Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I echo the remarks of Senator Wong, who has indeed touched on the many attributes that I'm sure Senator McLachlan will bring to serving alongside you, President, as the Deputy President in this chamber. His experience stretches far beyond his service in this place, which has been distinguished and active but, indeed, it's an experience that does stretch, as Senator Wong has acknowledged, into the South Australian parliament and to serving as a presiding officer in that parliament.

I know that he will bring a sense of duty and a commitment to the impartiality of the chair, in working alongside you, that he will work as diligently as possible in the different roles that you and he undertake, particularly his roles in relation to Senate committees and the Chair of Committees in this place. I thank the Senate for its support of Senator McLachlan and the government for its continued recognition of the conventions of the Senate of this place, of our system of government, to which we remain equally committed.