Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

I present the interim report of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters on the inquiry into the conduct of the 2025 federal election, together with accompanying documents. I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

At the outset in my comments, I take the opportunity to make some comment with respect to my colleague Senator Askew, who thinks that she's escaping this place without anybody, particularly from Tassie, acknowledging her service. I want to not only express my thanks to Wendy for her service to the Liberal Party Tasmania and the country but also congratulate her on all of the things that she's achieved as a part of her time here in the parliament. She is highly respected not only for the work that she does on committees, and that's relevant to what we're going to talk about here tonight, but also as our whip, the relationships that she has around and across the chamber. We all rely on our whips to be able to get things done in this place, to make this place work. I just want to place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation for having had the opportunity to share some time in this place, which is a very special place for us all, with Senator Askew as a colleague. And that really does segue nicely into what I would like to say with respect to this inquiry into the conduct of the 2025 election.