Mr Polley served in the Tasmanian parliament for 41 years before retiring in 2014, and has  been made a Member of the Order of Australia.

Mr Polley said during his time as speaker he had been proud to celebrate 150 years of responsible government, introduce cameras to televise parliament, and preside over the house during the premiership of Lara Giddings – Tasmania’s first female premier.

‘‘I hope I left behind some of the principles of being a good parliamentarian and a sense of upholding the dignity of the parliament, and also making sure the checks and balances on government were adhered to,’’ Mr Polley said.

‘‘I want to recognise my successor the member for Denison, Speaker Archer. 

‘‘I’ve noted that she’s exerting herself in the house to keep the house in order.’’

Mr Polley became a minister at the age of 26 in 1976.

He was in charge of the welfare and childcare portfolios, and said he had been struck by the number of Tasmanian children living in institutional care.

‘‘I started the process toward the closure of Wybra Hall, which was a boys’ home just out of Hobart,’’ he said.

‘‘I also closed a girls’ home at Latrobe, and put in process the winding back of children being put into care, and at that time increased foster care.’’

There had only been three female members of the House of Assembly when Mr Polley entered parliament in 1972.

‘‘I’ve been able to watch the rise and rise of women’s rights and women’s representation within our political system,’’ he said.