Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is an honour to second the nomination of the member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, as Deputy Speaker of this House. We know that we all bring two things to any position we have: our experience and our character. The member for Parkes scores mightily well on both of these traits. With regard to character, he is widely respected on both sides of this House. He is a person of great integrity and someone I respect very much.

In relation to experience, he has been a member of this House for nine years. He has served in many capacities: as shadow minister, the National Party whip for six years—as the member for Dawson has just said—and he has been the chair, or the member, of many standing committees. He has been the chair of the Standing Committee on Publications and a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Appropriations and Administration. He has also been on the Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs, the Joint Committee on the Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings, Standing Committee on Health and Ageing and many more.

Being the member for an electorate that spans nearly 400,000 square kilometres brings some unique skills. The role of Deputy Speaker, like the Speaker, very much sets the tone of this chamber. Given his sense of a fair go, his stability and his compassion for others, I know the member for Parkes would make a fine Deputy Speaker—one that would uphold and promote the importance of our democratic traditions and processes for the governance and future of this great nation. I commend the member for Parkes' nomination to the House.

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