Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That Mr Mitchell be elected Deputy Speaker of this House.

In speaking to the motion I want to extend my congratulations to you, Madam Speaker, on your election earlier today. There were fewer swinging voters than I might have hoped for, but I wish you well in taking on your very important role.

I have extolled the virtues of the member for McEwen previously today and I will not needlessly detain the House by repeating them, although the member for McEwen said it would be all right with him if I did. In moving this motion I intend no disrespect to the member for Maranoa. The House will understand that this is a ballot for two positions—it is an 'every player gets a prize' ballot. The member for Maranoa is well respected by people on this side of the House for his extensive service on the Speaker's panel—indeed, he was the only member from the opposition side of the parliament who served as a member of the Speaker's panel, and we would have been happy to have seen him put forward earlier today. Indeed, not only is he well supported on this side of the House; he is strongly supported by his own electorate and is well able to repel challengers from both our side and closer to home. I am not suggesting that I would encourage my colleagues to vote for him, by the way, but I do wish him all the best as well as wishing the member for McEwen all the best in taking on the important roles which they are soon to undertake.

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