LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 13 April 1994

______

Mr Speaker (The Hon. Kevin Richard Rozzoli) took the chair at 2.15 p.m.

Mr Speaker offered the Prayer.

ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF PARRAMATTA

Death of Andrew Charles Frederick Ziolkowski

Mr Speaker reported the death on 12 April 1994 of Andrew Charles Frederick Ziolkowski, lately serving in this House as member for the electoral district of Parramatta.

Vacant Seat

Motion by Mr Fahey agreed to:

That the seat of Andrew Charles Frederick Ziolkowski, member for the electoral district of Parramatta has become, and is now vacant, by reason of the death of the said Andrew Charles Frederick Ziolkowski.

DEATH OF ANDREW CHARLES FREDERICK ZIOLKOWSKI, MEMBER FOR PARRAMATTA

Mr FAHEY (Southern Highlands - Premier, and Minister for Economic Development) [2.15]: I move:

(1) That this House desires to place on record its sense of the loss this State has sustained by the death of Andrew Charles Frederick Ziolkowski, Member for Parramatta.

(2) That Mr Speaker convey to the family the deep sympathy of Members of the Legislative Assembly in the loss sustained.

(3) That, as a mark of respect, this House do now adjourn until tomorrow at 9.00 a.m.

It is with regret that I move this condolence motion to mark the passing of Andrew Ziolkowski, the honourable member for Parramatta, and to offer the deepest sympathy of the House to his family. The loss of the honourable member for Parramatta is a sad tragedy for Andrew Ziolkowski's wife, Gabrielle, his young son, Tristan, and his family. It comes at a very difficult time for Gabrielle and her brother, Steve Harrison, who is well known in the union movement, who also have suffered the loss of their grandparents this week.

All members of the Parliament were deeply shocked when they heard of Andrew's death last night. The loss of someone so young from such a horrible disease always leaves an impact. From the time of the diagnosis of his illness right to the end, Andrew displayed fighting qualities against the odds. He was one of three children born to his Polish father and Australian mother. Andrew had such a bright future ahead of him as the newly elected member for Parramatta in 1991. He was always a Parramatta boy, growing up in the district and attending Parramatta Marist High, where he delighted in debating, rugby, rowing and athletics. Andrew's devotion to the area even saw him down at the local church hall calling housie-housie. He continued his involvement in the Parramatta area as a research officer for the former Federal member for Parramatta, John Brown, and at the Parramatta office of the Transport Workers Union.

Andrew was always dedicated to his electorate. He worked hard for community groups and showed great commitment. He had the respect of the young and the old. In his maiden speech Andrew recognised the city of Parramatta as Sydney's second central business district and as the economic heart of Australia's third largest and fastest growing market. He observed both its proud history and its promising future. Andrew came to this Parliament after fighting a tough battle to regain the seat of Parramatta for the Labor Party after it was won by the Government in 1988. It was claimed in the media at the time that he won the seat against all expectations, and this was reflected in Andrew's maiden speech in this Chamber when he expressed strong feelings of pride, awe and an overwhelming sense of history at becoming a member of this Parliament.

People such as Andrew are the lifeblood of politics. They represent the future of the parliamentary process - bringing fresh, young ideas to this place, which is often seen by outsiders as lacking in new thoughts, unable to react to a changing world and changed community expectations. He struggled to gain a place in the world, working his way towards a career in politics through the Australian Labor Party organisation in Parramatta and in the union movement. He graduated from Macquarie University, where he met his wife, Gabrielle. Andrew was a person of moderation who rejected communism and the politics of the hard Left. Both he and his wife were involved in the Young Labor movement and it was through his role as an organiser with the TWU that he became a fully-fledged member of the Labor Party.

As Minister for Industrial Relations I was aware of Andrew's ongoing commitment to occupational health and safety issues developed during his period as safety officer for the TWU. For example, the honourable member for Parramatta was concerned with the safety of his members in the area, especially drivers working on asbestos disposal and their to fumigation gases from cargo containers. In Andrew's maiden speech he chose to make reference to the Government's major rewrite of the State's industrial relations laws.

At the time of Andrew's election I was the person whose task it was to steer industrial relations reforms through the Parliament. I listened to his view that the measures would destroy the stability of the system in New South Wales and throw industry into Page 1109 chaos. Although his prediction has not eventuated, the passion and commitment with which Andrew held his beliefs was an indication of his strong background as a process worker and as a labourer, both at Alcan and BHP, and later as a research officer for the TWU. His youthful commitment and support for the causes he believed in are the mark of a politician with strength and dignity.

As the Liberal Party and National Party have benefited, and always will benefit, from the contribution and ideals of our younger members of Parliament, so too has the Australian Labor Party benefited from the contribution of Andrew Ziolkowski. Elected at the age of 27 as one of the youngest members of the New South Wales Parliament, Andrew will be remembered by his parliamentary colleagues on all sides of this House. I express the condolences of the House, as well as my personal sympathy, to his wife, Gabrielle, his son, Tristan, his parents and his family.

Mr CARR (Maroubra - Leader of the Opposition) [2.21]: All members of the Parliament today honour Andrew Ziolkowski while they grapple with the thoughts prompted by his death - the unfairness of this fate for a young man, his young wife and their seven-year-old son. We contemplate his potential, which will now never be fully known, his bravery and his optimism in the face of an unrelenting disease, and we say goodbye to one of Parramatta's finest.

In July last year I took a phone call from a then 29-year-old Andrew telling me he had cancer. The diagnosis was a very rare form of cancer of the oesophagus. He spoke without a trace of self pity. He spoke in the voice of a young man puzzled by the fate that had overtaken him. His one priority, faced with the diagnosis, was to secure the financial future of Gabrielle and Tristan. Up till then I had known him as a colleague, the big, modest, rather quiet young bloke with the unpronounceable name that the party had endorsed in Parramatta five weeks before the 1991 election. He quickly proved a conscientious team player, always co-operative, always keen to do his best and, above all, totally dedicated to the people who elected him.

Andrew was born in Forbes in 1963, the son of a Polish immigrant father. Before entering Parliament his working life represented a very traditional working-class background. He knew the struggles of ordinary workers from his time as a process worker at Alcan, Granville, and as a tradesman's assistant at the BHP steelworks, Wollongong. His time on the factory floor cemented a strong Labor consciousness. All these experiences led to his appointment as an occupational health and safety worker with the Transport Workers Union. Those who knew him then remember his devotion to the cause of workers' rights. This work, of course, was involved with the sometimes dangerous life of transport workers. A Transport Workers Union organiser had a hard and tough life. Andrew himself told the story of threats from employers. He said he carried a baseball bat in the boot of his car. Fortunately, he never had to use it; sometimes he had to refer to its presence.

While at university he was heavily involved in student politics. He was a member of Macquarie University's Students' Council and a member of the council executive. He met Gabrielle, who was chairperson of the Students' Union, through their political involvement at university. Andrew was editor of the Macquarie University student newspaper Arena, while Gabrielle continued as the president of the Students' Union. I understand that his wife got a lot of coverage in the student paper. They were both very keenly involved in debates with the Left on the university campus. He was a committed athlete, concentrating on rowing.

It is said that in 1986 members of a Nazi organisation, National Action, entered the Macquarie University campus. He believed they had no right to express their odious philosophy on campus. He organised and led a demonstration against the Nazis and he drove them off. One can only picture the fear that this giant of a young man would have inspired leading a group of student protesters chasing National Action from the campus. The Premier has referred to Andrew's maiden speech, which evinced his pride in becoming a member of Parliament and his strong sense of history. Rarely in our culture do we talk of death. It was during his illness, however, that I really got to know Andrew, and we spoke frankly about the prospects which seemed to face him.

On one occasion when I visited him in hospital he confessed to me, "Bob, I am scared". "The trouble is", I told him, "at 30 you are simply too young to understand that every year of your life is going to end up much the same as the previous year. At your age everything is full of unlimited possibility. That is the tragedy of it, Andrew". I also wanted to be very clear with him that he could be proud of getting elected to Parliament. "It was a memorable night in my life", I told him, "when you won the seat of Parramatta for us". "Mine too", he said. "Something you can always be proud of", I told him. Like all, I admired his bravery.

