WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.640 Ladies and gentlemen, we're on Kaurna land, and Uncle Lewis will do the welcome to country. 2 00:00:07.580 --> 00:00:08.140 Applause 3 00:00:22.880 --> 00:00:26.640 On behalf of the Kaurna people, I welcome you all to Kaurna country, 4 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:32.560 and I do this as ambassador of the Adelaide Plains people, my brothers, my sisters, let's walk together in harmony. 5 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:37.040 There was a young lad proposed to a girl, and she turned him down. 6 00:00:37.440 --> 00:00:38.960 He lived happily ever after. 7 00:00:41.440 --> 00:00:49.720 Well, having set a standard of charming informality, I think we'll maintain that in the proceedings tonight. 8 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:55.440 So I will not read you the immense CV of Professor Michael Barber. 9 00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:56.460 My excuse. 10 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:02.840 As he was saying backstage, the best speech is a short speech, and I think that is probably appropriate to introductions. 11 00:01:04.160 --> 00:01:10.920 But Michael has got more academic gongs than you've had hot breakfasts, and he's a star. 12 00:01:11.100 --> 00:01:13.900 For example, I will read this because I was very impressed. 13 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:19.760 He got a PhD from Cornell in the field of theoretical physics in 1972. 14 00:01:20.860 --> 00:01:24.500 And, of course, theoretical physics only began, I think, in 1971. 15 00:01:24.580 --> 00:01:25.480 Please, Michael. 16 00:01:28.880 --> 00:01:29.820 Thank you, Philip. 17 00:01:30.220 --> 00:01:32.120 Actually, it is quite good to be a physicist. 18 00:01:32.160 --> 00:01:39.880 I identified with a physicist in a time when Australia has just won a Nobel Prize in physics by a close friend of mine, Brian Schmidt, at the ANU. 19 00:01:39.980 --> 00:01:45.200 So I do think, in fact, to be classified among a physicist, if nowhere near the stature of Brian. 20 00:01:46.160 --> 00:01:51.700 Premier and Mrs. Sasha Caruzio, Mayor Felicity Ann Lewis, Mayor of the City of Marion, 21 00:01:52.520 --> 00:01:56.100 Associate Professor Robert Fittian, Chair Adelaide Festival of Ideas, 22 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:00.400 Dr. Barbara Hardy, to whom this Adelaide Festival of Ideas is dedicated, 23 00:02:00.860 --> 00:02:04.620 Sandy Vershoor, Executive Producer, Adelaide Festival of Ideas, 24 00:02:04.860 --> 00:02:08.180 Deputy Chancellor, Mr. Ian Yates of Flinders University, 25 00:02:08.720 --> 00:02:11.760 Emeritus Chancellors, Eric Neal and Lady Neal, 26 00:02:11.940 --> 00:02:15.020 former Vice Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards, 27 00:02:15.380 --> 00:02:21.300 former Deputy Chancellors, Dr. Ian Chesterman and Dr. Judith Roberts, 28 00:02:21.760 --> 00:02:25.260 Council Members, members of the staff of Flinders University, 29 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:26.620 distinguished guests, 30 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:32.520 members of Adelaide, everybody welcome here this evening. 31 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:39.120 It's a great pleasure for Flinders University for the first time to have its preeminent public lecture, 32 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:45.360 the Investigator Lecture, co-branded and part of the Adelaide Festival of Ideas. 33 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:50.180 It is even greater pleasure for Flinders University to have as the speaker this evening, 34 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:54.180 the Honourable Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia. 35 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:56.600 As everyone knows, Mike is coming from Australia, 36 00:02:56.620 --> 00:03:02.060 and he is going to be coming towards the end of, in fact, a remarkable period of transformation in South Australia. 37 00:03:02.480 --> 00:03:08.820 And actually looking back on the speakers that we've had here in the Investigator Lecture, 38 00:03:08.880 --> 00:03:12.540 and of course the Investigator Lecture, Flinders' preeminent lecture, 39 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:17.420 commemorates the name of Flinders' boat, the Investigator, that circumnavigated Australia. 40 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:23.700 It is quite remarkable how many of them have picked up on that theme of change, of exploration, 41 00:03:24.040 --> 00:03:26.600 that resonates with today. 42 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:36.220 And in fact, in the entend 43 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:03.280 twice, both giving the inaugural lecture, and in 1986, Australia and the economic paradigm, 44 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:10.000 50 years of change. And of course, we've distinguished overseas people such as Lech Wałęsa, 45 00:04:10.160 --> 00:04:18.100 who talked about the future of democracy in a globalising world in 2003. So tonight, the 46 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:23.740 Premier, in speaking about the charting a course for change, the politics of progress, 47 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:30.120 I think lives up both to being a particular theme resonating with the investigator and 48 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:35.440 Matthew Flinders' change of Australia, but also, I think, a very fitting speaker of which 49 00:04:35.440 --> 00:04:39.780 Flinders is very proud, Premier, to add you to the list of the investigator lecturers. 50 00:04:40.020 --> 00:04:44.560 So we look forward to hearing your words during the evening. Thank you very much. 51 00:04:47.640 --> 00:04:52.160 I'm here with very mixed feelings. I'm not really here to introduce 52 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:53.720 my colleagues. I'm here to introduce my colleagues. 