Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I begin by congratulating you on your re-election and thank and acknowledge the fact that it is a unanimous position of this House. It was moved by the member for Lalor and seconded by the member for Riverina. That says something about the way in which you're held in this House. Last term you assumed the Speaker's chair for the first time, and you had already earned the respect of the Labor caucus that I am proud to lead. We knew full well that you would do the job with fairness, with humour and with intellect, and indeed you did so. This term you've been rightly re-elected to that chair.

We follow tradition in this place, including you reluctantly coming from the back there to assume the chair! I must say, Mr Speaker, that I've never seen you run as fast as you did towards that high office, which you have quite rightly assumed. During the last term you showed a commitment to integrity. You showed a commitment to fairness and an understanding that this institution is something that we who've just been sworn into office should cherish and should really value.

I am—as you know, Mr Speaker—a proud student of the parliament, and, around the world, we should acknowledge the strength of our democracy. I really think that we have the best system in terms of compulsory voting and the number of people who vote in elections—notwithstanding the issue of informal votes that has been raised quite rightly, which we want to see come down. We have either peaceful transitions of power or resumptions of power, such as in the case of the 48th Parliament, in a way that respects outcomes. We see that. We saw that from the former member for Dickson, who gave, I think, an outstanding speech on the evening of 3 May. That's something that we should all be proud of as a country.

This is a place of fierce debate. It's said that democratic politics is war by other means. The part of the tradition of you coming, being forced, into the chair is that Speakers in other places—it did not end well if there was disagreement. Of course, the mace is symbolic. The distance across this table is the distance of a sword length as well. But we are able to debate our views. People overwhelmingly come to this House from their different perspectives but with a common interest in the national interest. I truly believe that that's the case.

You are a steady hand, Mr Speaker, and in your re-election this House has shown its gratitude for the work that you have done in your first term as Speaker. May there be many more terms to come. You have engaged across electorates, something that Mr Smith certainly did in my electorate, and I know that it is appreciated. The fact that you're getting out there and promoting our democracy is one of the things that you don't have to do but want to do. It's something that you do with passion and with eloquence. So I'm pleased that you are our custodian in this 48th Parliament. I look forward to your guidance, your counsel and your—mostly—infallible and gracious rulings; it's never too early to put in a good word there. I congratulate you on your election, and I look forward to working with you and seeing your work with all of the parliament over the next three years.

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