Karen Grogan (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise today to pay my respects and offer condolences on the passing of ex-senator Nick Bolkus. I'm not going to go over the ground that has already been covered but will connect myself to the comments of other senators on all of his achievements, which are extremely impressive.

His achievements as a parliamentarian and a minister are an excellent gift to this nation. But his skill and dedication as a mentor to the Australian Labor Party is something that sits in the heart of our party and its South Australian branch and will do so forever. In his long and impressive career—25 years—he played such an important role in embedding those Labor values of fairness, inclusion and opportunity into public policy, the national discourse and the future of the Australian Labor Party. He was generous in supporting people coming up through the ranks, both rank-and-file party members and future leaders—not just those on the Left but also those on the Right, as others have commented on. He was a deeply generous man with his time, skill and wisdom. He exemplified and embodied the values that he worked so tirelessly to populate throughout this country.

But he was, as we all know, a devoted family man. I know Nick Bolkus purely through his daughter. The stories of the way he emboldened his family and the way he adored the western suburbs are so deeply impressive. So, my condolences, and the condolences of the Left of the South Australian Labor Party, to Mary, Aria, Mikayla and Nicholas.

May you rest in peace, Nick. And if you're listening, I assure you we will be throwing everything, including the kitchen sink, at Colton, because I know it was one of your last dreams for Aria to represent the place you loved in the western suburbs, and we will do everything in our power to make sure that happens. Rest in peace.