Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on behalf of the Australian Greens to congratulate you on your appointment. It was a close-run thing! Clearly, we are disappointed that our candidate, Senator McKim, wasn't elected. Clearly, the election of President is a gift of the Senate; it doesn't belong to either of the major parties. We think this is one of many conventions that don't serve the parliament well. We do think that having someone from the crossbench would make this a much more lively and interesting chamber. Having said that, we are assured that you will continue your role assiduously and independently. As one of the few people who have been booted out of this place by you, I hope that that tradition will not continue through this parliament.