Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

Senators, welcome back to the commencement of 2017. As indicated on the last sitting day, the Clerk of the Senate, Dr Rosemary Laing, has commenced a period of leave pending her retirement on 8 March. As you can see, Mr Richard Pye, the Clerk designate, will be Acting Clerk until his appointment takes effect on the morning of 9 March.

Honourable senators: Hear! Hear!

Let's hope they are still clapping in a year's time, Richard! Among the documents tabled at the start of today's proceedings was the 14th edition of Odgers' Australian SenatePractice. As explained in the preface, the book has acquired a new subtitle, 'as revised by Harry Evans', recognising the substantial contribution of the Senate's longest serving Clerk, the late Harry Evans, including his revision of Odgers' in its seventh edition and its production of a further five editions. The 14th edition is the second edited by Dr Laing, and brings the authoritative account of the practices and procedures of the Australian Senate up to date to the end of 2016. I am sure senators would like to join with me in thanking Dr Laing for this, her final substantive contribution as Clerk of the Senate.

Honourable senators: Hear! Hear!