Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:01): I move: That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 25 December 2025, of the Honourable Nick Bolkus, a former Minister and Senator for the State of South Australia from 1981 to 2005, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. Today we honour the life and service of Nick Bolkus. We remember his warmth, his charm, his intellect, his considerable energy and his devotion to his country, to the Australian Labor Party and to the people of South Australia, who he served in the other place as a senator for 25 years. Nick came to public life as a young man, elected to the Senate at just 30, yet at that point he already had 15 years of campaign experience. He had cut his teeth in politics, letterboxing for Don Dunstan in 1965. At 14, Nick was too young to vote Labor, but he treasured the memories of that campaign—sweeping the Playford government from power after 27 years of conservative rule—and the passion and purpose that drove him as a teenager never left him. Nick Bolkus was respected for his political mind and admired for his sense of duty to the community and to the nation. Fittingly, as the first Greek Australian to serve in cabinet, he cherished democracy. He believed in politics as a vocation and saw persuasion as both an essential skill and also a fundamental responsibility. He was always talking to someone, advocating a better way, marshalling his big ideas into policies that would make a positive difference. There was no better place for someone with Nick's vision and ambition than the Hawke and Keating governments. As Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and then as Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Nick was both a powerful advocate for multicultural Australia and a compelling example of its strengths. He both saw and proved what we gain as a nation from the hard work and aspiration of people who want to help write the Australian story. On Australia Day, so many of us here shared in a part of Nick's legacy. He was the minister when the new pledge of commitment was adopted in 1993. He wanted a statement that reflected Australian values and that served, in his words, as a 'bonding instrument'. Thirty-three years on, those same words bind every new citizen to Australia's democracy, our laws and our people. Nick Bolkus was not one for airs and graces, but he was a person of grace. Funny, thoughtful and generous, he inspired deep loyalty from friends, colleagues and staff alike. Over a lifetime, he built a network of associates, friends and comrades from across the world who valued his advice, his wisdom and his warmth. He saw it as his responsibility to be a mentor to others in public life, including many other great South Australians. He took enormous pride in their success—many of whom sit today in the house of reps and in the Senate. His legacy lives on in their contribution to our nation. He was also a dear friend of mine and one of the people who, when I began work and was active in the Labor Party at a long time ago—he was someone who would always reach out to my generation of young Labor and encourage us. He was indeed a true believer. Over recent years, Nick's health suffered. After his passing, his daughter Mikayla said of Nick, 'He stayed to see us love him more and more even as it got harder for him to stay.' That is the true picture of the determined, loving man that we hold in our memories. Our hearts are with Nick's wife, Mary; daughters Mikayla and Aria; and his son, Nick. Your husband, your father, will be remembered by this parliament and by the Australian people, particularly South Australians, for his principles and his compassion and how he used both of those things to shape a stronger, more generous Australia. Vale, Nick Bolkus.