A Heart Full of Gratitude

It’s time to acknowledge the closing of a remarkable chapter in my parliamentary life. I take this opportunity to congratulate Premier Peter Malinauskas and the Labor Party on their election victory and also acknowledge the hard-fought campaign by the Opposition Leader, Ashton Hurn, and her Liberal team.

There are only a total of 69 seats in the Parliament of South Australia. Every elected Member of Parliament is given the highest privilege to have the opportunity to represent their constituencies. For the last 16 years, you have entrusted me with the privilege and honour of representing South Australia in the Legislative Council, and I want to take this moment to express my heartfelt thank you.

Serving our beloved State has been the greatest honour of my working life. It is a duty and commitment that I wholeheartedly embraced, and one I have carried with deep respect for the people, our communities, and the democratic institutions we share.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve in many leadership roles – in government and in opposition – always guided by the belief that public service should be principled, hardworking, and grounded in community. I am proud of the work we have done together, and grateful for the privilege of having a seat at the decision-making table on behalf of all South Australians.

Public service is never about one term, one campaign, or one person. It is about leaving the institutions and communities we serve better and stronger for those who come next. I have always sought to play my part in that shared responsibility and mutual obligation, knowing that the collective efforts and real work of democracy are ongoing in order for us to achieve the best outcomes for our community.

The 2026 election campaign, more than anything, has reminded me just how generous and committed people are when they believe in something bigger than themselves.

I want to acknowledge the strength and resilience of a special group of people. They include my No. 1 supporter, Eddie, my incredible family members, and volunteers who gave up their time, put up posters and stickers, letterbox-dropped flyers, staffed booths, and handed out how-to-vote cards throughout the polling week – thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your commitment to see me succeed, encouragement, both loud and quiet, and determination carried this campaign, and I will never forget your generosity and the kindness with which you showed up, day after day.

To my colleagues, leaders, and friends from many community groups, peak bodies, not-for-profit associations, businesses, and government agencies I have worked alongside over the years – thank you for your sound advice, valuable engagement, partnership, honesty, and trust. So much of what we achieve in public life is shaped through collaboration, and I am deeply appreciative of the impactful relationships built along the way.

One year ago, I took a leap of faith – one that included stepping away from the familiarity of the major parties to blaze a more independent path. It was not an easy choice, but it was the right one for me. I remain proud of that decision, by putting community first and standing by my values, even when it meant charting new ground and navigating challenging terrain. It was a tough fight all along. I couldn't have done it without my dedicated team. I want to give them a shout out to show my appreciation for all the hard work and contributions made by my small and diligent team: Grace, Nick, Irina, and Michelle – I owe them a debt of gratitude for their tireless work and loyalty

Jing Lee – Better Community made history as it appeared for the first time on the 2026 election ballot paper. While the outcome was disappointing, no one can take away from the fact that a first-generation migrant, an Australian female politician from an Asian background, courageously contested an election under her own banner, driven by the passion and purpose to serve her community as an independent voice in Parliament.

I want to take a moment to share some heartfelt messages, as follows, regarding my campaign:

 “Jing, congratulations on running such a graceful campaign. Your poise, professionalism, and building communities up versus tearing us apart was second to none. No one deserves this more, as does our community, in having a leader like you! You should feel proud.” Linda

"Jing, you ran an awe-inspiring, inclusive, vibrant, and community-focused campaign and deserved to be successful from your efforts.” Brigette

"Hi Jing, I just wanted to reach out and say I’m really sorry to see how the election result landed for you. You’ve made a long and meaningful contribution to SA politics and the community, and that doesn’t just disappear overnight. It takes real courage to step out, back yourself, and take a different path - not many people would do that, and not many could. I hope you take a moment to reset and feel proud of what you’ve built over the years. " Lisa

While the final results for the Legislative Council ballot counts will not be known for several weeks, it is increasingly clear that achieving the required quota for me to be re-elected will not be attainable. Whatever the final count, I accept the outcome with humility and respect for the process. Democracy is bigger than any one person, and I remain grateful to have been part of it.

I leave this chapter feeling thankful, optimistic, deeply humbled, and proud – proud of the people of South Australia, proud of the campaign we ran, and proud of the impactful service my team and I have given to this State.

Finally, I wish to share a thoughtful message from Former Premier of South Australia, the Hon. Steven Marshall, to me:

“Congratulations Jing on 16 outstanding years serving the people of South Australia. It was a great pleasure working with you during my time in Parliament. You were an amazing champion for so many worthy causes – but especially our precious multicultural communities. You opened my eyes to so many wonderful communities in SA – a rich tapestry and a real strength for our State. You drove real and lasting reform when we were in Government, and you leave a wonderful legacy. Thank you, Jing.” Steven

As this marks my farewell message from Parliament House, I am certain our paths will cross again. So, see you around!

Thank you for the trust you placed in me. It has truly been an honour.

Jing