House debates

Tuesday, 16 September 2008

Liberal Party of Australia: Leadership

2:01 pm

Photo of Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on indulgence, at a meeting of the parliamentary Liberal Party this morning, I was elected leader. The member for Curtin will continue as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, and I will advise the House of changes to the opposition front bench in due course.

Photo of Kevin RuddKevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on indulgence, can I extend on behalf of the parliamentary Labor Party and the government our congratulations to the member for Wentworth on being elected as head of the Liberal Party and as Leader of the Opposition. It is a rare privilege to be elected as the leader of one of Australia’s leading political parties and it is a great honour which has been accorded you. We on our side of the House look forward to working with the opposition and with you as much as is possible in this great and robust democracy of ours on a bipartisan basis. I am fully mindful of the fact that there are a few things we will probably disagree on. I say to the member for Bradfield how much we have appreciated his services as Leader of the Opposition during the year, and we wish both him and his family all the very best.