After his first bout of chemotherapy I visited him at home, where he twisted and turned on the bed, racked with pain, unable to be comfortable either lying or sitting. "How much of this do you face?" I asked him, and reeled from the answer, which confirmed that every fibre of his physical and spiritual courage would be stretched to the limit in the ordeal ahead. Then there were the times when his recovery looked, if not assured, at least a reasonable prospect, and it was possible to talk to him about the life he and Gabrielle could look forward to enjoying in the years ahead of them. We can but imagine the fears a young man, with these circumstances enveloping him, had for the future of his wife and young child who would be left behind. He was determined to fight because he loved them intensely.

Tristan is a student at St Patrick's, Parramatta. Before Easter he ran in a ballot for election of the school prefect for his form. He worked at it seriously. Tristan kept a tally of voters in his year and worried that he had a female opponent. There is Page 1110 a majority of girls in the class. He assured his mother and father that some of them were friends of his and he hoped he could get them to cross the gender gap. Yesterday he heard the news of the election that had been held before Easter. He heard he had been elected by a majority of six votes, he told me this afternoon, as prefect for his year. Yesterday afternoon, one hour before his father died, he was able to tell him the news. Tristan might be consoled as he grows up that there are boys and girls in the world who will never have a father as good as his was.

Mr ARMSTRONG (Lachlan - Deputy Premier, Minister for Public Works, and Minister for Ports) [2.28]: On behalf of the National Party of New South Wales I join in this condolence motion with the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. I express our deepest sympathy to the widow and family of Andrew Ziolkowski, and particularly to young Tristan. Andrew was elected to this place in 1991. Today, dwelling upon what one might say on such an occasion, I selected an extract from his maiden speech which I think sums up the man well. He said, in the second paragraph of his maiden speech:

Honourable members would understand the strong feelings of pride and awe and the sense of history that overwhelms a new member upon entering this Chamber. I shall be grateful always to the people of the electorate of Parramatta for honouring me with this opportunity to represent our most significant and historic community.

They were Andrew's own words in his maiden speech. He was a big man in stature. He was a quiet man, and I suppose my memories of Andrew in this place will be of a man who was always in this Chamber on time; he was a man who did his duty in this Chamber. He was a man who was amiable in the corridors; he was not a showy man. He was a modest man and he carried out his functions as the representative of his electorate with dignity, courtesy and kindness, and with, I would say, an extremely genuine belief in what he had achieved on behalf of himself, his party and his family. There is no doubt that he died a very young man. His wife and son should feel extremely proud that he was a contributor to the society in which he lived during his lifetime. He has left a mark on history. He has, indeed, left society much the better for his presence, even though it was only short. The real loser in the death of such a young man after such a torrid struggle is the broader community. So it is with deep sadness and regret that I once again reiterate my sympathy to his family.

Dr REFSHAUGE (Marrickville - Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [2.32]: I join other speakers in passing on condolences to Gabrielle, Tristan, and Andrew's wider family and in marking the tragedy of the passing of the youngest member of this Parliament. I first met Andrew when he was campaigning in 1991 for the electorate of Parramatta. We did not think we had much of a chance of winning the seat, but as time went on, we became a little more confident. I turned up knowing full well that I was about to meet a man who was a powerful force in the Transport Workers Union, a union that was certainly known for its strength and for standing up to people of equal strength. I thought I was rather big, but I was confronted by this rather enormous guy, and I thought: what am I going to do with this guy?

It did not matter because he knew what to do. He knew what the issues were. He knew where to take me. He knew about the issues involved in the health portfolio in which I was trying to engender interest at the time. I realised that this man was not just somebody who worked for the TWU and had done a good job there, but this was a man with a great deal of commitment and vision. For a long time he had a strong commitment, probably as a result of his early family experience. I know that in the mid-1980s - I think it was in 1986 - having graduated with a degree from Macquarie University it would have been an easy route for him to consider taking some nice North Shore job. But no, he had a bigger commitment in the union movement - a commitment to change the direction of a particular union - and he obtained a job as a tradesman's assistant with BHP.

It is not the white-collar job that one would expect from a Macquarie University graduate, but he went down to Wollongong to do a tradesman's assistant's job. He fought a good fight against colleagues of mine in the FIA. He was unsuccessful but he was a very strong fighter. I have been talking today with some of the people with whom he joined in battle and their memories certainly are of a man of enormous commitment, a man who would play it straight and a man who would not give up even if there was a minor setback here or there. He was also involved in party politics through the Young Labor movement and stood unsuccessfully in 1989 for the position of secretary of Young Labor.

Andrew had a commitment that was acknowledged by all sides as one that was rooted in deep conviction and what I would call a passion for social justice. He would put his arguments forcefully and often would write pamphlets about the issues in which he believed. He would put them honestly, logically and forcefully. He would never put them in a way that involved personal vindictiveness. That attitude was patently obvious in the major fights he had in those early days.

I have no qualms about telling the House that I have had many conversations with Andrew's opponents in Young Labor. They respected him and Gabrielle as people with strong views and convictions, but never at a personal level. They played it straight. They were respected and his colleagues in Young Labor are extremely sad that he is no longer with us. Andrew achieved one of the very rare things in the parliamentary Labor Party: as a member of Caucus, he was liked by absolutely everyone. Not one person ever had a bad word to say about Andrew. There were always positive feelings, but there was more than that.

As honourable members get more grey hairs over the years, they tend to look towards the future. Everyone in Caucus believed that Andrew was going Page 1111 to be part of the future of the Labor Party leadership. In September last year, the first day of the autumn session, he took his place in this Chamber once again. He knew that things were really bad. Many of us also knew that things were bad for him; but he had the courage to come here to represent the people of Parramatta. He believed that politics was about people and he was prepared to come here and show that he still had that commitment to the people of Parramatta. In 1991 people said that he was lucky to have won the seat of Parramatta. That is not true. We were lucky to have served with him.

Mr PHOTIOS (Ermington - Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Justice) [2.35]: I join the Premier, the Deputy Premier, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in offering my condolences and commiserations to Gabrielle, Tristan and the family. As a colleague of Andrew Ziolkowski and a neighbouring member, I enjoyed his confidence, as he did mine. We regularly shared experiences of our own political careers and discussed issues of mutual concern in a co-operative, friendly and more than cordial way.

When I first learned of Andrew's illness it is fair to say that I was as devastated as any member of this place. I was devastated not only because he was a diligent, hard-working, committed member of Parliament representing his constituents in the electorate of Parramatta; I was especially devastated because of the close family he had, as he was the youngest member of this Parliament, and because the way in which he discharged his responsibilities did him enormous credit. Undoubtedly Andrew Ziolkowski would have served in the seat of Parramatta for some years. If anything marked his political life it was the unexpected way in which he pursued his career. It was unexpected by Andrew and his right-wing colleagues in the Young Labor movement that the movement leadership would be replaced, after the long hegemony of the Left, as a result of a great deal of work and effort on his part leading up to and following his time in 1989 as secretary.

Honourable members will appreciate that when others had particular levels of ambition and expectation, Andrew's preselection for the State electorate of Parramatta was equally unexpected. He took up that endorsement and then, in equally unexpected fashion, won the seat. His passing is equally unexpected and it is certainly, for me, a matter of some moment, as his illness spanned more than a year. I want to share with honourable members the contents of two letters I received from Andrew which are some degree of testimony to the nature of the guy. He had a great sense of humour. It is probably fair to say that he was as much a loner in this place as he was at times within his own party. He was respected by everyone, but was very much a character who pursued his own agenda and career in a fairly independent fashion. Some honourable members may be surprised to learn that Andrew Ziolkowski, the son of a Polish migrant, was a constitutional monarchist. I shared that privilege with him. I should like to read the letter I received from him on 24 May upon my elevation to the Cabinet. He wrote:

Dear Minister,

Congratulations!

I would probably have wished you good luck but that might be carrying things a bit too far.

