Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Clerk, I first offer my congratulations to all senators who have been sworn in today—those returning and, particularly, those who are new. Clerk, noting that the office of President has become vacant, I move:

That Senator Lines take the chair of the Senate as President.

The Clerk: Are there any further nominations?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That Senator Allman-Payne take the chair of the Senate as President.

The Clerk: Are there any further nominations?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to nominate Senator David Pocock, and I move:

That Senator David Pocock take the chair of the Senate as President.

The Clerk: I invite each of the senators nominated for President to address the Senate to indicate whether they accept the nomination.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Clerk. I humbly accept the nomination. Firstly, congratulations to all senators sworn in today and, particularly, to new senators. Welcome to this wonderful chamber. I wish you well in your time here.

I am seeking your support today to be the President of the Senate. If you bestow that honour on me, I will continue to carry out the role of President in the impartial way that I've shown to this chamber over the last three years. It is an extraordinary privilege to preside over the Australian Senate. This chamber is grounded in tradition, where the voices from every state and territory are brought together to represent and review the laws that shape our nation. My role as President is not to take sides but to ensure that every voice is heard—and heard in a respectful way—and that our rules and procedures are applied with consistency, clarity and integrity. I will continue to do my utmost to be a fair and consultative president if I am so honoured as to be elected today.

As only the second female President to hold this role, it is significant to me to look back at what I have achieved in my first term as President and at the ideas and aims I still have to accomplish. I look forward to you putting your trust in me and supporting me to continue my work as President of the Senate. Thank you, senators.

Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to accept this nomination to highlight that this place should not be a cosy club where the two major parties get together and stitch up how the chamber operates. The government needs to be reminded that, while it has a majority in the House of Representatives, it doesn't have a majority here in the Senate. The government has just over a third of senators in this place; the opposition also has just over a third and the crossbench just under a third. This Senate has been given a mandate by the Australian people to carefully scrutinise legislation, not to provide a tick and flick to the government.

This election continued the long-term trend of a collapse in support for the major parties. At this election, like the one before it, people elected a balance-of-power Senate. For too long, the major parties have used their collective majority in this place to determine how the Senate operates. This cosy stitch-up between the major parties is not serving our country, and it is not serving the people of Australia.

One thing that I would note is that the Senate takes pride in its role as a house of review. A president that is not drawn from the ranks of the major parties can act truly without fear or favour and would be an asset to this place. I will also say that, given the behaviour in this place at certain times, it wouldn't hurt to have someone in the chair who brings almost 30 years of experience as a high school teacher!

I'm accepting this nomination to make sure that the almost two million people who voted for the Australian Greens at the election get their voices heard and that the third of the country who voted for someone besides the major parties get their voices heard. I accept this nomination and ask all senators, particularly my crossbench colleagues, for their support. I submit myself to the will of the Senate.

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

David POCOCK (—) (): Thanks, Senator Hanson. I'm very flattered that you would put me forward. I'd like to congratulate you on your election result. I was as surprised by that as I think people in New South Wales were in game 3 of the State of Origin. Again, I am flattered. My focus is very much on representing the people of the ACT. I do acknowledge that there is a convention in this place, and, while I disagree with much of it, in this instance I will quietly decline the nomination. Thank you.

The Clerk : Unless any other senator wishes to address the nominations, a ballot will be now held. Before proceeding to a ballot, the bells will be rung for four minutes.

The bells having been rung—

The Clerk: The Senate will now proceed to a ballot. Please write on the ballot paper the name of the candidate you wish to vote for. The candidates are Senator Lines and Senator Allman-Payne.

A ballot having been taken—

The Clerk: Honourable senators, I announce the result of the ballot as follows: Senator Lines, 55 votes; Senator Allman-Payne, 12 votes; and five informal votes. Senator Lines is therefore elected President of the Senate in accordance with the standing orders.

Senator Lines having been conducted to the dais—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, senators, for the honour and privilege that you have bestowed upon me today. Thank you, Senator Allman-Payne, for participating in this ballot here today. It's always good to see the democratic processes in place. I'd like to thank the outgoing deputy president, Senator Andrew McLachlan, for his work as deputy and, in particular, for his work as Chair of Committees. I applaud his collegiate and insightful contributions to the difficult decisions that we as presiding officers made in the 47th Parliament. The reforms that the Deputy President led to ensure that our temporary chairs are well supported will continue, and I thank him for that work.

