Mr Speaker, one of the very few things that there is no political divide on—from every member of the House of Representatives—is our regard for you and the job you have done as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Not always!

He indulges you enough, so just say thank you and move on! I consider, Mr Speaker, that you are the best speaker that I've seen in my time in the House of Representatives. That is to your great credit, and, on the weekend, that was acknowledged in your election as President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Now, that is a body that has been around for 138 years but has never had anyone from this part of the world as its president. And, at a time where democracy is under challenge, which is the truth, where democratic values need to be nurtured, where young people, worryingly, in surveys by the Lowy Institute, for example—the figures on democracy versus authoritarianism are not going in the right direction. Your absolute vigilance and the work that you do, going into schools, right across the parliament, right across the country, to promote democracy, your bringing together of the Youth Parliament for the first time here as well—your commitment to civic education is a good thing that I'm sure you will now spread to other parts of the world.

Your election is a great personal achievement for you, but, importantly, it's a proud moment for our nation as well, for Australia. When Australia has a candidate for a position, we back them. I know that your candidacy had the backing of—I saw people from across the parliament there in Tanzania backing your candidacy, and that is a good thing. Australia is a middle power. But we punch above our weight on the global stage. That's a good thing. Your election provides another forum in which Australia will have a louder voice as a result of your success.

I have no doubt that you will be a champion for democracy at a time when democracy needs all the friends it can get. Congratulations on a personal level to you, Mr Speaker, and thank you as well for the work you have done in promoting Australia. I thought your campaign, with the kangaroos and the paraphernalia, was very well conducted. It showed your campaign internationally was as successful as your campaigns in Oxley have been. I wish you well.

Mr Speaker, I too would like to congratulate you on your election as President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the IPU. The IPU is, of course, the oldest multilateral political organisation in the world, and you are the first Australian to lead this important body in its 138 years. In fact, you are the first, as I understand it, from the Pacific to lead this organisation in 138 years.

It was founded in 1889 and works for peace and cooperation. Importantly, as the Prime Minister has just said, it works to champion the establishment and development of parliamentary democracies around the world. That is a cause that should be championed and must be championed at this time. It's a noble and worthwhile cause, especially at a time when we see, as we've just heard, threats to democracies around the world—threats that we should all be concerned about.

This has, as I understand it, also been a two-year campaign. Many who have come from this side of the chamber, or indeed the other side at times, have played an important role in getting you into this position. We join with the rest of the chamber in congratulating you on this role. You are eminently suited to it. I know you will do a magnificent job and you will do our nation proud in that job. We wish you every success.

I know it's unusual for the Nationals also to comment after the coalition leader has spoken, but I do want to associate the Nationals with the comments made by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

It is a great nation, Australia, where the son of a butcher from Brisbane and a nurse and midwife can find himself in this parliament representing the community he loves with an enormous amount of passion. We all knew him when he was just Milton from Oxley, and now he's El Presidente. We look forward to serving you in this place as best we possibly can, Mr Speaker.

But, seriously, Mr Speaker: I have seen you in action on international delegations. You have covered yourself with great respect. The dignity you bring to the office when you represent Australia, and the way you, in a bipartisan way, encourage other members to participate in those delegations, is a credit to you. I'm sure you will do well in your new role as the President of the IPU.

Mr Speaker, I make the point that there are a lot of people over in this corner of the parliament. Mr Speaker, when you decided to become Speaker instead of taking on a senior portfolio, I asked you, 'Why are you doing this?' You said, 'Because I want to make the parliament work.' I think that you've gone a long way to achieving that, and I think future generations will thank you for that.

I don't want to detain the House, but I am deeply honoured by the generous remarks from the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and, on behalf of the crossbench, the member for Kennedy. This election is, of course, an honour for the Australian parliament, but, more importantly, it's an opportunity for Australia to say to the world that we promote democracy at a time, as the Leader of the Opposition said, when democracy is facing significant challenges. We are seeing backsliding in democratic countries around the world and the rise of authoritarianism. That's why the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union has never been more important. Democracies don't collapse; they crumble. I want to use this role to give the strongest voice I can to democracy internationally.

I want civics education, particularly the way we do it here in Australia, to help change the conversation across the globe. I want the world to see what we are doing locally, and I want to see the institutions—particularly through civic participation and respect for one another—that make our country so great.

I have never been prouder to stand on the stage in front of thousands of people, in front of every parliament across the globe, and say, 'Australia is the best country in the world.' This victory was long and difficult, but it belongs to the entire parliament. Every member has contributed to this success. The whole parliament had a role to play in this achievement, and I'm deeply grateful for your support that I have received from across every side of this chamber.

The IPU is the world's oldest multilateral organisation. As president, my role is to chair two assemblies for one week per assembly and to help guide the organisation. My commitment is to make the role more accessible and more connected. I want to be much more as a virtual role so that more participants, particularly those in the Pacific family, can participate.

The first person I spoke to about this campaign was the Prime Minister, and without question or hesitation he said it was a team Australia moment. As he always does, he put our country first. At the same time, I've had the privilege of working alongside three leaders of the opposition who have backed this campaign. Their message, every one of them, was the same: if it is good for Australia, it's good for our parliament. I particularly want to thank the former leader of the opposition, the Hon. Sussan Ley, for her insights, encouragement and advice throughout the campaign. I also want to thank the shadow foreign minister, Ted O'Brien; Senators Paul Scarr, Jess Collins, Susan McDonald and Sarah Henderson, for their support; and of course the member for Wannon, the manager, for our regular Wednesday political campaign meetings alongside Ministers Rowland, Rishworth and Madeleine King and the member for Paterson.

This campaign was also contributed to by some of the finest campaigners of the National Party, the members for Capricornia, Riverina, Gippsland, Maranoa, Flynn and Page. I also want to make mention quickly of the outstanding support provided on the ground in Tanzania by the Deputy Speaker, Senator O'Neill, Senator McLachlan, the member for Bennelong and the mighty member for Durack. I thank the crossbench for their support throughout the process, as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, led by the Foreign minister and her office, and the Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the House. Thank you also to the members for Corangamite, Chisholm, Macquarie and Bendigo. My campaign also had a broad coalition and was supported by the former foreign minister Julie Bishop and former speakers Bronwyn Bishop and Tony Smith.

Finally, I acknowledge the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk of the House for their wise counsel, professionalism and support, together with the staff of the interparliamentary relations office and of course my own personal staff, led by Shannon Threlfall-Clarke and Natalie van Dartel. This result demonstrates what we can achieve when Australia works together. Now, for me, it's business as usual. Not much will change. Let's get back to work. I thank the House.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!