Mr DEAN (Windermere) - Mr President, I also welcome the two new members into the House and I look forward to working with them both in the future, and I congratulate the honourable member on his inaugural speech.

I endorse the comments of the previous speakers. Jim Bacon was a great premier with an enormous vision and appetite to improve the lot of all Tasmanians, and I think that that is where he stood out from a lot of other leaders in that he was interested in the whole of Tasmania and all its people - a very important matter. We know that to be a good leader there is also a need to take calculated risks and Jim Bacon was quite prepared to do that for the benefit of Tasmania, to make Tasmania a better place. The best examples that I could come up with, Mr President, in this regard were the Spirits, which have previously been referred to, and to some extent York Park, which was a bit of a gamble when one looks at it, and the money that was put into it by this Government. Jim Bacon was prepared to stand up and stand up in adversity in some regards against a number of people who did not want to see that venture proceed in the way that it did, but he stood behind it nevertheless. He was a strong supporter of that venture. As I said, he took those risks and that is the mark, in my view, of a great leader at the end of the day.

Jim Bacon was a very personable premier. I just want to refer to a couple of personal matters that involved myself with the Premier. He never put himself on a pedestal and that also, to me, was a significant factor. When I was successfully elected as an independent member to Parliament, Mr President, Jim Bacon, during the handing down of the Budget by the Government, took the time in the House to cross the Floor to where I was seated to congratulate me on my success in winning the seat of Windermere. At that same time not only did he congratulate me but he also offered his assistance to me saying that if I needed the assistance of his office, please approach him. He also offered any advice that he could give me. I thought that was an extremely great thing for the Premier of this State to do in those circumstances. I have admired the man and I think it is those sorts of things that make one admire a person.

There was another occasion when I was present at a function where the Premier was and he had this great ability to notice things that were occurring around him. He had a great ability to notice who was present. I was seldom at a function where the Premier, unlike some other people, would not acknowledge the presence of all parliamentarians and government members. He would just note it, he would see it. However, on this one occasion - and, Mr President, you were present at the time - he omitted to recognise me. As he was going to sit down he spotted me and at that moment he got up, walked across to where I was and apologised profusely for not having recognised me at that function.

Mr Aird - He used to do that to me all the time.

Members laughing.

Mr DEAN - He did it to me - I do not know why. But that to me is, as I have said, the mark of a great man, to be able to do those sorts of things, because at the end of the day he had many, many things on his mind.

Ms Ritchie - Saying sorry, you mean, is the mark of a great man? Maybe John Howard could pick that up.

Mr DEAN - Not necessarily; it depends on the circumstances. In this situation he was sorry for not having acknowledged me, and I recognise that as a great thing.

No person, in my view, deserves to finish his career in the way that has occurred with Jim Bacon. He had a strong and very significant political career, as we know. It was a memorable and remarkable career and I doubt that it will ever be met by any leader in my time. To be cut short in his prime is extremely sad, and I think very sad for this State.

In conclusion, I wish Jim and Honey Bacon and their family all the very best in life. I pray that Jim Bacon can take control of his health problems and that he and Honey can enjoy retirement together. They have earned it; they are entitled to it. I do not think there would be one Tasmanian, Mr President, who would not wish him good health now and good retirement. Thank you, Jim Bacon, for what you have done for the State of Tasmania.