Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Clerk, I move:

That the honourable member for Mackellar do take the chair of this House as Speaker.

The member for Mackellar's long years of meritorious service in this House and in another place well and truly equip her to be an excellent Speaker of this parliament. As all of us who have known the honourable member well for a long time understand, she is a formidable character, and I can think of no-one more likely to deal with all of the other formidable characters in this place without fear or favour. Bronwyn can do what is necessary to maintain control of what is sometimes an unruly House.

This chamber should always be a place of spirited debate. But it should never be a place where motives are impugned or characters assassinated. When any of us are tempted to be low, mean or petty, the member for Mackellar is well equipped to recall us to our duty. This parliament will be a different one and a better one, I hope. The member for Mackellar loves this parliament. She reveres its traditions, and she has the capacity to help all of us to be at our best. I commend her nomination to the House.

The Clerk: Is the motion seconded?

See this speech in context