Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

In fact, the level of interjection here is exactly why we need a Greens senator sitting in the President's chair. It is because this place is not a cosy club, and it should not operate as a cosy club where the major parties get together and stitch up so much of how this place operates, just as they do in the other place and just as they've done historically in the Senate.

Let me make a blindingly obvious observation: the government does not have a majority in the Senate. This Senate has not been given a mandate by the Australian people to pass the government's agenda unaltered. If that's what the people wanted they would have put the government in a majority in this place. But they didn't. They've elected a balance-of-power Senate, and for too long the major parties have used their collective majority in this place to determine how the Senate operates. You only have to have a look at the other closed shops in this parliament—for example, the joint standing committee on intelligence and security, how that's worked in this place, stitched up by the major parties, and now we've got the ABC being raided by the AFP. This cosy stitch-up between the major parties is not serving our country and it is not serving the people of Australia.

I've accepted the nomination for this role on behalf of the well over a million people who voted for the Australian Greens at this election, who voted to shake up politics, who voted for strong action on climate, who voted for strong action to address the extinction crisis facing this planet. I say to the major parties: if you can't feel the ice cracking under you, if you can't feel the fragility of our institutions starting to crumble in this country, you are not paying close enough attention. The Australian Greens are here to shake up politics. We are here to shake up 'business as usual' and we are here to shake up the way this Senate operates. I ask all senators, particularly my crossbench colleagues, for their support.

The Clerk: As there are two nominees, a ballot will now be held. Before proceeding to ballot, the bells will be rung for four minutes.

The bells having been rung—

The Clerk: The Senate will now proceed to ballot. Ballot papers will be distributed. Please write on the ballot paper the name of the candidate you wish to vote for. The candidates are Senator Ryan and Senator McKim.

A ballot having been taken—

The Clerk: I announce the result of the ballot as follows: Senator Gavin Marshall, one vote; Senator Nick McKim, 10 votes; Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan 62 votes. Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan is therefore elected as President of the Senate in accordance with the standing orders.

Senator Ryan having been conducted to the dais—