53 00:04:53.740 --> 00:04:57.360 I'm here to talk to you. I think most of you are quite familiar with him. I'm here to publicly 54 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:04.140 and personally say goodbye to him in his role as Premier. I wish I could be around next week, 55 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:10.260 where I think his last major official function is to cut the ribbon at the new South Australian 56 00:05:10.260 --> 00:05:17.120 Film Corporation facilities, which by all accounts are stunning. That would be an appropriate place 57 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:22.280 for me to be, because I was first introduced to this state and this city by Don Dunstan, 58 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:23.720 and Don and I have been together for a long time. I've been together for a long time. I've been 59 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:23.920 together for a long time. I've been together for a long time. I've been together for a long time. 60 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:29.860 I cooked up the SAFC together. Like so many ideas, began in Adelaide, taken up everywhere. 61 00:05:30.100 --> 00:05:36.320 Every Premier had to have one within about ten minutes, but South Australia has remained 62 00:05:36.320 --> 00:05:45.420 the big success story of all of them. Now, many years ago, I was given a dazzling piece 63 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:52.260 of political insight by a very eccentric, in fact, quite dotty old figure in the British 64 00:05:52.260 --> 00:05:53.320 Labor Party. 65 00:05:53.740 --> 00:06:00.340 He was a burr under the saddle, a pea beneath the sheets of many a labour leader. 66 00:06:00.400 --> 00:06:04.760 Most recently he drove Tony Blair mad. 67 00:06:04.880 --> 00:06:06.040 His name is Tony Benn. 68 00:06:06.260 --> 00:06:10.620 Tony was born to very high place in the aristocracy. 69 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.540 I think he was a Viscount, as I understand, 70 00:06:13.640 --> 00:06:18.360 but he chucked it away to become a bovver boy on behalf of the working class. 71 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:25.520 And he was telling me that every politician in history, 72 00:06:26.340 --> 00:06:32.280 irrespective of country, irrespective of time, of gender, of ideology, 73 00:06:33.840 --> 00:06:37.640 every single politician came in one of three categories. 74 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:42.820 The straight men, the fixers and the maddies. 75 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:46.340 Now it's a wonderful game to play, isn't it? 76 00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:48.340 Putting them in the categories. 77 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:51.480 Bob Hawke, classic fixer. 78 00:06:51.700 --> 00:06:56.440 And let it be said that politicians in each of those categories 79 00:06:56.440 --> 00:06:59.500 can be incredibly successful and significant. 80 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:02.780 It's not in any sense a pejorative listing. 81 00:07:03.020 --> 00:07:07.800 When I described Paul Keating as a maddie, he was in the lodge at the time, 82 00:07:08.440 --> 00:07:09.920 he rang me at the farm and said, 83 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:11.220 G'day, it's your mad mate here. 84 00:07:11.260 --> 00:07:14.560 He was thrilled to bits to be seen as a maddie 85 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:17.780 because, as Ben points out, it's the maddies, 86 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:21.900 who dare to change things, for good or ill. 87 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:24.880 Well, other maddies, Thatcher, Reagan, you know, 88 00:07:24.900 --> 00:07:25.640 the list goes on. 89 00:07:25.740 --> 00:07:28.980 Certain premiers of Victoria who shall remain nameless, 90 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:29.740 like Geoff Kennett. 91 00:07:29.820 --> 00:07:34.000 There's a lot of people around who are clearly political maddies. 92 00:07:35.820 --> 00:07:39.220 And they leave their mark behind them. 93 00:07:39.380 --> 00:07:42.120 Straight men, a straight politician, 94 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:46.640 and there's quite a lot who have been absolutely straight up and down, 95 00:07:47.460 --> 00:07:48.080 can be good. 96 00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:51.240 Good administrators can run a safe ship. 97 00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:53.820 If you look at the American presidential system, 98 00:07:53.940 --> 00:07:58.260 I suppose a straight was Eisenhower. 99 00:07:58.540 --> 00:08:02.680 You know, nothing much happened on Dwight D. Eisenhower's watch. 100 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:06.220 Fixer, the great American fixer, 101 00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:08.220 although he wasn't very good at fixing things, 102 00:08:08.380 --> 00:08:13.780 was Bill Clinton, who was so like Hawke in so many ways. 103 00:08:15.700 --> 00:08:16.340 LAUGHTER 104 00:08:19.420 --> 00:08:23.040 Then, then, of course, I remember meeting, 105 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:25.820 I spent a few days with Mikhail Gorbachev, 106 00:08:25.840 --> 00:08:28.000 and he kept reminding me of someone. 107 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:31.100 I was trying to work out, you know, which category he was in, 108 00:08:31.780 --> 00:08:34.860 and suddenly I realised he reminded me of Graham Richardson, 109 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:38.700 because Mikhail was a fixer. 