Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

or BIRMINGHAM (—) (): Mr President, I inform honourable senators that the Governor-General will be pleased to receive the President and party leaders or their representatives in the President's suite immediately.

I should, indeed, add my very sincere congratulations to you, my acknowledgement and thanks for the words you have given to this chamber, your commitment to the chamber in upholding the traditions and conventions of the Senate and respect for the place of each individual senator no matter how diverse their views, in terms of the way in which they approach their business, and the need for their rights to be respected as well. I was pleased to nominate you on behalf of the government, knowing, Mr President, that you will perform these duties diligently, competently and with a deep history in this place as a senator but also in your work prior to that, and your understanding of the important roles of government, opposition and minor parties across the chamber in terms of their work.

I thank you for your kind words in relation to former Senator Ryan. Scott is a dear friend, was a very valued colleague throughout his time and was a president admired and respected across this chamber. You fill big shoes in taking on the presidency following Scott Ryan. I know we all wish Scott, Helen and their children every success and happiness in the future, and we thank Scott for the way in which he fulfilled the role with humility, dignity, always with the interests of this chamber at heart, as a senator, for the way in which he engaged in a principled manner, true always to his values, to his interpretation of Liberal values and traditions and customs and principles, and for the way in which he engaged strongly on behalf of his state and fulfilled a number of roles through this place, including his service as a minister. He will be missed. You are now welcomed in the chair and we look forward to the leadership that you provide to this place.