Bob Such, the former Liberal-turned-independent member of the South Australian Parliament, has died, at the age of 70.
Such held the seat of Fisher in the House of Assembly for 25 years. First elected in 1989, he served as a minister in the Liberal government led by Premier Dean Brown. He was moved to the backbench after Brown was deposed by John Olsen in 1996. In 2000, Such quit the Liberal Party and was re-elected as an independent in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Following this year’s state election, Such and Geoff Brock held the balance of power after Jay Weatherill’s Labor government was returned with 23 seats to the Liberal Party’s 22. A few days after the election, Such was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Weatherill subsequently formed a government with Brock’s support. The government’s numbers were bolstered when the former Liberal leader, Martin Hamilton-Smith, defected from the Liberals and accepted a Cabinet position.
Such was granted three months leave of absence by the Parliament in June.
The by-election for Such’s seat is most likely to result in the election of a Liberal member. However, the government will retain its majority with 25 seats to 22.
Statement released by Premier Jay Weatherill on behalf of the family of Bob Such.
It is with great sadness that the family of the Honourable Doctor Bob Such wish to inform the South Australian community that their beloved father and husband passed away at the Daw Park repatriation hospital earlier today.
Mr Such’s wife Lyn said she and some of Bob’s family were with him at the time.
She said the family was devastated at their loss.
“Bob was such a lovely man and I will miss him dearly,” she said.
Premier Jay Weatherill said he was deeply saddened by the news.
“Bob was a kind and thoughtful man who dedicated his life to public service,” he said.
“I spoke to Lyn and offered my sincere condolences to her and her family and passed on the South Australian community’s gratitude for Bob’s extraordinary contribution to public life.”
Dr Such had requested a private funeral but that a more public celebration of his life will be organised at some later date.
