Tuesday, 2 August 2022


Members

Deputy Speaker


Mr ANDREWS, Ms ALLAN, Ms SULEYMAN, Ms STALEY

Members

Deputy Speaker

Election

The SPEAKER: Are there any nominations?

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:45): I propose that the member for St Albans, Ms Natalie Suleyman, be Deputy Speaker. I move:

That the member for St Albans be appointed Deputy Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Who seconds the motion?

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (12:46): I am very pleased to second the motion.

The SPEAKER: Does the member for St Albans accept the nomination?

Ms SULEYMAN (St Albans) (12:46): I am honoured to accept the nomination.

The SPEAKER: Are there any further nominations? The time for nominations has closed. I declare that the member for St Albans, being the only member nominated, has been elected Deputy Speaker.

Members applauded.

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:47): Speaker, if I might make some brief remarks in congratulating the Deputy Speaker on her elevation to that high office, the member for St Albans is a proud advocate and champion on behalf of Melbourne’s western suburbs, someone who has served this Parliament with great distinction since arriving here in 2014. She is unique in many respects—not least of which, I am reliably informed, is being the very first person of Cypriot Turkish heritage to be elected to any Parliament in our nation—and someone who is very passionate and very effective when it comes to advocating on behalf of the diverse communities that make up Melbourne and Victoria and particularly Melbourne’s west. She is a great champion for multiculturalism, for equality, for inclusion and for economic and educational opportunities. She will serve this place with great distinction, and I offer her, on behalf of the parliamentary Labor Party, our wholehearted congratulations on her elevation to such high office.

Ms STALEY (Ripon) (12:48): On behalf of the Liberals and Nationals, I also offer our congratulations to the new Deputy Speaker. We look forward to working with her in the way we worked previously with you, Speaker, before you were elevated to your high office, and we congratulate her on assuming that position.