I warmly welcome the announcement that Mr Hieu Van Le AO will be South Australias next Governor.
This is a richly-deserved appointment and one that is wonderful news for South Australias Vietnamese community indeed it is wonderful news for migrants from all backgrounds and for the wider Australian community.
Mr Les story is a remarkable tribute both to his own personal qualities and to Australias willingness to extend a helping hand to refugees.
He arrived in Darwin in 1977 with his wife Lan in a small wooden boat, as one of the wave of boat people displaced from their home country by the Vietnam war.
They settled in Adelaide where he studied economics and accounting, earned a Master of Business Administration and had a successful career as a senior officer of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
He has been an outstanding community leader in South Australia including in his roles as Chairman of the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission and as Lieutenant Governor.
Mr Le has been a good friend for several years and I know how much South Australians appreciate his dignified demeanour and strong commitment to a multicultural, tolerant and diverse Australia.
Premier Jay Weatherill is to be congratulated on this appointment which is another first for South Australia a decision in the spirit of Don Dunstans historic appointment of Pastor Doug Nicholls as the first Aboriginal Governor of an Australian State.
I also thank the outgoing Governor, Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce AC, for his service to the people of South Australia and wish him and Mrs Scarce all the best for the future.