Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Hansard source

I wish to inform the Senate that next Tuesday, 14 August, I will wait upon His Excellency the Governor-General and tender my resignation as President of the Senate. I decided on this course of action many months ago because I believe that after 20 years in the Senate and five years as President it is, for me, an appropriate time to retire. I also intend to resign as a senator for Tasmania before the September sitting period. I will not delay the Senate now, and trust that there will be an opportunity for me to say more at an appropriate time before next Tuesday. But I want to say that I count it as a great privilege to have been your President, and I have appreciated the support of all senators in carrying out that role.