As I said in my nomination speech, it is an extraordinary privilege to preside over the Australian Senate. This chamber is grounded in tradition, where the voices from every state and territory are brought together to represent and review the laws which shape our nation. I'm incredibly proud to have presided over the full adoption of the Jenkins review and the passage of all relevant legislation. I have been, and will continue to be, a steady and firm hand, striving for better standards of behaviour in this chamber while working predominately behind the scenes to ensure we foster a place of fierce but respectful debate.

In my first term I was able to represent Australia on the international stage to strengthen our relationships with other parliaments. I'm particularly proud to hold an executive position in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and to have led a bipartisan delegation to China and Mongolia—the first visit in over seven years by a parliamentary delegation.

Since taking the role, I have worked hard to ensure the people's house is welcoming and accessible. That includes the establishment of an elders pass and our elders room, the establishment of our artist-in-residence program and the commemoration of significant events through our illumination program on the facade of this amazing building.

I am thankful to have worked with impressive people in the departments that I oversee, including the Clerk, the Usher of the Black Rod and everyone at the Department of the Senate, the Department of Parliamentary Services, the Parliamentary Budget Office and the Parliamentary Education Office. As we look ahead to the 48th Parliament, I know that this chamber will continue to be a forum for rigorous debate but also for cooperation and respect through our absolutely stellar committee system. I look forward to working with all of you, and I thank all senators for the honour today of electing me as President.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the government to congratulate you on your re-election as President of the Senate. It is a bipartisan tradition that the government nominates the President of the Senate, and, whilst this is often a partisan place, I do want to publicly thank again the Senate and, in particular, Senator Cash and her team for continuing to respect this longstanding convention.

I'd like to make some comments about Senator Lines's excellent work representing the interests of the Senate both within this building and beyond. These are the reasons that the government has nominated her for re-election. Senator Lines has demonstrated her signature passion and commitment to make the parliament safe, accessible and welcoming to all Australians, including in the ways that she has described in her speech, by welcoming visitors to open day and illuminations on the Parliament House facade and by the introduction of passes specifically for local elders and traditional custodians of land, to recognise their generosity in welcoming us to country.

I particularly want to commend the President on her leadership and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Set the standard report and her efforts to make this workplace safer and more respectful for all. In this, we all have a responsibility, and in this there is much more work to do.

Finally, as Leader of the Government in the Senate and as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I want to recognise the President's contribution to Australia's standing in the world. This includes hosting Prime Minister Marape of Papua New Guinea—the first ever Pacific islands leader to address this parliament—and leading the first parliamentary delegation to China in over half a decade. Senator Lines has the respect and support of senators across this chamber, and I am confident in her as the principal defender of the role and the authority of this Senate. On behalf of the government, President, I congratulate you and wish you continued success.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I rise on behalf of the opposition to congratulate you on your re-election today in accordance with, as Senator Wong has stated, the longstanding convention in this place that the party of government nominates the President of the Senate. As you are well aware, this is a position of great responsibility—one that is at the heart of the traditions, dignity and proper functioning of this chamber and of the wider parliamentary democracy.

The President of the Senate has a unique and significant duty within our system of government. As President, you are entrusted with maintaining order in the chamber, ensuring that the standing orders are properly observed and upholding the long-established rules and conventions that give this place its authority. In fulfilling this responsibility, it is incumbent upon you in the role to act with impartiality and fairness, allowing the Senate to debate with vigour and passion while ensuring that decorum is maintained and that all senators, regardless of party or persuasion, are heard in accordance with the rules.

You are also the guardian of the rights and privileges of this chamber and of its members. We are all aware that that is no small responsibility. The proper functioning of this place depends not only on robust debate but also on the confidence of all senators that their rights will be respected and protected. It is through your stewardship that this confidence must be reinforced.

The opposition affirms our commitment to supporting the proper conduct of the Senate's business. While our duty requires us to hold the government to account, we equally recognise our responsibility to ensure that this Senate operates as it should—as a house of review, a forum for the states and a vital part of Australia's democratic fabric. Again, congratulations, President, on behalf of the opposition.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Australian Greens, I offer you our congratulations on returning to your role as President of this chamber and I acknowledge that we have an awful lot of work to do, because people are really doing it tough and the planet is on fire. I look forward to a constructive term of government, and I also want to acknowledge that it was great to have two women nominated for the role. Naturally, we backed our lady because she's fabulous, but we wish you all the very best in your role.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to inform senators that the Governor-General would be pleased to receive the President and senators in the Members Hall at 2.30 pm.

Sitting suspended from 11:33 to 14:25