Yours fraternally,

Andrew Ziolkowski, M.P. Member for Parramatta.

God Save the Queen!

He wrote to me a little later in the year during his illness. As many will appreciate, towards December there was a period when we all had hopes for his recovery, as we had on a number of occasions this year. On 6 December, after I had regularly represented him at events in his electorate, offering his apology and explaining his absence - and I am afraid that there were many who did not - he wrote to me. The letter, which was conveyed to me by his electorate secretary by hand, stated:

Dear Michael,

I want to thank you for your timely and heartfelt best wishes during my current illness.

Gabrielle, Tristan and I have drawn great strength and comfort from this support which you have offered us.

This has been and will no doubt continue to be the most difficult period of my life.

However, with your continuing support I look forward to celebrating my return to full health with you in the near future.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Happy Christmas.

Yours fraternally,

Andrew Ziolkowski.

Until yesterday Andrew Ziolkowski was the youngest member of Parliament in New South Wales. I enjoyed that privilege from the other side of the House until Andrew's election in 1991. The letter I have read demonstrates that we can all be friends, and that a level of mateship can sustain us all even in our most difficult periods. Andrew Ziolkowski was a committed member of Parliament. His representation of his electorate did his family, his community, and particularly the people of Parramatta proud. It is regrettable for everyone, not least the people of Parramatta, that he has been stolen from us so early.

I wish Gabrielle, for whom I have the greatest respect, and young Tristan a good future. I know that many of us will do our best to make sure that it is a safe and secure one. On behalf of his friends on this side of the House, and particularly those of us who knew him well locally, I join other speakers in offering my personal commiserations to Andrew's family. I look forward to maintaining a close association with his family in the years to come.

Mr WHELAN (Ashfield) [2.41]: I join the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition in offering my condolences to the family of Andrew Ziolkowski. Page 1112 At the outset I express some surprise that Andrew had kept a secret from us all. He was not a loner; he was a very generous character. I came to know Andrew through the large Polish contingent in my electorate of Ashfield. He spoke fluent Polish and often would relate stories about the people of Ashfield who are of Polish descent. There is a large club in Ashfield called the Polish Club. The Polish community holds a Mass at 12 o'clock on Sundays and people like me who have been out on a Saturday night and are a bit late getting out of bed attend the Polish Mass. The Mass is not in Latin; it is all in Polish. You sit there and wait for someone next to you who is Polish to bob up and down so you know when to stand up, sit down and kneel.

I used to laugh and he used to laugh and sometimes he would say things to me in Polish. Gabrielle and many honourable members would understand that the toast in Polish is "na zdrowie!" We had plenty of them. To the peril of some of my colleagues, but not to my peril, one night while we were having a quick drink during the dinner break, Andrew introduced someone to vodka, then he introduced a few others to vodka, and then a few others to vodka. My electoral experience in Ashfield dealing with the Polish community has made me realise that vodka is to be avoided at all costs. However, those inexperienced members fell foul of it, and the next day there was many a sore head in Parliament House.

I came to know Andrew very well and we got on famously. He had enormous potential in this Chamber and I encouraged him as best I could to fulfil that potential. We liked each other as individuals. I think he liked me because I was the only one who could understand how to pronounce his name - "Zulekoffski". My friend and colleague the honourable member for Rockdale decided to resolve the problem by giving him the nickname Zorro, so that people who staggered over his name would call him Zorro. That is where he got his nickname.

On one occasion he had the opportunity to meet my brother Michael. We were having lunch and my brother could not get the word "Ziolkowski" out, so halfway through lunch he said, "I am going to call you Andrew Alphabet". So in the Whelan family Andrew is referred to by that lovely term of affection. He was a man of great capacity, a man whose untimely and early death makes one question why the Almighty makes these decisions.

Mr J. J. AQUILINA (Riverstone) [2.45]: I and my family would like to extend sympathy, as have other speakers, to Gabrielle, Tristan and the wider family of Andrew Ziolkowski. A number of speakers have already given a quite detailed history of Andrew's life and his involvement in the public arena. They have referred to the great pride Andrew felt about being elected to this Chamber. That is documented and will be part of the history of this place, the electorate of Parramatta and his family. What probably will not be so well documented is our knowledge of Andrew.

Andrew was a very gentle person. Another nickname of his - another term people used to describe him - was the affable giant. In many ways he was a gentle, large man - a man whose gentleness and generosity belied his physical dominance as he walked through the corridors of this Parliament House and in this Chamber. Despite his confidence he had a number of fears. When he was first elected as the member for Parliament I recall having several discussions with him about parliamentary procedure and about how one faced this Chamber. My recollection is of Andrew preparing speeches - many of us have had that experience - in anticipation of taking part in a debate, only to be denied the opportunity to take part in that debate.

He used to say, "What does one have to do to have a say in this place? You prepare a speech but no one wants to hear you". On other occasions he would be sitting in the Chamber and we would run short of a speaker. Someone would go up to him and say, "Andrew, you are next". That also added to his frustration. He did not like being drummed up to make a speech concerning something about which he knew little and which he had not researched just because he happened to be the right man in the right spot at the right time. He did all that willingly and was able to laugh about it at the same time.

Andrew was great company. He had a great sense of humour and was always able to inject a lighthearted comment into the most serious conversation. I remember his universal solution to most things - a matter which has already been referred to by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. In Andrew's former trade union days he carried a baseball bat in the boot of his car. Whenever a situation seemed like it was getting out of hand I remember him saying, "If all else fails there is always the baseball bat". That shows the humour he injected into the performance of his duties in this place.

I, as a father of young children, know what terrible torment he went through watching his wife and his son witness his agony. It was difficult for those of us who visited him in hospital or at home to watch his family rally around - his wife Gabrielle and his son Tristan in particular - and be cheerful. That once very large body of his, which was tortured and racked with pain, changed because of the terrible illness he endured. Despite his belief in fate he bore it all with enormous courage and bravery, so much so that those of us who visited him could not bear to remain for very long. I was always upset after having visited Andrew. It was a difficulty I experienced after being with him, even for a short period. What a tremendous, brave effort Gabrielle and Tristan have put up and how proud they can be of their loyalty to their husband and father, who had undergone such enormous trauma and enormous pain and then died so bravely.

Finally I compliment Andrew's staff, David Howse and Suzanne Fawcett. They have worked under enormous pressure and severe difficulties over these past months keeping that electorate office Page 1113 functioning and attending to the real concerns and needs of the people of Parramatta. Suzanne and David have worked very hard on behalf of Andrew and have served the people of the electorate of Parramatta extremely well. It is fitting on this occasion - because I know Andrew would want it to be so - for his thanks and for the thanks of all of us, particularly those of the people of Parramatta, to be accorded to David and Suzanne for the work that they did on his behalf.

Mr FACE (Charlestown) [2.51]: I join with other members of this House in paying tribute to Andrew Ziolkowski. Members come close to other members in this place in various ways. With some, the extent of the relationship may be a mere hello in the corridor - although that is more particularly with members from the opposite side of the House. I came close to Andrew through his desire to serve on the sport and recreation committee, although I think he later warmed to the other part of my portfolio, that of chief secretary. That is understandable as Andrew had had quite a distinguished rowing career and had been quite an active sportsperson.

I first met Andrew, as did most honourable members, in the period leading up to the 1991 election. On arriving at the opening of the campaign in Penrith the first people I met were Andrew and Gabrielle, and they sat nearby at that function. Andrew was amazed that I could pronounce his name. That was not because I had any great linguistic skills but rather because my father-in-law, being from the Ukraine, has ties with the Polish community. My father-in-law had advised me before I went to that dinner to celebrate the opening of the campaign of the correct pronunciation of Andrew's name. This aroused Andrew's sense of humour; he was impressed by my ability at pronunciation when other people could not correctly pronounce his name.

I told Andrew that I thought he had a big show in his electorate. He asked what I based my opinion on. My reply was that basically my father-in-law had told me that the Polish and Ukrainian people in the older age group in Church Street, Parramatta were talking favourably and kindly about the young Polish fellow who was being endorsed, giving him a big show. In the period when I was going through school, learning a trade and dealing with most people in those communities, my experience was that their view of the Labor Party had formed during their trip to Australia by ship, when they were told to keep away from Labor Party members at all costs because we were all communists.

