Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to speak on the condolence motion for former Senator for South Australia, the Hon. Nick Bolkus. Elected at just 30 years of age, Nick served during a transformational time in our history. He was a senator for some 24 years, a number which would make more than a few of us tremble looking forward. But he had a lot to do, and he used his time with purpose. As the first Greek Australian cabinet minister, Nick was obviously a staunch advocate for multicultural Australia, helping to shape our country into what it is today. Much has been said in this condolence and in recent weeks about Nick's extraordinary contribution to public life, to this chamber, to multiculturalism and to our democracy. He deserves all of this praise and more, and I want to associate my remarks with those senators who have spoken before me, especially Senators Wong, McAllister and Farrell.

Nick will forever be remembered as a legend of the South Australian Labor branch, as a champion of our state, as a formidable contributor, as a senator and as a cabinet minister. My husband, Clint, and I had the privilege of getting to know Nick when I moved back to Adelaide in 2013 after some time overseas. We both have such fond memories of his dry sense of humour, razor-sharp wit, insights and generosity of wisdom, including to this young woman of the Right. Nick was excellent company, but he was also purposeful. Long after serving in parliament, he continued to do work of meaning for our movement and in support of its people. He did a lot of work in the South Australian branch of the Labor Party, formally and informally. He was a generous mentor to so many from our branch and deeply loved by his colleagues.

I also especially want to acknowledge his staff, who worked with him. My close friend Nina Gerace worked for Nick his entire time as a minister. She has always spoken to me so fondly and energetically about what it meant to work with Nick and his entire team, all of whom were so incredibly loyal to him, and with good reason—staff like Lisa Barker, John Richardson, Dave Richardson, Marianna Serghi, Dennis Atkins, Adam Kilgour, the late Chris Gration, Bronwyn Pollock, my friend Barb Pini, Pat Conlon, James Peikert, Pasquale Gerace, Jacqui O'Brien, Paula Kansky, the late Mick Tumbers in his electorate office, and many more staff who I haven't mentioned and apologise for not mentioning.

I have it on good authority that another senator at the time coined the phrase 'Bolkus and the Bolkettes' to describe Nick and his staff—this is so very eighties. But, as well as being a sign of the times, it also demonstrated that our movement's youngest, brightest, most energetic and smart staff wanted to work for Nick Bolkus because he was a reformer, he was doing work of purpose and he was a good man. Those of us who've been staff in this place and formed those close relations know what it means to be working for someone doing work with purpose and how meaningful that it is, too. To all of his staff, who are also grieving for Nick: I acknowledge you and your contribution to his incredible work and legacy in this place.

Of course, no-one will miss Nick more than his beautiful family. My deepest condolences go to Mary, Aria, Mikayla and Nicholas. Aria has described her father as her 'best friend'. She said: 'He fought for what he believed in because he truly believed in the movement. He gave back so consistently because he never forgot where he came from.' Through Nick's children, his legacy lives on—in their deep respect for public service and fierce work ethic. I see this every day in Aria's campaign as a South Australian Labor candidate for Colton. Even in her grief, she shows up every day, determined to work hard for the Colton community that she loves and in which her father raised her.

To Nick's beloved family, his friends, former colleagues, staff and all those who loved him, I offer my deepest condolences on behalf of the great state of South Australia, which he represented with such distinction in this place, and on behalf of the South Australian branch of the Labor Party, which owes him so much.