110 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:42.300 Now, he happened to drop the Soviet Union, fell into pieces, 111 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:45.080 but basically that was his instinct, that was his skill. 112 00:08:46.420 --> 00:08:47.980 Now, I try to... 113 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:51.520 I try to work out where to put Mike Ram. 114 00:08:51.820 --> 00:08:53.760 And I suddenly realise... 115 00:08:53.760 --> 00:08:54.700 Where are you, Michael? 116 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:58.180 I suddenly realise that Mike ticks all the boxes. 117 00:08:58.640 --> 00:09:01.200 A very rare combination of skills. 118 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.960 First of all, Mike looks wonderfully straight when he comes up here, 119 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.120 impeccably groomed, he just looks the part. 120 00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:11.220 The fact that he's been Premier this bloody long, 121 00:09:11.400 --> 00:09:14.720 and party leader for such an immense stretch of time, 122 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:17.760 and he's kept the state afloat, 123 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:20.240 and heading in the right direction, 124 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:23.180 shows that his fixing skills are very important. 125 00:09:23.420 --> 00:09:26.160 Once again, terribly important areas. 126 00:09:27.140 --> 00:09:28.420 Straight fixer. 127 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:30.360 But he's also a maddie. 128 00:09:30.920 --> 00:09:36.360 He's picked up where the tick-one box Don Dunstan left off. 129 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:38.680 Don was wonderfully mad. 130 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:41.740 Wonderfully, creatively mad, daring. 131 00:09:42.520 --> 00:09:45.560 Hardly a day passed when he didn't do something extraordinary, 132 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:47.960 and a high percentage of the things he did, 133 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:48.860 paid off. 134 00:09:49.420 --> 00:09:54.180 Well, Mike picked up the torch from Don. 135 00:09:54.380 --> 00:09:57.060 And I've watched this bloke for many, many years, 136 00:09:58.180 --> 00:10:00.380 being... ticking those boxes, 137 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:02.740 and keeping all those things in balance. 138 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:07.740 But it is the maddie in him that I want to salute very briefly tonight. 139 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:13.200 This guy has turned Adelaide into an ongoing festival of ideas, 140 00:10:13.260 --> 00:10:15.600 not just one that's held every couple of years, 141 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:18.060 where we all rock along to hear some important ideas. 142 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:18.460 But he's also a man of the people. 143 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:22.840 He's made Adelaide a sort of huge think tank. 144 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.980 It's no accident that many, many innovations, 145 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.380 social innovations of one sort or another, 146 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:32.820 social inclusion policies, have been trialled in this state. 147 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:35.760 This is the state that had thinkers in residence. 148 00:10:36.140 --> 00:10:39.960 This is the state that is festooned with festivals. 149 00:10:40.640 --> 00:10:44.600 And I tell you what, you're going to miss him when he's gone. 150 00:10:45.280 --> 00:10:46.440 That's one of the... 151 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:47.920 And how few politicians, 152 00:10:47.920 --> 00:10:49.660 can one really say that of? 153 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:51.640 Mike, I... 154 00:10:51.640 --> 00:10:53.620 It's been a privilege to know you, 155 00:10:53.760 --> 00:10:56.460 an honour to work with you from time to time. 156 00:10:56.700 --> 00:10:58.520 I think you tick all the boxes. 157 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:03.780 And I know this is a farewell in one stage of your life. 158 00:11:03.900 --> 00:11:07.120 I'm sure our paths will cross again and again and again 159 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:11.380 as your energies are unleashed by retirement. 160 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.700 And, you know, wait for it. 161 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:16.780 He'll pop up all over the planet, I think, 162 00:11:16.800 --> 00:11:17.900 because a lot of us, you know, 163 00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:20.840 a lot of other people share my respect for him. 164 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:22.260 Ladies and gentlemen, 165 00:11:22.400 --> 00:11:27.480 the outgoing but irreplaceable Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann. 166 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:28.640 APPLAUSE 167 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:36.680 Thank you very much, Philip, to so many leaders in this room. 168 00:11:36.900 --> 00:11:39.100 But I want to particularly mention former Chancellor 169 00:11:39.920 --> 00:11:43.020 and Governor of South Australia, Sir Eric Neill and Lady Neill, 170 00:11:43.160 --> 00:11:45.920 and to the Vice-Chancellor, Michael Barber, 171 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.760 to Sandy Vershaw, 172 00:11:47.920 --> 00:11:50.640 who's the executive producer of the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, 173 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:53.320 and what a great, great program this year. 174 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:58.420 And also, can I say to one of our great partners 175 00:11:58.420 --> 00:12:00.840 in thinking and ideas, 176 00:12:01.040 --> 00:12:03.780 who's really been, I think, in terms of the government, 177 00:12:03.900 --> 00:12:08.260 the great prodder along of ideas, and that's Greg Mackie, 178 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:12.500 to tonight's emcee, Philip Adams, special guests, ladies and gentlemen. 