Comments of that type mainly originated from chaplains allotted to those boats in that period. That is an historical fact. So I said to Andrew, "On that basis alone, you're in with a big show". When Andrew was elected to this House he reminded me of that story. One of my first responses was, "How are we going to deal with this name of yours?" He said, "I wouldn't worry too much about it; I have had trouble with people mispronouncing it all my life". I said, "What does Gabrielle do about it?" He replied, "She doesn't worry about. She put up with it for a while but then reverted to her maiden name of Harrison." Of course, that was Andrew's way of telling me that his name was difficult to pronounce but that Gabrielle had dealt with it in her own way, not because she wanted to be known as a modern woman but rather for convenience.

As the honourable member for Ashfield said earlier, one night in the Parliament House bar we came up with the idea of calling him Zorro. From that day onwards Zorro he has been - Zorro the gentle giant. Andrew always had a sense of humour. On one occasion when we were on a trip I mentioned to him that I had been born in Forbes. I told Andrew that I had finished my apprenticeship in Forbes, working in the Lachlan Valley Abattoirs. When I mentioned the year I had worked there Andrew said, That was before I was born". I said, "You really know how to hurt a man". Of course, in this Parliament age difference does not mean a great deal, but my relationship with Andrew gave me an opportunity to see where younger people were coming from and to become aware of their views. Andrew was of immense value to the committee he served on.

The honourable member for Rockdale will recall a trip to the North Coast when I was having a busy day, being on my mobile telephone. Zorro decided that he would pull a trick on me. He got into the back of the car and used his mobile phone to call me. His stunt caused great mirth for everyone else, with me trying to work out how this caller had found me in the car and could describe where I was driving along the highway to Brisbane. That is an example of the playful nature of this giant. My memories of those trips are great. I realise today that Andrew was a few months older than I was when I first became a member of this Parliament and therefore I can appreciate his situation. At that age you have your whole world in front of you. I certainly would have found it difficult to cope.

A short 18 months or so ago, while away on a trip for a joint committee of the shadow cabinet, Brian Vaughan and I commented what a magnificent specimen of a man Andrew was while he was running along the beach and going in and out of the surf. We were into the walking scene by this time, both being over 50. Last July my secretary telephoned Andrew to inquire why he had not come to a committee inspection of sport and recreation camps, only to find out that Andrew had become ill. I then visited Westmead Hospital, an event which will live in my mind for ever. At that time young Tristan had not been able to see his father. I vividly remember the look on this young boy's face after having not seen his father for so long. Unfortunately he had arrived at the time when a particular doctor - not in the best of bedside manners - was indicating what he could expect.

Andrew composed himself, and he maintained that composure throughout the whole of this particular trauma. Naturally I and many others offered him any help we could give, but there is not much one can Page 1114 really do in those particular circumstances. However, I said to Andrew, "Look, in your condition you will just have to settle down. Stress and trauma are the last things you need". Andrew's response was, "It will be okay. But one thing I can tell you is that I will be back in Parliament for the commencement of the September session". I said, "Don't you think that could be a little early?" He said, "No. There are a few people trying to write me off. I will be there, not only to prove them wrong but, because I represent Parramatta, I want to be seen to be still representing those people".

I am one of the members of this House who would know the torment and pain it caused him to attend at this House on that particular day. As the honourable member for Riverstone has done, I pay tribute to the staff of Andrew Ziolkowski for their dedication. My wife's family, as well as most of the Face side of the family, have been involved in the Parramatta electorate for the greater part of our lives. I understand the contribution made by Andrew and the sacrifices made by many people associated with Andrew throughout this period. I extend my condolences to the Harrison family, especially Steve and his parents, but most of all to Gabrielle and Tristan.

It is up to members of the wider Labor family to ensure that support is available during this period, on behalf of our old mate Zorro. That support will be forthcoming. On behalf of those members of the Hunter who knew Andrew so well and those on my committee, in addition to the Labor Party generally, I speak of my admiration for him and for his memory in a life that had so much promise but which was cut short. But life is not judged in all cases by its duration. Sometimes we have to look at the donation that has been made. In Andrew's case it has been a donation of considerable significance.

Mr HUMPHERSON (Davidson) [3.0]: I take this opportunity to join with other members of the House in acknowledging the loss of Andrew Ziolkowski to the House and to his electorate. As one of the younger members of this place, learning of Andrew's illness and the courage with which he fought it, and yesterday hearing of the loss of that battle, have had a marked impact on me and, I am sure, on other honourable members of this House. That someone should leave us at such a young age emphasises the fragility of life.

Many honourable members come to represent electorates in this place intent on making a contribution. Andrew can take satisfaction from the fact that he made an extremely good contribution for his electorate. It was simply fate that denied him the opportunity of making a much greater contribution over many more years. The people of Parramatta can consider themselves to have been well served by Andrew Ziolkowski. The courage he has shown over the past months deserves acknowledgment. I cannot say that I knew Andrew very well, but I regarded him - as many members on this side of the House did - as a parliamentary colleague, someone to whom I had spoken on a number of occasions and with whom I had enjoyed a drink. He was a pleasant bloke, friendly and jovial. Outside the House it was easy to put aside the arbitrary lines of politics that sometimes divide members.

Andrew was a personable gentleman. I recall the vigorous and passionate way in which he argued his views in several debates in this Chamber. I recall one relating to the republican versus monarchy issue - not one in which he actually said, "God Save the Queen", but one in which he voiced his strong views about his vision for Australia in the next century. I am sure he was representing the views of many young Australians as we move towards the next century. It is sad to think that he will not witness the changes that may occur in the remainder of the decade and thereafter. I express my condolences to his young family - his wife and son - and other relatives. In his maiden speech he said how proud he was to be a member of this House representing Parramatta. His family should be equally proud of the courage he showed and the contribution he made.

Mr LANGTON (Kogarah) [3.3]: Andrew Ziolkowski was the archetypal local member: he was hard working, accessible and, most important, he knew the local issues. I am sure members of the Opposition frontbenches will attest to the fact that he was relentless in the pursuit of the issues that he regarded as important to Parramatta. I can attest to his deep concern about transport issues affecting Parramatta. He was relentless in pursuing with me issues related to rail, bus, road and ferry transport. It would have been one of his great regrets that he was not present to witness the return of the ferry service to Parramatta. Andrew joined the transport caucus committee after being elected as a member of this House in 1991. As the honourable member for Charlestown said, when members work closely together on that type of committee they get to know blokes pretty well. I had many extraordinarily enjoyable times with Andrew and came to know him well.

I recall an occasion when we went to investigate a problem, of which the honourable member for Coffs Harbour will be aware, in respect of the Dorrigo rail. Andrew had a radical solution for that problem, but I did not accept his advice. Sustaining Andrew over all of this time was what I believe to be one of the most magnificently developed dry senses of humour I have ever known in a bloke. He was always a pleasure to be with, a man who did contribute and who had a great deal more to contribute. All honourable members and the wider community will be much the worse for his departure. I extend my deepest sympathies to Gabrielle, Tristan and the wider family.

Ms ALLAN (Blacktown) [3.5]: As a number of honourable members have said, and as we all know, Andrew Ziolkowski had a truncated career in the Parliament. Despite the brevity of his career honourable members were able to learn a number of things about him. It was obvious that he was a conscientious member of Parliament, as has been Page 1115 acknowledged by members on both sides of the House. They have recognised also that he was a congenial companion. They are aware that he was a person of substance, both physically - as was alluded to - and spiritually. During our lives Andrew and I shared a number of things. Despite the lack of ethnicity on my part we shared similar upbringings in a similar physical environment. We have shared also party activism.

