In her valedictory speech in the Upper House on Thursday, Pnevmatikos said a recent body scan detected five cancerous spots on her lungs.

“That’s one for each year I’ve served in parliament – mere coincidence? Maybe, but I’m not taking any chances,” she said to laughter in the chamber.

“I will say I won’t miss the Lord’s Prayer, I will not miss the oath to the monarchy, and I will certainly not miss question time.”

Pnevmatikos was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2022 and subsequently had a kidney removed. She has since pushed her own government to fund more dialysis beds in regional areas.

“Some in this chamber will know that I’ve been facing challenges with my health,” she said at the start of her speech.

“These issues have recently kicked up a notch: my cancer has returned, and this battle I am facing needs to be my focus going forward.

“So this is my last chance to say something in this chamber and no one can stop me.”

Pnevmatikos, a member of Labor’s Left faction, was first elected to the Upper House in 2018 after a career in law.

During her time in parliament she has chaired the legislative review committee and other inquiries into wage theft and the gig economy, as well as a government taskforce into the gender pay gap.

Irene Pnevmatikos speaking in parliament in 2020. Photo: Tony Lewis/inDaily

She referenced the upcoming referendum for an Indigenous Voice to federal parliament, saying: “Having a voice is one thing, but being heard is more important.”

“Democracy depends on empowering people to exercise the rights that they have fought for and earned,” she said.

“But to have the right is not the same thing as having the ability to exercise it. We are wilfully deceiving ourselves and others each time we let this misrepresentation stand.

“It is part of our job here to legislate to create the conditions for these rights to be freely exercised.”

Pnevmatikos was one of a handful of Labor MPs believed to have raised concerns about her party’s rapid push earlier this year to introduce significantly increased penalties – including jail time – for obstructive protests.

The laws were staunchly opposed by the state’s peak union body, SA Unions, and other Left-affiliated unions.

Pnevmatikos attended protests against the legislation, saying at the time she wanted to hear the concerns being raised. She was also not present to vote on the laws when they passed the Upper House after an all-night sitting in May.

On Thursday, Pnevmatikos paid tribute to the union movement, telling them: “I have stood by you without question.”

“The Labor Party grew out of the union movement, unlike the experience in Europe and other countries,” she said.

“That helps to understand the relationship that exists between the Labor Party and the union movement. It’s about protest and fighting for rights at its core.

“My guiding principles have been to represent workers, migrant and refugee communities, women and the organisations that they all belong to.

“That has governed how I’ve worked in my role here.”

Pnevmatikos has also been a strong advocate on social issues, playing a role in the last parliament which ushered through landmark social reforms on abortion and voluntary assisted dying.

The South Australian Abortion Action Coalition (SAAC) paid tribute to Pnevmatikos this week, describing her as a “crucial ally” in the push to decriminalise abortion.

Pnevmatikos on Thursday acknowledged the SAAC as well as the Sex Industry Decriminalisation Action Committee and Sex Industry Network – two groups which are pushing for the decriminalisation of sex work in South Australia.

There have been 13 failed attempts to decriminalise prostitution in South Australia, the most recent in 2019. Proponents of reform have expressed confidence a 14^th attempt will be supported by this current parliament.

“An uphill battle is yet to come, and I will help in any way I can outside of parliament,” Pnevmatikos told sex worker advocates.

“Just because I’m leaving this place, doesn’t mean I will not continue to be politically active, as I have always been.”