Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Deputy President, and congratulations on your appointment. So here we are: a new parliament, a new government and a new beginning. The night before election day, I wrote this in my diary: 'I'm not daring to hope, not daring to imagine, what might evolve if we win one or more seats and the teal Independents do too. This may be the election that breaks the back of the two-party system.' Standing here just a couple of months later, I don't have to imagine. The people have spoken, and they have elected 30 Greens and Independents into the House and the Senate. And, for our Greens vote, I want to thank every voter, every volunteer, every member, every campaigner and every staff person who worked together to deliver this excellent result.

I can't tell you how delighted I am to be joined by three new Greens senators and three members of the House of Representatives, and, as I've welcomed them to this place and their first speeches have begun, I have been reflecting on my early days as a senator and on just how much has changed since then.