I first met Andrew many years ago when he worked for John Brown, who was then the Federal member for Parramatta. Andrew had an unenviable task. He had to go along to the local Labor Party branch meetings and be John Brown; he had to attempt to persuade rank-and-file members in the Parramatta district that John Brown was interested in their concerns. Since that time I always admired Andrew's courage. Significantly, Andrew Ziolkowski and I have shared electorates. Until yesterday Andrew represented many constituents whom I had represented from 1988 onwards, especially in Wentworthville, Northmead and Toongabbie. What was Andrew Ziolkowski? I did not spend much time with him around the pool table or the bar, but I did see him in several other lights, and they are the things I seek to share with honourable members.

I saw Andrew as a member with real community responsibility. I saw him in the context of attending football matches at Parramatta and being at the bar of the Wentworthville Leagues Club; I saw him at housing tenants meetings on the Wentworthville housing estate; I saw him at the annual general meeting of the Toongabbie Community Services Association; I saw him at presentations at the Pendle Hill Soccer Club; I saw him at functions in the Parramatta central business district and shared a drink with him and the local journos. It was John Blair from the Parramatta Advertiser who coined the expression, "The big man with the unpronounceable name", to which my Leader has referred. I saw Andrew on numerous other occasions during the years when he was the active member for Parramatta. It was not only I who saw Andrew in those roles; the community also has seen him play an admirable role in their lives.

Importantly I regarded Andrew as a family man. I like to think of him as a modern man. One honourable member suggested that Gabrielle was not a modern woman. Gabrielle Harrison is a modern woman and Andrew was a modern man. I admire the partnership that existed between Gabrielle and Andrew in their political lives in the Parramatta district. One must include Tristan in that partnership. My son Edward and Andrew and Gabrielle's son, Tristan, while their parents shared the podium, on a number of occasions had to share what little crumbs there were of entertainment for young children at many of the functions we attended in our roles as members of Parliament. I admire the fact that Andrew had no hesitation whatsoever in taking Tristan to many of those functions.

As with other honourable members who have already spoken I acknowledge the work of David and Suzanne in the office. What sort of man was Andrew that he could inspire that loyalty from those people? He has inspired tremendous loyalty, hard work, dedication and commitment from those people over the past eight to nine months. Of course, while we are acknowledging Andrew the father, we should also acknowledge him as a son because he was a very young man and his parents are devastated by their loss.

I believe Andrew's death raises many questions. Some are quite humorous, such as how many other new age male politicians remain in this Chamber now that Andrew has passed away? I do not believe there are too many, and I admire Andrew's track record in that regard. Of course, the obvious question is why someone has to die as young as 30? I am not equipped to answer that question. Another question arises as to whether we are spending enough money on cancer research. That will be something we will continue to ask ourselves every time we think of 30-year-old people dying of that disease.

I wish to raise one further question, that is, is the sudden death of a politician more acceptable than a longer illness or a lingering death, which was the case with Andrew? Despite the velvet words of the honourable member for Ermington, I actually think that a lingering death for someone such as Andrew has been very destructive politically within the community. For a long time it has caused political speculation in the Parliament and in the community. I do not think that is fair. I can remember some of the speeches made in this Chamber when a former member for Vaucluse died suddenly. Very passionate speeches were made by members of the coalition about that death. It was almost as if that were more acceptable than the sort of illness that gripped Andrew over the past 12 months.

Yesterday we had a stupid performance from the Deputy Premier, and I object strongly to that. The honourable member for Ermington has alluded to the fact that rivalry and competition sometimes arise within a political party when someone of Andrew's age - someone in the political arena - disappears very slowly. I think that is unfortunate and it raises an important question. If an untimely incident such as this ever recurs and grips any member in this Chamber, I hope we can try to be better politicians and try to understand that some areas are off-limits. The conjecture that occurred in this Chamber and in the community is not appropriate.

Mr AMERY (Mount Druitt) [3.12]: I would like to join with all honourable members on both sides of the House in passing on my condolences and deepest sympathy to Gabrielle, Tristan and the family. Also, it is a reflection on Andrew Ziolkowski that so many members on both sides of the House have spoken highly of him. When one listens to debates such as these one learns a lot about people. I did not know Andrew for that long, just a few years, and a few Page 1116 months before the 1991 election. I did not know until today that he was such a factional warrior for the Right. In recent weeks the Labor Party could have used his talents.

We could not pronounce his name very well but we did pick up his nickname and became friends. He was not so much a loner; he made many friends. Along with Peter Anderson, Brian Langton, George Thompson and a few others, we used to have an occasional singalong late at night. Pam Allan said that Andrew was a modern man. I think it was on one of those occasions that she actually reminded us how modern he was. We used to sing a few songs such as "Walk on By" or "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", and Andrew would stand there, not saying a word. I would often say to him, "Come on, Andrew, get along with it". He said, "I have never heard that song before in my life". I said, "Cut it out. It only came out in 1962", and he said, "I wasn't born then". That is one of the sad ironies; he liked to remind us of his youth, we liked to stir him about it and he would give us the same in return.

It has been said that he was a silent man. This morning I made some notes from the Parliamentary Library and found that he may have been silent in his personality but in the short time that he was a member of Parliament he certainly made his contributions in this House. It has been mentioned that he had a few of his speeches in the bottom drawer, as it has become known around this place when members do not get the jump. Andrew made his maiden speech on 17 September 1991 on the Industrial Relations Bill and only a week later, on 24 September and again on 25 September, he spoke in the Committee stage of that bill. That demonstrated his expertise gained through his involvement with the Transport Workers Union. Two weeks later, on 31 October 1991, he spoke again in the Budget Estimates, and on 13 November he asked a question without notice addressed to Mr Greiner relating to the Lennox Bridge demolition that he fought so vigorously in his electorate.

On 3 December 1991 he again asked Mr Greiner a question without notice relating to the Eastern Creek Raceway motor cycle grand prix. In 1992 he made a private member's statement relating to traffic problems at Westmead, referred to earlier by the honourable member for Kogarah. On 7 April 1992 he made a contribution on the Casino Control Bill and on 29 April 1992 he spoke on the State Roads (Toll Works) Amendment Bill. Parramatta constituents would know that Andrew was a strong fighter against the toll on the M4. On 7 May 1992 he spoke on the Parking Space Levy Bill and on 21 October 1992 he spoke in the estimates committee on the issue of tourism.

On 29 October 1992 Andrew made another private member's statement about the F4 freeway toll. On 19 November 1992 he spoke on the Tamworth Tourist Information Centre Bill. On 22 April 1993 he made a contribution on the Oaths and Crown References Bill, putting his views on the monarchy, and he again spoke to that bill on 13 May 1993. On 18 May 1993, according to the library records, during private members' statements he made his last speech in this House on traffic problems in Westmead and Northmead. Though the record might sound a little clinical, it shows that in that time Andrew was not merely a silent member but a member who made his contributions to the House.

As with many members of the Labor Party I visited Andrew at Westmead Hospital. I asked him how he was going and he said, "Well, pretty tough, mate". One always feels clumsy when asking questions on occasions such as that. He said, "I have to make this fight because Tristan deserves to have a father for as long as he can and Gabrielle gives me such strength". So that was a very sad occasion. He spoke kindly about the strength that Bob Carr had given him in his various visits to the hospital and to his electorate.

On behalf of everyone here and all those members who will not have an opportunity to speak - earlier some members said that they would love to be able to say something but would not be able to get the words out - I wish to say how much we will dearly miss him and that we will always be thinking of him.

Mr DAVOREN (Lakemba) [3.20]: I support the condolence motion which has already been spoken to by many members on both sides of this Parliament. I grew to know Andrew as a friend and colleague. On many occasions we sat and talked. Though this is a sad occasion, I intend to tell a few anecdotes because I am sure Andrew would have liked it. Andrew said that one of the good things that communism did for Poland was that it closed down all the little distilleries and built one decent State distillery that produced the best vodka in the world. Andrew did indeed, as the honourable member for Ashfield said, introduce us to it. As my friend the honourable member for Mount Druitt said, because of his youth Andrew was not up with all those things that most other members are familiar with because they have lived through them. He used to sit and talk with us to get firsthand experience of what had occurred but about which he had only read. We trained him to know that 11 November was an interesting and important day - Armistice Day. Of course, it is also the date of an historic event that occurred in Canberra some years ago and, just as important, it is the date of Ned Kelly's hanging. Andrew was well aware of that.

