Sid Sidebottom (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Clerk of the House, Members, it is with great pleasure and much pride that I nominate the member for Scullin, Mr Harry Jenkins, to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. I move:

That the honourable member for Scullin do take the chair of this House as Speaker.

Harry has been in public service for nearly 30 years. He was born in Melbourne in 1952. Harry’s close family life was marked by community service and involvement, most often centred around his father’s medical practice and later parliamentary career. Harry succeeded his father, Harry Sr, as the member for Scullin in 1986, after his father had served the electorate with distinction from 1969 to 1986. Today Harry will further emulate his father, who was Speaker of the House from 1983 to 1986.

Harry Jenkins Jr won Scullin in a by-election in 1986 after a long stint in local government as a councillor, between 1979 and 1986—two years of which he served as shire president. Before entering parliament, Harry graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Australian National University and worked for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. His interest in all things scientific, and particularly the environment, has not waned in the meantime.

Harry has been re-elected to what we affectionately call ‘Fortress Scullin’ in eight successive elections, consolidating the seat for Labor in 2007 by 20 per cent—a testimony to his dedicated hard work and also that of his family over many years. Harry has been a great servant of his electorate, his beloved Labor Party and especially this parliament. He has chaired and/or been an active member of over 14 House of Representatives standing committees and joint statutory or joint select committees of the parliament. Equally, his representation of this parliament overseas has been widespread and carried out with distinction.

However, Harry’s special contribution to and recognition within the parliament has been associated with his long-term work as Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker, roles he has carried out with great distinction, dignity and equanimity. Indeed, many an MP like me—very ignorant of a particular standing order or indeed of parliamentary procedures—has been seen gravitating in the chamber towards the ever-composed figure of Harry to take instruction. ‘Order!’ That is the type of voice you need, Harry. Harry’s warm personality, great depth of character, mischievous sense of humour and calmness of mood and manner, along with his encyclopedic knowledge of parliamentary processes, are richly and deservedly rewarded today. It could not have happened to a better person.

Members, the Speaker-to-be’s star sign is Leo. I ask you to suspend any disbelief you may have in astrological predictions to ponder the following characteristics of Harry’s star sign:

Your fighting spirit is second to none! Nothing gets in the road of your ambitions, so it is quite clear that you will achieve what you set your heart upon. You desire the best, so while you could be happy with a life where you follow other people’s rules and regulations—

read ‘the standing orders’ for that—

mostly you will much prefer your own trail. This means you will carve out your niche and make a name for yourself and you will without doubt make your mark in the world—you can reach the top of the ladder no matter what field you choose.

Harry, you have chosen the speakership as your field, and your peers in this parliament have unanimously supported you in this endeavour. Our very best wishes accompany you in this task, and none more so than mine.

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