Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I remind the Senate that it should now choose one of its members to be Deputy President and Chair of Committees.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I propose to the Senate for its Deputy President and Chairman of Committees Senator Stephen Parry, and I move:

That Senator Parry be appointed Deputy President and Chairman of Committees.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are there any further nominations?

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I propose to the Senate for its Deputy President and Chairman of Committees Senator Ludlam, and I move:

That Senator Ludlam be appointed Deputy President and Chairman of Committees.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are there any further nominations? There being no further nominations, I invite the two candidates to address the Senate.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I submit myself to the will of the Senate.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I submit myself to the will of the Senate

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ludlam for presenting himself. I congratulate Senator Parry as well. I submit that Senator Ludlam would be a better choice for the position of Deputy President and Chairman of Committees.

I do object to the arrangement where we are now going to see the Labor Party support the coalition's nominee en bloc and, as we saw with the vote for you as President, the coalition's voting with the Labor Party en bloc. One of these days we will get to the more sensible arrangement of not only nominating but choosing senators on the basis of merit rather than on the basis of this cosy arrangement. It is significant that this arrangement is here at the outset. There has been talk about the balance of power. The Greens will use that responsibly and for a stable procedure of governance in this parliament and in this place on behalf of the Australian people. That said, it is very clear here that, in the majority of the workings of this Senate, we will see the government and opposition come together to pass legislation and the precedent is being set here today.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being two nominations, in accordance with the standing orders, a ballot will be held. Before pro­ceeding to ballot, the bells will be rung for four minutes—ring the bells.

The bells having been run— .

The Senate will now proceed to ballot. Ballot papers will be distributed to honourable senators, who are requested to write upon the paper the name of the candidate for whom they wish to vote. The candidates are Senator Stephen Parry and Senator Scott Ludlam. I invite Senator Adams and Senator Siewert to act as scrutineers.

A ballot having been taken—

Order! The result of the ballot is as follows: Senator Ludlam, nine votes; Senator Parry, 61 votes. I declare Senator Parry elected Deputy President and Chair of Committees in accordance with the standing orders. Let me be the first to congratulate you, Senator Parry, on your election. I look forward to serving with you for a long period, in the same way that I served with other Deputy Presidents and served as Deputy President with Presidents, and to having a good working relationship to ensure that we make this chamber a place where people as senators can work and operate.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr President, for those kind words. I thank all senators for their support. I intend to discharge those duties to the best of my ability and in the fairest manner possible. I look forward to serving as Deputy President.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the government and all Labor senators I congratulate Senator Parry on his election to the important role of Deputy President and Chair of Committees. I think it is a waste of a good whip, myself! But congratulations to Senator Parry. I know he will be conscientious and effective in the role and will learn the skills of Deputy President, which involve impartiality and balance—things which one does not have to display as a whip! I know Senator Parry has the capacity to do that, and I hope he does forge a strong partnership with President Hogg—though perhaps not as strong as the former President and Deputy President did; they were a very effective team, and a little too close for comfort on occasions! But we do look forward to that strong working relationship. Again, congratulations.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the coalition I congratulate Senator Parry on his election as Deputy President. We are confident that he will be able to undertake the role with dignity and purpose. I am sure that his former career as a policeman will assist him in enforcing the rules—and, just in case he does not succeed, his former role as an undertaker may come in even more helpful! We wish Senator Parry well. He has the full support of the coalition as he takes on this new role.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I too congratulate our new Deputy President and Chairman of Committees and wish him well. I know that he, like you, will be behind the implementation of good governance in the Senate. I note that the vote just revealed to us does not include the full complement of people in here. I would be interested to know where those spare ones went to.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the National Party I congratulate Senator Stephen Parry on being elected as the Deputy President of the Senate. Stephen has had some major successes. The best one, of course, was when he got us back our superannuation. Stephen, we are still waiting for that, mate! I am sure he will hold the office with the dignity it deserves. He acknowledges that the office is a great honour that the nation has bestowed upon him. I also give my condolences to the Greens for not quite making it there—apparently the other votes were all for Sarah Hanson-Young!

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I echo the remarks of my colleagues in congratulating Senator Parry on his new role. I think Senator Ludlam was a worthy adversary. I will miss Senator Parry as whip—but I am sure the feeling is not mutual! I wish him well in his new role.