179 00:12:12.520 --> 00:12:15.300 I want to say thank you to Uncle Lewis 180 00:12:15.300 --> 00:12:17.980 for his generous welcome to country, 181 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:21.940 and that we also acknowledge that we meet on the traditional lands 182 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:24.480 of the Kaurna people and that we respect 183 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:28.600 their deep spiritual relationship with their country. 184 00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:30.280 Well, I'm delighted to be here 185 00:12:30.280 --> 00:12:33.420 and have the opportunity to draw the curtain 186 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:37.560 on what's been another fascinating and thought-provoking festival of ideas. 187 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:40.520 So congratulations to Sandy and her team 188 00:12:40.520 --> 00:12:43.220 and to everyone involved in pulling together 189 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:45.280 and delivering this year's festival. 190 00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:58.160 And I'm pleased to entend 191 00:13:15.280 --> 00:13:22.900 Don Dunstan and there was a demonstration and Don leapt out of the car, opened the boot, there was a 192 00:13:22.900 --> 00:13:29.060 megaphone in the boot and then he sort of addressed, some might say dressed down the demonstrators of 193 00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:35.500 being so ungrateful and then went to open a new wing at the Flinders Medical Centre. 194 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:42.520 But obviously people like Bob Hawke and Pat O'Shane, Robin Archer and also amongst the esteemed 195 00:13:42.520 --> 00:13:49.500 roll call is Justice Michael Kirby who presented the second investigator lecture in his role as 196 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:57.420 Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission and former High Court Justice Kirby and law reform 197 00:13:57.420 --> 00:14:04.380 are topics that I will return to later in this evening's address. His speech was delivered in 198 00:14:04.380 --> 00:14:10.320 1980, the year after Don Dunstan had stepped down as Premier of South Australia and it marked the 199 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:12.500 end of an era when our state was renounced as a state of justice. 200 00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:26.660 It was a time when the world was bound not only for its preparedness to embrace ideas and reform but for its capacity to transform them into practical reforms and it was an exciting time to be here. 201 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:35.760 Indeed many people moved to South Australia from other states and around the world to be part of the Dunstan vision and I was one of them. 202 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:41.460 The groundswell for change was partly a response to the times. 203 00:14:41.540 --> 00:14:42.300 South Australia. 204 00:14:48.280 --> 00:14:51.040 The dam had to burst. 205 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:59.440 But the zeitgeist of those days was also largely due to the energy and purpose of Don Dunstan. 206 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:06.820 A man of incredible reformist zeal but also an unyielding political pragmatist. 207 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:12.500 Don knew there was no point of being an architect of reform if you weren't prepared for the future. 208 00:15:12.520 --> 00:15:15.000 He was prepared to get out and sell it as well. 209 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:25.480 And then to deliver those reforms by being elected, being re-elected and being re-elected again to ensure that they were embedded. 210 00:15:26.260 --> 00:15:34.700 He understood the enduring truism that change is always harder to pitch than the comfortable status quo. 211 00:15:35.760 --> 00:15:40.580 And he always said and he must have said this in front of me hundreds of times. 212 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.500 That it was really hard to pitch. 213 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:53.660 He said that it was really important for all of us to always question our own long held and most deepest held assumptions in the quest to do things better. 214 00:15:54.360 --> 00:16:01.360 It was a conviction that drove the pioneering achievements that came to characterise South Australia in the 1970s. 215 00:16:01.400 --> 00:16:11.260 The first state to grant Aboriginal land rights with legislation that was passed before the historic 1967 federal referendum. 216 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.480 We've been through that. 217 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:25.920 It became the template for modern multiculturalism that celebrates diversity in background, opinion and very importantly in faith as well as in lifestyle and cuisine. 218 00:16:26.640 --> 00:16:29.880 A trailblazer in the fight for equal rights for women. 219 00:16:30.160 --> 00:16:33.160 By no means a certainty in those days. 220 00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:38.960 And a proud leader in the equality of civil liberties for our gay and lesbian community. 221 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.940 Striking a crucial first blow. 222 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:49.340 Against the blinkered fears that always find refuge within prejudice and ignorance. 