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

I rise on behalf of the opposition to congratulate Senator Lines on being elected Deputy President and Chair of Committees. Senator Lines is only the third woman to hold this office, the others being former senator Margaret Reid, who went on to become the Senate's first female President, in 1996, and former senator Sue West, who held the deputy's position from 1997 to 2002. This chamber has increased the number of women by one, to 30 senators, since the end of the 44th Parliament, and I am particularly pleased that the opposition now has a woman holding the positions of leader, whip, deputy whips and Deputy President.

Senator Lines has previously served as a Temporary Chair of Committees. She entered the Senate following the retirement of Chris Evans in 2013 and has served on a number of standing committees, most notably as Chair of the Education and Employment References Committee. We are confident, on this side of the chamber, that Senator Lines will bring her experience and her personality to the important role of Deputy President and Chair of Committees.

I also pay tribute to Senator Marshall. I thank him for his service as Deputy President since July 2014. He is someone with regard for the traditions and conventions of this chamber and was a fair and effective chair. I look forward to his future contribution to the opposition.