Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the government, I congratulate Mr Coulton on being elected Deputy Speaker. He stands in the boots of Bruce Scott, his predecessor, another National Party member and great farmer. As Deputy Speaker he will bring all of that wisdom and experience of the land to support you in your role, Mr Speaker, so we are delighted by his success in this ballot.

Our congratulations, too, to the Second Deputy Speaker, Rob Mitchell, the member for McEwen. I would say to the honourable member that his numbers might have been a bit better had the member for Bendigo not described him as the Labor Party's Falstaff. Of course, Falstaff—

Opposition members: Lalor!

I do beg your pardon—Lalor. Falstaff had almost none of the qualities required of a Speaker, so that may have undermined his candidacy. Nonetheless, we congratulate the member for McEwen on his election and look forward to him too supporting the Speaker in this House.

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