Andrew was proud that he had graduated as a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University. On many occasions he used to say, "That's not bad for a big dumb Polak. It just shows that Poles really do have some brains". However, he did speak of the difficulties he had when left-wing teachers discovered he was a very active member of the right-wing. He said he then had great trouble in his examinations. Mr Speaker, you will recall our discussion last evening when we spoke of the conversation with Andrew when he was trying to get his new office refurbished. It was indicated it would be done on an Page 1117 alphabetical basis. His face fell considerably until you, Mr Speaker, in your graciousness, pointed out that, of course, that would be on a first name basis. Andrew was extremely pleased about that.

Andrew used to speak at great length about his work with the Transport Workers Union. We used to point out to him that he was not an organiser for the TWU because he had a B.A. from Macquarie University but because he was six foot four and 18 stone. However, I suggest that, while those attributes would have helped, his educational capabilities would also have considerably assisted him in all he did with the union and in his life. We will miss Andrew. He was a great fellow. We are all pleased to say he was a friend. I extend condolences to all those near and dear to Andrew. I close by saying: Vale Andrew Ziolkowski.

Mrs COHEN (Badgerys Creek - Chief Secretary, and Minister for Administrative Services) [3.23]: I extend my deepest sympathy to Andrew's family, to Gabrielle and Tristan, and his parents. Though I was not a close friend, Andrew was a man I came to respect. As a member representing western Sydney I knew Andrew through meeting him at several functions and having fairly long discussions. Two things he held dear were in fact his passions. His first passion, I would hazard to guess, was his family, of whom he spoke with great love and pride. His second passion was his seat in Parramatta and the honour he expressed at the people of Parramatta electing him to that seat and the duty he felt towards those people. He had a great sense of pride in Parramatta. Like all of those who represent electorates in western Sydney, he had great faith in the future of that area. I would like to extend my very deepest sympathy to his family. As I said, he was a man I came to respect.

Mr KNIGHT (Campbelltown) [3.24]: This is a profoundly sad occasion. When I first came into this Parliament I was around the same age as Andrew was when he was first elected. In those days condolence motions were usually reserved for men 40 or 50 years older than us who had long since left the Parliament. For a young member those occasions seemed a little artificial, even a little surreal. I did not conceive then and I find great difficulty today accepting that we are expressing condolences for a young man who was on the threshold of his career.

Shortly before his crucifixion Jesus Christ told his followers not to mourn him because he was going to a far better place. While I am certain Andrew has gone to a far better place than the New South Wales Parliament, I find it impossible not to mourn him. Unlike the condolence motions for old retired men whose parliamentary careers lay behind them, we are here today mourning a colleague whose main career triumphs should have lain ahead of him. More importantly, we are mourning the loss of a human being of great warmth, great talent and great decency. Although I enjoyed a good relationship with Andrew, I do not profess to be his closest parliamentary friend; that honour falls to others. But it is a mark of how large his impact was on his colleagues and how tragic we regard his passing that I feel compelled for the first time ever to speak to a condolence motion.

Those of us who were able, indeed privileged, to visit Andrew in hospital and to speak to him or to his wife Gabrielle during his struggle with cancer were humbled by his courage and his decency. Andrew fought the disease more tenaciously than anyone could have fought a political battle, but in the end the odds were stacked against him. His courage was matched only by that of his wife and his son, who gave him unconditional love and support and who endured not only his suffering but the many partial recoveries in Andrew's health which gave hopes of full recovery that were sadly dashed by many relapses. The people of Parramatta have lost an excellent representative, certainly the finest I have known them to have of either party. The Labor Party has lost a man who I have no doubt would have been a long-term member for Parramatta, would have inevitably been a Minister and perhaps even one day Premier.

We have all lost a good friend and colleague. But our loss pales into insignificance beside that of his family. To his whole extended family, including his staff - for they were family too - but especially to Gabrielle and to Tristan I add my expression of sympathy to those of my colleagues. During Andrew's leave of absence from the Parliament I often sat in his place in the Chamber. It is a place with more space, something that Andrew and I both shared a physical need for. When I last spoke to him a few weeks ago Andrew seemed on the verge of a sustained recovery. He warned me to be ready to move out of his seat. Unfortunately, he is not physically here today to occupy it. But his presence so fills the Chamber that I do not believe it is appropriate for me to return to it on this occasion.

Mr MORRIS (Blue Mountains) [3.28]: I rise with sadness about Andrew's death. Though I did not know Andrew very well, I have known his sister and brother-in-law, Mr and Mrs Gilchrist, for many years. They are very good neighbours of ours. I was deeply saddened when I learned of the passing of Andrew. However, I was aware that he had been ill for some time. My thoughts are with his family. It is with regret that we mourn the passing of Andrew. I offer to Mr and Mrs Gilchrist and other members of Andrew's family the deepest sympathy of the Morris family, and, in particular of the people of Blackheath and the Blue Mountains. My mother died from cancer not so very long ago and my family has made a large contribution to cancer research. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andrew's family today.

Mr McMANUS (Bulli) [3.30]: Today I speak with great sadness about the passing of a good mate. Yesterday morning I left Wollongong filled with excitement, because some weeks before the word was filtering through that Andrew would join us in the caucus. When I arrived here yesterday rumours were circulating through the House, and I quickly learned that it was not to be so. As I left Wollongong this morning I was confronted by the frightening reality Page 1118 that Andrew Ziolkowski was only some years older than my son. Yet this young man had made it through the rigours of the Australian Labor Party, had been preselected and had made for himself a rightful place in the New South Wales Parliament - a great feat indeed! Tristan appeared on one of my first election pamphlets photographed outside the Bulli police station, but I met Andrew, Gabrielle and Tristan in 1986 when they were members of the Woonona-Bulli Branch of the Labor Party. That was the time of the phenomenal fight against the left-wing unions in Wollongong. On the day I met Andrew I perceived that he had a big future and, indeed, that was to be so.

I pass on to Gabrielle and Andrew's family the deepest sympathy of the members of the Woonona-Bulli branch of the Australian Labor Party and of the members of all other branches on the South Coast. I refer particularly to the president of the branch, Joe Scimone, who is most upset about the passing of Andrew, as are members of this House who represent other electorates in the Illawarra region and who all knew him so well. When Andrew first became a member of this Parliament, he became interested in another faction. He was very proud of being in the right-wing faction of the party, but he also was in a subfaction, a very small but important and powerful group within the New South Wales Parliament - the pot black faction run by the chairman, our colleague the honourable member for Bathurst.

During the short period he was here Andrew worked his way from the B grade snooker table right through to the A grade table. It was with some pride that just before he became ill he beat me and he was working on Mick Clough. I state with some pride that I knew Andrew Ziolkowski. I am saddened that we have lost him at such a young age, because New South Wales has lost a young man of great talent. If the type of people running for the New South Wales Parliament are like Andrew Ziolkowski, then New South Wales is in great hands. Dot, my family and others who loved him extend our commiserations to Andrew's family.

Mr HARRISON (Kiama) [3.34]: I join other honourable members from both sides of the House in extending sympathy and condolences to the family of my friend and colleague Andrew Ziolkowski. I did not know Andrew for a great length of time. I first met him after he was elected to Parliament, but I had heard about his factional battles over a period of years. In the course of those factional battles he and his wife visited the Illawarra region from time to time. His wife's maiden name was Harrison, and his factional opponents very quickly worked out that his wife must be my daughter. Eventually that rumour was laid to rest, but I would have been proud to have had him as a son-in-law and I would be proud to have his wife as my daughter. They are two of the finest people one could ever hope to meet.

It had been mentioned that Andrew had a superb sense of humour, a great social conscience, and a deep concern about injustice of any sort. Sometimes he used to say jokingly that he suffered injustice throughout his life because of his surname. He was not concerned about the name but he claimed to have suffered because it started with the letter "Z". He said that if he ever got the chance he would one day introduce a bill into this House outlawing alphabetical discrimination. He said that throughout his life he had always been shifted to the end of the queue and that even when he received presentations or school awards, everyone had left the building by the time he received his award. He used to make a great joke of that, and that demonstrated his great sense of humour.

