2015-09-01
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — Speaking on behalf of my colleagues, we in the Greens would like to associate ourselves with this motion. As has been noted, Frank Wilkes does not have his portrait out there with all the others in the main hall, but he might have had. He had many achievements in his life in this Parliament, working for his local community and for the whole state of Victoria, but as others have noted, in order to memorialise him we need to think not just of the highest office he achieved but of the highest office he aspired to.
Frank volunteered himself for the role of Premier; he strove for it, and only due to particular circumstances did he miss out on holding that office. Not every MP in this Parliament will get to take a turn at being Premier. The lucky ones will have a chance to put themselves forward as a candidate. In that respect Mr Wilkes was one of the lucky ones. In joining with this motion we send our condolences to his family, his loved ones and his many colleagues, both here today and out in the community.