A FLOOD of people across the political divide have sent their best wishes to independent MP Bob Such, who yes terday revealed he is fighting a brain tumour.

Dr Such’s electorate office released a statement revealing the Member for Fisher would undergo a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Flinders Medical Centre.

“Dr Such’s family have requested that their privacy continue to be respected as they deal with this sudden and distressing news,” it stated. “He wishes to thank those who have conveyed their good wishes and messages of support.”

Within hours, more than 1100 readers had liked the Advertiser.com.au message of support to Dr Such – and more than 170 had shared their own well wishes.

It is unclear whether Dr Such will be able to continue in Parliament. The statement said he would keep both the Parliament and the Premier informed of his progress.

Advertiser.com.au last week revealed Dr Such was taking extended sick leave, promting a chain of events that led to fellow independent MP Geoff Brock supporting the Labor Party to form minority government in South Australia.

Premier Jay Weatherill said he would not speculate about what would happen in the event that Dr Such did not return because “this man is trying to recover”.

“My thoughts are, of course, with Bob and his family,” Mr Weatherill said.

“This is obviously a very difficult time for him and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

He added: “Bob’s been a first-class legislator.

“I think all of us are wishing him a speedy recovery and would like to see him back there on the green leather (of the House of Assembly).”

Opposition leader Steven Marshall said the revelation of Dr Such’s illness was “extremely sad news”.

He said: “Our thoughts go out to Bob, his wife Lyn and to his entire family at this time.

“I won’t be making any political comment about this.

“Our thoughts are just with him at the moment for a speedy recovery and hope that we can get him back into Parliament as soon as possible.”

Advertiser.com.au last week revealed that Dr Such was taking extended sick leave.

It prompted a chain of events that led to fellow independent MP Geoff Brock supporting the Labor Party to form minority government in South Australia.

Parliamentary rules state an MP can take a leave of absence for any sufficient cause if stated and agreed to by the House.

A statement from Dr Such’s office last week said he would take leave from Parliament for up to two months.

Dr Such, 69, had not indicated which party he would support before he fell ill.

If Dr Such was unable to return to Parliament, there would be a by-election in his seat of Fisher.

Should a Liberal Party candidate win the by-election, both major parties would have 23 seats – which would mean the Speaker would have to use his or her casting vote to pass legislation voted against by the Opposition.

Labor would still be the governing party if it maintained the support of Mr Brock.

However, Mr Brock would face mounting pressure to switch his support to the Liberals given that they commanded 53 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at the March 15 election.

At the election, Dr Such won 38.5 per cent of the first-preference votes, followed by Liberal Sam Duluk on 35.1 per cent and Labor’s Jake Neville on 17.7 per cent.

Dr Such has held his seat as an independent since 2000 and prior to that he held it as a member of the Liberal Party from 1989. He has previously served as Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education and as Minister for Youth Affairs.

- Sam Kelton

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