Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Nationals and the member for Wannon for their kind remarks. I am not sure that I will be able to emulate Speaker Peel’s Zen-like qualities. Quite correctly, mention has been made of the role that the member for Wannon played in the 41st Parliament as our Speaker. It was a privilege to serve him as a Deputy Speaker. Over the last couple of months, he has exemplified the way in which he conducts himself by being of great assistance in making me feel that I was part of a smooth transition so that the workings of this parliament could continue. I thank David and Penny for their great kindness to me, Michele and my family.

I thank the mover and seconder of my nomination. They join a long list of colleagues that have moved and seconded my nomination for both Speaker and Deputy Speaker. They are amongst the more successful, having engineered an election without opponent—I do not know whether they had anything to do with that. I say to them that, despite their efforts as nominee and seconder, they get no special privileges. Along with the rest of the urgers that are to my right, they are on notice.

I hope that those on my left will allow me a slight indulgence as I indicate my great pride that former Prime Minister Whitlam is in the gallery at the time of my election. For me and for my development in my political career, Gough has been a very important part of my life.

To my family who are in the gallery—my mother, wife, two sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, who has nearly had to absent herself because she is demanding equal time, parents-in-law, brother, sister and niece—I say that I have been very lucky to have the stable support of family. I reflect that I am a product of the northern suburbs of Melbourne and I have the opportunity to represent an electorate that is the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Perhaps I come from a slightly more privileged background than the people I represent, but this is a great honour—and I hope that the people of Scullin see that this is a great honour that is bestowed upon them to have their representative elevated to this high office.

The member for Wannon mentioned the staff of the House of Representatives—the clerks. I should admit that I have been a very difficult occupant of this chair from time to time for the Clerk and the deputy clerks. I hope that they will continue to excuse my stubbornness and understand that I do listen to them. I look forward to a cooperative relationship with them.

Today before the formal proceedings of the parliament, a welcome to country was conducted in the Members Hall. Matilda House talked about proper respect. I think, from all of the comments made today, that members of this House understand that, by the way in which we are able to respect each other, we in turn show that we respect those people that we represent and the nation of Australia.

Mention was made that I follow on from Speaker Dr Jenkins. From the outset it was never my intention that that would necessarily occur, but I acknowledge that it is a footnote in history that is important. Some 25 years ago, I was in the front row of the gallery in the provisional Parliament House. When I looked down on the chamber, there was a much different atmosphere. Three members of this place were there on that day: the father of the House, the member for Berowra, who has had a very distinguished career in this place; the member for O’Connor—I say that his is a much larger footnote in the history of parliamentary procedure; and the third was—and it is impossible to believe with such a youthful looking character as the member for Gippsland—an even younger member for Gippsland, who had arrived in this place for his first day.

As the Prime Minister mentioned, proceedings were much different in the old chamber. They were only broadcast on radio. We now, as the Prime Minister mentioned, have televising and webcast. We are a much more modern parliament than 25 years ago, and that of course is one of the great challenges that we confront.

To all of you, I wish you all the best in your endeavours. I hope that through my actions I am able to assist you in achieving those things that you wish to achieve. I once again thank the House for the great honour that they have bestowed upon me.

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