform and of belief in the Labor cause—a belief that Australia can be fairer; that opportunity should be shared; and that government, when guided by values, can improve lives.

To his family and his friends and all who had the privilege of working with him, I extend my deepest sympathies. To his daughter, Aria: I wish you the best of luck in the upcoming South Australian election as the Labor candidate for the seat of Colton. I know you will carry the Bolkus family name with pride while representing the Labor Party, and that your dad's example will continue to guide you as you follow in his footsteps.

Nick Bolkus served Australia with honour, he served the Labor Party with loyalty and he served the public with integrity. Vale, Nick. May you rest in peace.

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