Jim Wilkinson leaves chamber to round of applause

The members of the Legislative Council have paid tribute to longstanding member Jim Wilkinson who has presided over the chamber for the last time.

Jim Wilkinson, President of the Tasmanian Legislative Council and independant member for the division of Nelson, retired on Thursday. He is pictured in the state's upper house. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

THE members of the Legislative Council have paid tribute to the wit, wisdom and generosity of longstanding member Jim Wilkinson who presided over the chamber for the last time on Thursday.

The member for Nelson, who has served in the Upper House for 24 years, is retiring ahead of next month’s election in the division.

Watched by Premier Will Hodgman, Opposition leader Rebecca White, members of the House of Assembly and Parliamentary staff, members took it in turns to pay tribute to Mr Wilkinson’s long and distinguished service.

Mr Wilkinson said he was looking forward to retirement and thanked his family and parliamentary staff for their support.

“I’ve always thought that as members of parliament we are very privileged to have been elected to serve the people of this state,” he said.

And Mr Wilkinson said it was time for the Lower House to be increased in size.

“Twenty-five members in the House of Assembly has been proven to be too little and the sooner it is increased the better — the arguments for that are well known,” he said.

Member for Nelson, Jim Wilkinson. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Wilkinson played VFL for South Melbourne and cricket for Tasmania in the 1970s.

He was an ABC football and cricket commentator for 15 years, became a prominent lawyer and joined the Legislative Council as the independent member for the then seat of Queenborough in 1995.

Leader of the House Leonie Hiscutt said Mr Wilkinson’s intellect, impartiality and good sense of humour had made a great contribution to the work of the house.

“You have performed the role of president with patience and dignity, with grace and humility and above all with unwavering professionalism,” she said.

“You have been there when needed, been the shoulder to cry on, been the personal sounding board, or a source of support,” she said.

Huon MLC Robert Armstrong said walking down the street with Mr Wilkinson was a testament to his popularity.

“There’s half a million people in Tasmania, and I reckon he must know 100,000 of them,” he said.

“As he’s walking up the street he’s saying, ‘Hello cock, hello cock, hello cock’.”

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Derwent Craig Farrell praised Mr Wilkinson’s independence, which he said was one of the reasons for his success.

“It is a rare thing to be able to serve 24 years in a parliament and to go out on your own terms,” he said.

“Any measure of a good politician is from the electorate because that is where a politician is judged the harshest and any time you have stood for re-re-election you have just come back stronger and stronger. It is a measure of the person you are.”

He said Mr Wilkinson had also been a fierce defender of the role of the Upper House.

“It will be hard to imagine this chamber without you.

Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage said Mr Wilkinson had been a generous helper for other members in their work.

“You’ve always been there and you have never said no. Nothing was every too much trouble for you, you always made time. We truly will miss you.”

Mr Wilkinson left the chamber to a round of applause.

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