Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, it's great to see another Victorian in the chair. I think you and I first met on the hustings in the campaign for the Senate; it might have been back in 2007. Our politics are very different—I think when you were cutting your teeth with the Institute of Public Affairs I was out there with my doctor's bag somewhere around the country—but I've always found you to be a very decent, straightforward, honest and direct person to deal with. I think you handled your role as Special Minister of State with aplomb, and I have to say on behalf of the Greens we've always found you to be very receptive.

You're one of the few parliamentarians in this place who has answered his phone almost religiously whenever we've called. I've had occasion to think that maybe you're not busy enough! But you have always been very receptive, and we're very grateful for your assistance. I'm sure you will conduct your role as President in the same way as you have conducted yourself previously. I didn't know that you were an expert on constitutional law. I suspect that some of your advice may be welcome to your side at the moment.

I want to say a couple of words about Senator Parry. Senator Parry was a very fine President. He did a good job. As Greens, again, although we may not have shared his political views, we all felt that he handled that role with the independence it requires and that he was always fair during question time, pulling up not just opposition and crossbench senators but sometimes people on his own team. I'm sure you'll conduct yourself in the same way.

I think that Senator Brandis said in his speech, 'We all know the circumstances in which he left.' Well, the sad fact is that we don't. We don't know all of the circumstances in which Senator Parry departed. We know that there are issues around him confiding in ministers, and that is obviously a concern and something that should be followed up at a later point.

In closing, Mr President, I understand you've had some health issues recently. Just be careful at those lunches and dinners that you'll be finding yourself presiding over regularly. You might want to make sure that you have some special meal requirements, because it's going to be a very taxing few years in the role. But we wish you all the best and good luck in your new role as President of the Senate.