I am proud to have known him during the time that he was a member of this Parliament. I am extremely sad that a man with such a big future in front of him has been struck down by disease - a terrible thing to happen to anyone. I join all honourable members from both sides of this House in extending a prayer that his eternal soul will find peace in the company of Our Lord Jesus Christ and in the care of Our Father. I extend to his family the wish that they will eventually find the blessing that comes with peace of mind. They have suffered a great tragedy and loss in their lives, but perhaps they will find some solace in the fact that their husband and father was so much respected and appreciated by people he came in contact with, regardless of their political leanings. If an epitaph is ever written for Andrew, I suggest it should be similar to the epitaph that was spoken by Mark Antony in the Shakespeare play "Julius Caesar". Antony said that Caesar's life was gentle, and the elements mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, "This was a man!". We all respected Andrew and we all hope that his eternal soul will find peace.

Mr WINDSOR (Tamworth) [3.38]: I join other members of the House in extending personal sympathy to Andrew's wife and son. I did not know Andrew Ziolkowski as well as some other members of the House, but when I first came to Parliament he was the first to shake hands with me. As most honourable members would know, it was a big hand. Many of us have memories of people we have met in this place. The circumstances of my becoming a member of this House in 1991 were fairly nerve-wracking, and I will always remember attending a briefing day for new members of Parliament. I think the briefing was held in room 814-815 and I arrived a little early. I walked in and there were a number of name tags on desks, with three members to a desk.

I looked at the name tags and Windsor was in the middle of the two other names. One was Ziolkowski and the other was Chikarovski, and I began to wonder what I had let myself in for. It was about six months before I was able to pronounce either of those names. On the day of the briefing I was very nervous, and this lumbering giant came in the door. This big hand came out, and the lumbering giant said, "Hi, I am Andrew Ziolkowski, the member for Parramatta", and I said, "Hi, Andrew". A little while ago I was amused to hear the honourable member for Ashfield talking about Andrew speaking Polish to him. I think others have been speaking some other languages too of late, but Andrew was a friend whom I came to know.

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As I said I did not know him as well as some others in the House, but he was very much involved in the historic legislation mentioned by the member for Mount Druitt. That legislation was in fact a private member's bill that passed through this House. The bill was designed to free up a public reserve in Tamworth. Andrew was a member of the select committee that was appointed to examine the bill. He came to Tamworth with other members of the committee and he spoke on the bill in this House. That legislation was the first private member's bill of that nature to pass through the lower House of this Parliament since 1910. So even though he was here for only a short time, he was involved in an historic piece of legislation. On behalf of the mayor and the people of Tamworth I thank him for the support he gave me as the member for Tamworth in relation to that matter. It is important that the House recognises that support.

I should like to say something to Andrew's son on a personal level. I lost my father when I was eight years old, a year older than Tristan is. Tristan, you must remember what these people are saying today, because one of the great tragedies of losing a father when you are young is that you tend to forget about the important things of your life with him. Tristan, remember your father. He was a caring individual, a man of great physical strength and commitment. Above all, I will remember him as a politician because he was not vindictive. He was a man who represented his electorate, and he was a man of character. This Parliament needs more members of the same character as your father. I extend to you, Tristan, to your mother and to your family our deepest sympathy.

Mr CRITTENDEN (Wyong) [3.41]: Andrew Ziolkowski was elected on the same day as I was. Of all the newcomers elected on 25 May 1991 Andrew had by far the best people skills. He was the person most likely to succeed in terms of what is usually defined as success in politics. Andrew appealed to all the varied personalities in this place who had the good fortune to share an interest with him. Combined with the warmth and charm which attracted people to him, however, was an ability to analyse the actions and motives of people and to understand the significance of events taking place around him. If Andrew's analysis led him to conclusions which required hard decisions, he was prepared to make them. He set an example for us all, an example which, if practised by more people on both sides of this House and by the community as a whole, would help to make Australia a better place.

Though he was five years my junior, when we had the occasional tonic after a sitting of the House had concluded, I sometimes felt that on the one hand I was consulting an oracle and, on the other, I was sharing a joke with a knockabout mate. Though Andrew held the marginal seat of Parramatta, the chances of him being only a oncer or, indeed, a twicer were very slim because he was a hard-working and dedicated local member. Only four months after the 1991 election Andrew recommenced his door-knocking campaign in the Parramatta electorate to listen to the concerns of his constituents. He knew that in politics consistency and application over time were the key elements.

Those who practise in politics are generally very good talkers. Andrew set himself apart by moulding himself into a very good listener. As other speakers have indicated, Andrew showed great courage and determination in battling the insidious disease of cancer which afflicted him. He waged the war until the very end. He had a vision of what politics should be, not what they are. He had a vision of freedom, for the rights and essential dignity of every human being. That vision involved far more than sitting in some ivory tower writing books or preaching to the converted; it was a vision based on working to involve as many people as possible in the political process. He did not walk around spouting "in" phrases such as "empowering people"; he put them into practice.

He clearly focused on what was important, the principles that had to be upheld at all costs, and the things that were not negotiable in his life. In many respects Andrew's political career was concertinaed. I do not know how many times he made a wisecrack to me that although it took me five years of organising to achieve a preselection result, it took him only five weeks to achieve the same thing. The reality is he rolled the then Australian Prime Minister, who was canvassing for a candidate other than Andrew in that preselection ballot.

Above all else, Andrew loved people, especially his wife, Gabrielle, and his son, Tristan. Andrew spent less time in this place than most who come here. He will only take up a small place in the official history of this place. No parks, bridges or buildings will be named after him. If some of us adopted the approach to life and politics that marked Andrew's life, that would be a far more valuable memorial than any official history would ever be.

Mr NAGLE (Auburn) [3.45]: My wife, Karen, and I extend our sympathy to Gabrielle, Tristan, Andrew's family and his staff, and our condolences to Steve and Gabrielle on the loss of their grandparents. The writer Jeremy Taylor once said that friendship is the greatest bond in the world. In politics friendships are difficult to make, but Andrew Ziolkowski was my close friend and I was his confidant. The friendship that Andrew - and we all have problems pronouncing his surname - extended to me and to many others was reflected in the noblest and heartiest counsel that his good heart and mind could deliver. He was the true gentle giant. It can be said about Andrew that one of the greatest virtues of this good man was his ability to do those things which are common to all of us in a most perfect manner. His constant fidelity in small things was another of his virtues. He journeyed through life touching upon our souls, our spirits and Page 1120 our minds, and we are all a little better for knowing him. Today, Mr Ted Perry, a member of a Parramatta community group called IRATE, telephoned me. He was upset about Andrew's death, and he said:

I haunted Andrew's office over the Fahey Government's failure on roads in western Sydney. People would go into Andrew's office sad or upset and come out happy and come to me and say they had hope. Andrew would go out and fight for these people.

Today Andrew is in a far, far better place. The last words in Charles Dickens' novel, "A Tale of Two Cities", put it squarely:

. . . it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.

Last year I received a telephone call from Andrew. He asked me if I would be in the House that day and I said, "Yes". Later he arrived at my office, while I was having a cup of tea. He told me he had about six months to live. He had been diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer that was common to elderly people in Iceland. I could not believe it, but the reality of what he said to me last year came home to me last night when I was told he had just died. His long battle with cancer and his endurance of pain had ended, thank God.

Andrew won a seat that many in the Labor Party thought was unwinnable, and he would have retained it for many years to come. He had so much to offer the people of New South Wales and so little time in which to give it. I remember when he moved an amendment to the Industrial Relations Bill which was designed to prevent couriers being exploited. He extracted from the then Minister, now the Premier, an assurance that if couriers were exploited the legislation would be amended. The couriers were exploited and recently the new Minister for Industrial Relations amended the Act to stop this exploitation. I have introduced a new bill, the object of which is to save 15,000 families from financial disintegration. That bill was first proposed by Andrew. Together we worked out how the bill should be drafted. When Andrew became ill I was given the carriage of the matter.

