Henry Pike (Bowman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Congratulations, Mr Speaker, on your re-election. I'm proud to second the nomination of the member for Longman for the role of Deputy Speaker. The member for Longman is not a career politician. He didn't grow up dreaming of sitting in this place. When he left school at 15 with just a junior certificate, this was probably the last place he thought he would ever end up. His has been the kind of journey that reflects the best traditions of our country. It demonstrates that Australia still offers wealth for toil. He has proven that through your own effort you can not only improve your own circumstances but enrich the lives of your whole community.

The member for Longman has lived the real pressures that many Australians face—the pressure of running a small business, the pressure of raising kids while trying to make ends meet, the pressure of taking the big risks and knowing that so many rely on your success and leadership. The member for Longman is a man without ego or pretension. He's a hardworking, humble representative who serves his community with quiet integrity. He believes in doing his bit and leaving things better than he found them. He's not interested in spin. He doesn't speak in political cliches. He speaks plainly and he listens properly. These characteristics are why he has become a true mate of many of us on both sides of this House. He's not chasing headlines or pats on the back. He just gets on with the job. That's the kind of approach that we need and that Australians want to see in senior roles in this chamber—steady, decent and focused on what matters.

I want to draw the attention of members to the fact that the member for Longman's great-grandfather was a South Sea Islander, one of thousands who were blackbirded, as it was known at the time, from their homeland to labour in cane fields in Queensland and northern New South Wales. One of the first acts of this parliament in 1901 was to try to facilitate the mass deportation of these individuals, despite many having lived in Australia for decades. The fact that a descendant of one of those brought to our shores as a slave a few generations ago sits in this House with us and can aspire to a presiding office in this House should be a source of great pride to all of us. It reflects a nation that hasn't forgotten its past but refuses to let it limit its potential or the potential of its citizens.

The member for Longman has served on the Speaker's panel and knows how to perform the functions of the role with fairness, authority, good sense and good humour. The role of Deputy Speaker is more than knowing standing orders and procedures; it's about setting a tone—a tone of fairness, respect and decency. The member for Longman sets that tone. He reflects the best of the humble, hardworking, everyday Australian. He's a worker, a business owner, a loyal friend, a dedicated family man. I am proud to serve with him in this parliament and I'm proud to second this nomination for Deputy Speaker.

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