223 00:16:50.500 --> 00:17:03.580 The decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1975 came more than three years after the drowning murder of Adelaide University law lecturer George Duncan in the River Torrens. 224 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:10.340 Even though our state became the first to fully decriminalise homosexuality. 225 00:17:10.340 --> 00:17:24.780 The South Australian Police Special Branch under former Commissioner Harold Salisbury continued to maintain pink files on suspected homosexuals. 226 00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:27.840 Even though homosexuality was legal. 227 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:36.580 Which exemplifies that sometimes a change in attitude follows rather than leads to a change in the law. 228 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:40.080 It was that willingness to see an idea through. 229 00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:41.380 To its destination. 230 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:47.760 That led many to reflect on that period as a golden era of social and legal reform. 231 00:17:48.800 --> 00:17:51.200 But unlike safari suits. 232 00:17:52.120 --> 00:17:58.280 Ideas should not remain confined to specific historical epochs and fashions. 233 00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:00.540 They can thrive perennially. 234 00:18:01.040 --> 00:18:03.900 Provided that they're carefully sewn and nurtured. 235 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:08.900 And Don's legacy was for us to continually look forward. 236 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.060 Rather than look back. 237 00:18:10.060 --> 00:18:13.700 With rose tinted glasses on former glories. 238 00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:15.460 He would have hated that. 239 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:19.080 And that's why upon coming to office in 2002. 240 00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:23.360 Our government committed itself to cultivating new ideas. 241 00:18:23.540 --> 00:18:27.500 So that South Australia could once again innovate and lead. 242 00:18:28.020 --> 00:18:30.320 To show that you could be pro environment. 243 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.640 Pro social justice. 244 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:37.160 And pro business and jobs at the same time. 245 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:39.280 Now in recent speeches. 246 00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:42.300 Including the recent hawk lecture. 247 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:48.260 I've detailed the unprecedented investment the government is making in physical infrastructure. 248 00:18:48.520 --> 00:18:50.080 And economic development. 249 00:18:50.760 --> 00:18:55.360 This evening I want to speak of an area that might not be so immediately obvious. 250 00:18:56.100 --> 00:19:00.260 But is no less significant in securing our future prosperity. 251 00:19:01.020 --> 00:19:07.140 The commitment we're making to build intellectual infrastructure in this state. 252 00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:09.160 To build intellectual capital. 253 00:19:09.520 --> 00:19:14.920 The foundation stones upon which this centuries progress will be built. 254 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:20.860 Perhaps because we can't see these constructs taking shape from car windows. 255 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.220 Or from the top of Mount Lofty. 256 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:27.060 Many of these important initiatives are overlooked. 257 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:32.120 Or in the case of those we move quickly to introduce upon coming to office. 258 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:37.040 Simply forgotten in the churn of the electoral and the daily news cycle. 259 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:39.660 But it's worth revisiting some of them. 260 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:43.680 And reminding ourselves of the strategic and long term value they offer. 261 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:48.240 Recognising that South Australia has a proud history. 262 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:51.100 As a centre for learning excellence. 263 00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:56.320 One third of our nation's noble laureates have studied or worked here. 264 00:19:57.020 --> 00:20:01.040 We set about building Adelaide's reputation as a university city. 265 00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:04.280 Because in terms of its size and its layout. 266 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:07.020 Adelaide could double as a purpose for the future. 267 00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.120 It's built campus. 268 00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:11.240 As well as the best place to stage festivals. 269 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:15.000 Everything an inquiring mind might crave. 270 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:18.100 A library, a museum, gallery, the festival centre. 271 00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:20.280 Located within a minutes walk. 272 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:26.360 So to complement the outstanding work and reputations of our existing universities. 273 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:29.680 Flinders and Adelaide and UniSA. 274 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:33.480 We went out to attract prestigious international institutions. 275 00:20:34.040 --> 00:20:36.520 That offered specially tailored courses. 276 00:20:36.520 --> 00:20:39.520 For example Carnegie Mellon's universities. 