Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I join Senator Abetz in acknowledging the long and meritorious service of the Queen. It is the first and almost certainly the last time the Australian Senate will mark such a milestone in relation to the monarch. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is, of course, the Queen of Australia. In fact, that has only been her title since 1973, and that is obviously not the only thing that has changed during her reign. So too has Australia's relationship to the United Kingdom and the monarchy. What has not changed is the affection of the Australian people for the Queen. On behalf of the opposition I extend our appreciation for her service.