The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I move: That this council notes the extraordinary legacy of former Australian Democrats Senator Dr John Coulter as an advocate for a sustainable future for South Australia and extends its condolences to his family and loved ones. I rise today to note the passing of Dr John Coulter, a giant of this state and this nation and, more broadly, this nation's environmental sector. For 20 years, John was a scientist at the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS) in Adelaide, as well as being a prominent and articulate environmentalist. This led to attacks from industry on a number of occasions. His increasingly high public profile made his employers uneasy. He was not only unafraid to speak out on issues such as environmental and health matters, but he was also prepared to address head-on issues such as the health hazards posed by drugs and industrial chemicals.
He had run a successful community campaign against the cutting down of large native trees in his local area—the Campbelltown City Council—early in his political career. He campaigned on an environmental platform, and served on that council for three years. For more than five decades he worked tirelessly on environmental issues at a local, state and federal level. As a medical researcher, university lecturer, politician, founding member of Conservation SA and president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, John contributed to countless medical, environmental and sustainability organisations and causes over his 50-plus year career.
Over the course of that half a century, he advocated for reform on a wide range of issues, including nuclear issues, population, nature protection, renewable energy and climate change. He was elected to the Senate in 1987, and he went on to be Democrat spokesperson on the environment from 1990 to 1995. In fact, I met him in those years, and I vividly remember the archetypal Democrat's facial hair. He then went on to serve as Senate leader of the Democrats from 1991 to 1993. He was very well known for over 40 years for his action on planning issues in our state. John gained notoriety in 1991 when he interrupted the launch of the proposed MFP (multifunctionpolis)—that never happened, of course—co-funded by the state and federal governments.
As the Democrat's environment spokesperson, he spoke out about the need to protect our old growth forests and wilderness, and he warned of the risks of pollution of fresh water posed by industry, agriculture and urban waste. He advocated for the endangered bilby to be a symbol of our Australian Easter, rather than the environmentally destructive exotic rabbit. His legacy was also experienced in the promotion of the Easter bilbies each year in federal parliament being delivered in chocolate form to all MPs, first by John and then later by then Senator Natasha Stott Despoja.
He was an active campaigner against uranium mining and nuclear testing. During his time in the Senate, John introduced some 12 private senators' bills, most of which addressed environmental issues. While none passed the Senate, a number prompted the government to introduce similar legislation. He introduced bills to ban ozone-depleting substances and uranium enrichment and the very first national bill to protect threatened species, which of course went on to have a legacy that we still see today.
John also established the very first major Senate inquiry into climate change, calling for the introduction of a carbon tax in 1995, proposing that the funds raised would then be used to develop energy-efficient industries. He was a visionary.
In March 1995, John Coulter introduced to the Senate the bill that he saw as the logical culmination of his efforts to find effective legislative measures for the promotion of a sustainable environment. The Constitution Alteration (Ecology, Diversity and Sustainability) Bill would 'alter the constitution to ensure that when making laws the parliament takes into account the effect of such laws on…the natural environment'. He was thinking not just one, not just two, but many generations ahead.
How much further might this nation be now in our progress—and perhaps the world's progress—on mitigating the impacts of climate change had these sorts of bills been passed some 30 years ago? The detrimental impacts of climate change that challenge us daily may well have been minimised. We would have placed not only the environment but intergenerational equity at the forefront of our national decision-making.
John was, in my political history, a figure of respect. I certainly remember seeing him on stages when I was a university student and in the 1993 election period speaking so persuasively about the environment and social justice and the vision for a future for all of us. It is no surprise that a Greens member of this place would make this speech, because John advocated for the Australian Democrats and the Greens to consider merging, something that the membership did do. Indeed, as the Hon. Robert Simms well knows, he did not quite get the votes internally for that to happen, but I vividly remember John saying there was little difference between the Greens and the Democrats, our policies are the same, and it was simply that our brand in each state and territory was different.
I do believe the Greens carry on the tradition and legacy that I would hope John wanted to see in our parliaments. I cannot also not mention Merilyn Pedrick, his long-time office manager, someone I had the pleasure to work with for many years and who was a candidate for the seat of Mayo for the Democrats many times, built up that seat for the Democrats, was a local councillor and also a visionary, an environmentalist, passionate about a future for all of us and who also has passed in the last few years. With that, I commend this motion to the council. Vale John Coulter.