277 00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:43.100 Masters of science degrees in information technology. 278 00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:45.460 And in public policy and management. 279 00:20:45.540 --> 00:20:48.920 An area in which it's working very closely with Flinders. 280 00:20:49.300 --> 00:20:53.360 And University College London's school of energy and resources. 281 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:59.720 Working collaboratively and with the multi-million dollar support of Santos and BHP Billiton. 282 00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:05.520 To train local and international students for careers in our mining and energy industries. 283 00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:09.760 We also moved early to enhance our state's reputation. 284 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:12.740 For delivering innovative solutions. 285 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:15.820 To the challenges of food production. 286 00:21:16.280 --> 00:21:21.300 By establishing the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics. 287 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:23.640 At Adelaide University's Wake Campus. 288 00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:26.720 And this facility hosts world leading research. 289 00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:29.760 It's rated in the top three in the world. 290 00:21:30.320 --> 00:21:32.620 Into our essential cereal crops. 291 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:35.360 With the aim of developing improved varieties of wheat. 292 00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:35.960 And barley. 293 00:21:36.280 --> 00:21:38.420 That are better able to withstand stresses. 294 00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:40.080 Such as drought and salinity. 295 00:21:40.260 --> 00:21:42.900 As well as further improving yield and quality. 296 00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:45.440 In a future of climate change. 297 00:21:46.080 --> 00:21:47.600 Opened in 2004. 298 00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:50.080 This centre has since been complemented. 299 00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:53.940 By the 25 million Adelaide Plant Accelerator. 300 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:55.120 Or Super Greenhouse. 301 00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:56.340 As it's known. 302 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:58.520 Also located at the Waite. 303 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:03.800 And more recently we've invested in the Mawson Institute of Advanced Manufacturing. 304 00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:06.520 At UniSA's Mawson Lakes Campus. 305 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:09.620 Went there recently to open it. 306 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:13.560 And I was amazed at their manufacturing skin. 307 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:17.720 For to treat people who are burns victims. 308 00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:20.240 Investing in innovation is vital. 309 00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:23.380 To ensuring that our state's manufacturing industry. 310 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:26.660 Remains resilient and globally competitive. 311 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:31.660 And that's why we've acquired the former Mitsubishi manufacturing site. 312 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.680 At Tonsley Park. 313 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:36.120 Which will be transformed into a sustainability hub. 314 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:38.320 Delivering the clean tech skills. 315 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.440 And the industries that will underpin our green future. 316 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:43.840 It'll be the first of its kind in Australia. 317 00:22:44.300 --> 00:22:46.000 And I'm delighted that Flinders. 318 00:22:46.020 --> 00:22:47.240 As well as TAFE. 319 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.680 Will be foundation tenants. 320 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:51.320 We're establishing the most advanced. 321 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:54.000 Efficient and sustainable hospital in Australia. 322 00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:58.420 And just excitingly is the facility that's already taking shape. 323 00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:00.500 Alongside the new RAH. 324 00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:02.660 The South Australian Health and Medical Center. 325 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.940 And the Medical Research Institute. 326 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:08.380 Which will house almost 700 health and medical researchers. 327 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:12.460 It's the same level of intellectual symbiosis. 328 00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:13.520 And value adding. 329 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.140 That we're seeing at Flinders. 330 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:17.100 Where the close collaboration. 331 00:23:17.600 --> 00:23:20.460 Between your university and the medical center. 332 00:23:20.780 --> 00:23:24.980 Is growing to include the new Flinders Center for Innovation in Cancer. 333 00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:29.640 Which incorporates the Livestrong Cancer Research Center. 334 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:31.680 And this integrated facility. 335 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:36.540 That will be in constant flow of contact. 