Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on indulgence to acknowledge the passing of the former Premier of South Australia, Dr John Bannon, AO. John was born in Bendigo in 1943 and educated in Adelaide. In the 1970s, he held a number of advisory roles in the Whitlam government and then served as a leader on both sides of the House in the South Australian state parliament. He is remembered as South Australia's longest-serving Labor Premier. During his decade in the job, he led the state through some of its toughest times. In his post-politics life, John's roles ranged from writer and academic to being a director of the ABC. He was passionate about history, classical music and cricket. He was a man with a love of tradition and yet a pragmatic reformer. My last meeting with John was in December in his capacity as chairman of the expert advisory panel on reform of the federation. At that time, just a few days before he died, he spoke with all of the wisdom of experience. He was clear, enthusiastic, committed, concerned and engaged about the issues of today and the challenges of tomorrow.

Many have noted the similarities between John's passion for marathons and his approach to life. His daughter Victoria said the advice he once gave her on long-distance running reflected his sense of obligation and his commitment to follow through on a promise. She recalled her father told her: 'You decide at the start how far you want to go, and that's how far you go. If you have to walk, you walk. Even if you have to crawl, you get there.

John Bannon will be remembered as a very honourable man—a man who was modest, self-effacing, caring and generous. To his family, we offer the condolences of this parliament and our nation for a life in service to Australia.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of our Labor family, I pay my respects to a proud son of our movement and a great leader of South Australia. John Bannon was a man apart—an introvert in an industry dominated by extroverts, a traditionalist who modernised his state, a historian focused on the future, a distance runner who rose to the Premier's office at a sprinter's pace and a modest man with much to be proud of.

When John was just 16 his family was rocked by tragedy when his 10-year-old brother Nicholas got lost on a family bushwalk in the Flinders Ranges. Despite a massive search effort, his body would not be recovered for two years. This loss left a deep mark on John. Many friends believed that his famous unstinting determination was drawn in part from a sense of duty to his brother's memory.

As South Australia's longest-serving Labor Premier, John transformed the state into a competitive economy and Adelaide into a very modern city. Arguably, he was the father of the submarine industry in Australia when he brought it to South Australia. John Bannon cleared the way for mining work at Roxby Downs. Along with a casino and a grand prix, he gave Adelaide a new sense of itself and a new sense of self-confidence. John's belief in his state as a place worthy of big events did not end when he left office. It underwrote his 15 years as a member of the South Australian Cricket Association board. And just as his passion for progress drove his work on the National Indigenous Cricket Advisory Council, it drove his belief in better engaging remote communities through sport.

As the Prime Minister said, at John's funeral his daughter Victoria spoke of her father's lifelong love of running. Incredibly, between 1969 and 2007, he completed 28 Adelaide marathons—11 of them under the three-hour mark. Victoria asked how her father kept going. He replied: 'The decision to stop or keep going should never come up. You decide at the start how far you want to go, and that is how far you go. This is at the core, I believe, of the beliefs that made him, John Bannon, a great Premier, a strong reformer, a champion for progress. It gave him the fortitude and integrity to accept full responsibility for the collapse of the state bank when so many other individuals and events actually owned a share of the crisis.

John Bannon has earned his place in the pantheon of Labor heroes. He has served his state with honour and he filled every unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run. We remember him. We honour him. May he rest in peace.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As a mark of respect to the memory of John Bannon, I ask all present to signify their approval by rising in their places.

Honourable members having stood in their places—

I thank the House.