Andrew wanted people to be given a fair go. His father migrated from Poland after World War II. He had seen and experienced the horrors of war and occupation, and had instilled in his son a desire to rectify injustices and to have right done for all people, irrespective of their wealth or their lack of it, their religious beliefs or political philosophies. Those views were reinforced by his mother. Andrew had great potential as a politician and he has been taken from us. The people of New South Wales are a little poorer for his untimely death. Today we speak of a dear and loving friend who has gone to meet other old friends. Many a good discussion will take place about the politics of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Andrew and I had many talks about the environment. He once described the forests of the Australian bush as being part of the lungs of the planet and said that if we kept destroying the forests we would be destroying our lungs as a smoker destroys his or her lungs. Andrew was in a constant state of pain, but bore it with courage and dignity. His courage made me feel inadequate. He had willpower. His goal was to be here yesterday; he wanted to get to Parliament. Alas, it was not to happen.

Andrew was always joyful; he always had a smile on his face. He expressed admiration for people who were doing things for the community. My father used to say, "Each man must serve his generation and do his part to render the next generation more capable and effective". I hope Andrew will have that effect on the next generation of politicians. To live in the hearts of those left behind is not to die. Andrew lives on in our hearts because he has touched our lives. His son Tristan, his wife Gabrielle, his friends and those in the Australian Labor Party that he touched will remember. Andrew, you live in our hearts. Shelley once wrote - and this is so applicable to Andrew:

God never loved in so sweet a way before, til he alone who can such blessings send, and when his love with new expression find, he brought thee to me and he said "Behold a friend".

A friend is what Andrew was. Goodbye, true and faithful friend.

Mr GAUDRY (Newcastle) [3.51]: I pay my condolences to the family of Andrew Ziolkowski - to his wife, his son and his parents. Like the honourable member for Tamworth and the honourable member for Wyong, I entered the Parliament with Andrew in 1991. I was old enough to be his father, young enough to be his friend and lucky enough to have the office next to his in Parliament House. That gave me and my colleagues an opportunity, late in the evening when Parliament was still sitting, to talk with Andrew, recognise his strength and become aware of his commitment to and conviction concerning the needs of working people and the necessity for someone to be an advocate on their behalf. My colleagues have already said that Andrew had the academic background and practical workplace experience that made him an effective advocate for ordinary working people.

Andrew was also a proud son and father. He related to me the difficulties his family had faced and the hard work of his parents to ensure that he had a chance. He had great respect for them because of that. I want his parents to know that he said in discussions with me that he had great pride in his achievements and he recognised the role of his parents in that. Andrew was also a loving husband and father. We often sat and talked about our families. I would speak of the difficulties I faced because my wife was suffering from cancer. Andrew would have had to show tremendous strength during his long battle. I am sure his close family would have given him enormous support. In paying my respects to Page 1121 Andrew and his family, I say, as my colleagues have said, that he was a gentle man but, when necessary, Andrew was a hard man because of the policies in which he believed. He was tremendously committed, yet he could also enjoy himself.

Like other honourable members, I had the great pleasure of going on committee trips with Andrew. I remember clearly on trips to Newcastle that Andrew was the only person who could not be fitted out with protective clothing by BHP or Alcan. He was too big for the protective clothing that was issued. However, he cut a fine figure in too small an outfit. It was obvious to me that Andrew had empathy with and an understanding of workers at both of the factories we visited. He understood their needs and communicated with them effectively. This Parliament has lost a great talent. A great family man, a great representative for the people of Parramatta and an effective parliamentarian for the people of New South Wales has been lost. We pay tribute to him today.

Mr HUNTER (Lake Macquarie) [3.55]: I pay tribute to Andrew Ziolkowski and extend condolences to Gabrielle, Tristan and the other members of Andrew's family. This is a very sad day for me. This is the first time I have encountered such a situation - the death of a colleague - and this is the first time I have spoken in debate on a condolence motion. I did not know Andrew before I entered Parliament. Prior to the 1991 election I had seen him at a number of Labor Party functions, but it was not until we were both elected to Parliament in 1991 that we met and became close friends. I am proud to say that we were both in the class of 1991. Andrew and I quickly became friends after our election to Parliament. We shared many meals in the dining room. We shared many drinks and late nights and, when Parliament had finished, we shared a bottle of wine either in his office or in mine. On many occasions we discussed the issues that affected his electorate of Parramatta in western Sydney and my electorate of Lake Macquarie in the Hunter region. We talked about the differences in those two electorates.

Andrew cared about the people of his electorate of Parramatta. He worked hard to represent them in this House. Andrew sat next to me on the backbench in this Chamber. I am sure the honourable member for Rockdale will agree with me when I say that we enjoyed many question times. Only occasionally did we interject when Ministers were answering questions. I remember Andrew interjecting on one occasion when the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads was answering a question. The Minister had a habit of announcing to the Parliament a new ferry service to Parramatta. On every occasion Andrew would interject, "Not again! That is the second time", or "Not again! That is the sixth time". Last year, when Andrew was away ill, the Minister announced to the House during question time that a RiverCat service was going to run to Parramatta. Mr Speaker, I apologise, but I could not control myself and I had to interject, "Not again! That is the tenth time". I am sure Andrew would have appreciated that.

Last September Andrew struggled into Parliament House to show that he was still representing his electorate of Parramatta. He came in to prove to himself and to all of us that he was a fighter. That is something his friends knew. He fought his illness to the very end. He never gave up hope that he could return to Parliament and again take his seat on the backbench with me, the honourable member for Rockdale and his other ALP colleagues. He was a good man; he was a good workmate; and he was a good friend. He will be sadly missed by us all. I again extend my condolences to his wife and family. They can for ever be proud of Andrew's contribution to the community that he represented and his contribution to the good government of New South Wales and Australia.

Mr THOMPSON (Rockdale) [3.59]: Andrew Ziolkowski was a great friend to his Labor colleagues and he was respected by all honourable members. My association with him was all too brief, having first met him soon after our election to Parliament in the 1991 general election. Sometimes we would have discussions about a few things. On occasions we would talk about how, in some respects, we shared similar backgrounds. We were both proud products of the Marist Brothers; we both had a healthy disregard for lawyers; and we both held proper jobs before we became trade union officials. We made our maiden speeches on the same day; I went first and Andrew followed immediately after. With all those similarities, I could never convert him to country music.

Andrew was a man who was big in stature and big in generosity. He had a great sense of humour. Andrew loved his work on behalf of the people of Parramatta and had an assured future in politics. He had an abiding sense of social justice. The last eight or nine months of Andrew's life were, at the same time, extremely difficult but also inspirational. Throughout his illness Andrew maintained his sense of humour, exhibited great fortitude and courage and maintained his faith. In the short time I knew him I developed a great respect for the man. He was a wonderful human being who had a great love for his family. On behalf of my family I extend to Gabrielle and Tristan our deepest sympathy.

Mr CLOUGH (Bathurst) [4.1]: On behalf of my wife Doreen, myself, and my parliamentary colleagues who I feel are emotionally incapable of adding to the debate today, I extend sincere sympathy to the family of Andrew Ziolkowski. I heard the reference made by the honourable member for Bulli to the Labor Party having three factions in this House - the Right, the Left, and the all powerful pot black faction. On that basis I sent a couple of facsimile messages to Andrew during his illness. Andrew was a young man I admired. He was the youngest member in the House; I am the oldest.

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Andrew was a man with a tremendous sense of humour but above all he wanted to come back to this House this week and show that lot on the snooker table that he was capable of earning the A grade status that we recently bestowed on him. I sent Andrew a fax some three or four weeks ago when his photograph appeared in one of the Sunday newspapers. In it I said to him, "Your photograph looked terrific, but get yourself your own hairstyle, don't take mine". He had had yet another treatment with chemotherapy and had suffered the loss of his hair. I inquired of his staff, "I trust that he was not offended by the fax I sent him". They said, "No. He laughed".

Members and officers of the House standing in their places,

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at 4.5 p.m.