David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the National Party—and myself personally, as a friend—congratulations, mate. As someone who started with you in 2016 and spent many plane rides with you, down from Brisbane to Canberra and back, I can say that we became good mates, and I'm very proud of your ascension to this role. As well as our friendship, I have respect for your professionalism, even on an international delegation to India, the first one we ever did, with the Prime Minister, Senator Hanson and the former member for Moore—an eclectic bunch! We were in India for 10 days. We were able to get to know one another and understand one another better.

And I respect what you have done, as the former Speaker, in not forgetting any part of this country, in taking this parliament—their house—to them, to the most remote parts, coming to Longreach in my electorate and sitting with the School of Distance Education, talking to kids on remote stations who would only ever dream of coming to Canberra but had the Speaker of the House there—and in such a dignified way, a way that embraced them in their understanding of the important role that you play and that we play. And you went to the small school at Muttaburra and on to a local establishment—where you probably got an education of the local gossip, more than we wanted!

But that is what it is to take this great parliament to this great nation—all parts of it. You served in this role with such dignity in the last parliament, and we are proud to have supported you. The fact that there has been bipartisan support for you, and in nominating you, is a reflection on you—one that we are proud of, that your family should be proud of and that this nation should be proud of. Congratulations.

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