336 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:38.960 Contact and intellectual property. 337 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:42.900 With the Livestrong Center in Austin, Texas. 338 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:46.720 Will lead Australia in pioneering the early diagnosis. 339 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:49.740 Prevention, treatment, survivability. 340 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:52.360 And support for people with cancer. 341 00:23:53.280 --> 00:23:55.160 But our commitment to ideas. 342 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:58.660 Has not been restricted to knowledge for its own sake. 343 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.780 As President Kennedy said. 344 00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:03.840 A rising tide lifts all boats. 345 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:07.880 So we've confronted our state's most glaring inequalities. 346 00:24:08.520 --> 00:24:11.140 The kind of complex social issues. 347 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.800 That demand bold thinking. 348 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:15.020 As well as quick action. 349 00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:18.220 And even though as I mentioned earlier. 350 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:21.920 We were the first state to formally recognize Aboriginal land rights. 351 00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:24.540 And more recently the first state parliament. 352 00:24:24.780 --> 00:24:26.920 To apologize to the stolen generation. 353 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:29.940 We also recognize that too often. 354 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:33.060 The first Australians were the last Australians. 355 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:35.360 On so many social indicators. 356 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:38.940 We've worked hard to address the inequity. 357 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:41.560 Suffered by Aboriginal South Australians. 358 00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:44.060 And we continue to do that right now. 359 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:45.780 And I mean right now. 360 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.820 In our negotiations with mining companies. 361 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.820 In terms of future jobs. 362 00:24:51.580 --> 00:24:54.280 But no one pretends there's a quick fix. 363 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:58.260 In 2004 we intervened. 364 00:24:58.280 --> 00:24:59.920 In a completely different way. 365 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:02.860 To enforce the law in the APY lands. 366 00:25:03.040 --> 00:25:04.360 In our states far north. 367 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:07.080 To ensure democratic elections. 368 00:25:07.800 --> 00:25:11.020 That were provided for in Don Dunstan's bill. 369 00:25:11.280 --> 00:25:12.620 That were being ignored. 370 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.940 To save the lives of young Anangu. 371 00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:16.720 Who were at risk of violence. 372 00:25:16.760 --> 00:25:17.620 Child abuse. 373 00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:18.740 Alcoholism. 374 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.300 And petrol sniffing. 375 00:25:20.540 --> 00:25:21.820 By doing so. 376 00:25:22.040 --> 00:25:24.380 I was accused of being a racist. 377 00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:27.760 I was likened to Zimbabwean dictator. 378 00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:29.420 Robert Mugabe. 379 00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:31.380 But at the same time. 380 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:33.340 There was not a single police officer. 381 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.900 Based in the lands. 382 00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.820 And now there are more than 20. 383 00:25:37.260 --> 00:25:38.480 There was no TAFE. 384 00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:39.920 But there is now. 385 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:43.340 We funded highly successful arts centres. 386 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.840 To provide an income. 387 00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:46.800 As well as continuity of culture. 388 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:49.860 We invested tens of millions of dollars. 389 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:52.940 To reticulate electricity for the first time. 390 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:56.120 And we're investing strongly in new housing. 391 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.060 We've built new schools. 392 00:25:57.260 --> 00:25:58.800 Learning and family centres. 393 00:25:58.800 --> 00:26:01.900 As well as a new school for the Oak Valley community. 394 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:03.880 One of the states most isolated. 395 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:05.080 In the Maralinga lands. 396 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:07.200 And constructed swimming pools. 397 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:08.800 At Armata and Mimali. 398 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:11.160 As part of our no school no pool policy. 399 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.260 To dramatically improve school attendance. 400 00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:16.020 And also. 401 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:18.080