Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (18:33): Tonight, on a rather sombre note, I acknowledge the passing of Peter Severin, a former Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW. Sadly, Peter died suddenly on 17 August after succumbing to a devasting illness. He passed away with his family by his side at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Peter's death is a loss that has been felt by many, from his nearest and dearest to his former colleagues at Corrections. I note that I was contacted by my interstate colleagues to pass on their thoughts regarding the loss of Peter. They valued his dedication and his professional experience in corrections. Peter's reputation seems to have crossed State boundaries. It certainly had an impact on the many he met.

Peter's career in the prison system began in Germany in 1980, joining as a prison officer. After leaving Germany, he served as chief executive of the Department for Correctional Services in South Australia and then as deputy director-general of Queensland Corrective Services. Peter was appointed Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW, the nation's largest and most complex system, in 2012. As commissioner for just under a decade—and after postponing his retirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and closed international borders—Peter served with dedication until his well-deserved retirement in 2021. Since 2019, Peter also served as the president of the International Corrections and Prisons Association, where he continued his commitment to corrective services. Post his retirement, Peter also served as a member of the Serious Offenders Review Council. His experience in corrections played a pivotal role to ensure that the SORC made decisions with a depth of understanding of inmates as they were about to be released into the community. When interviewed by The Sydney Morning Herald on the eve of his retirement, Peter said:

I was very fortunate in my career; even though I have always worked in the same industry, I have worked in many different areas of prison and parole and this is the fascination about corrections …

Altogether, Peter dedicated more than 40 years of service within corrective services. Peter innately believed in the inherent value of a human being and their ability to change. He stated:

To me, it's a fundamental philosophy. Prisons should not be out of sight, out of mind, a service at the end of the conveyer belt on the fringe of society. I believe if you give a person the ability to read and write and the ability to be marketable in their skills, and to find some employment and strong social connections, that is a huge advantage in stopping re-offending.

That is why, in one sense, Corrections has such a strong focus on rehabilitation. The commitment and the philosophical beliefs of Peter were instrumental to ensuring that we have a corrections system that keeps our community safe, not only now but into the future, by reducing recidivism and the possibility of reoffending once an inmate has served his or her time. I extend my condolences to Peter's wife, Isabelle, and his son, Julian. May we take this moment to reflect on his tireless work as a public servant. He was dedicated to his profession. It was a vocation and a calling for Peter, an area that he was passionate about. Many would not think about spending most of their career in corrections, but Peter dedicated his professional life to it. His contributions to the New South Wales correctional system will not be forgotten. Peter Severin, may you rest in peace.