Speaker, Election

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (11:38): I remind the House of Assembly that it is now necessary to proceed to the election of a Speaker. I move:

That the member for Croydon take the chair of the house as Speaker.

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (11:38): Mr Clerk, I second the motion.

The CLERK: Are there any further nominations? Member for Croydon?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon) (11:38): I accept the nomination.

The CLERK: I declare the member for Croydon elected as Speaker.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson was escorted to the dais by the mover and the seconder of the motion.

The SPEAKER (11:39): In accordance with the standing orders and in compliance with the traditions of the house, I humbly accept nomination, and I look forward to a parliament in which the number of opposition questions in question time is two or three times the historical average and that ministers are heard in silence, or something like it. The Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (11:39): Mr Speaker, it falls to me to offer the congratulations of at least this side of the house on your election to such high office. We have experienced your wise control of the house in the previous parliament, and it is a great pleasure to welcome you again to this important role in this parliament. We trust that you will conduct this house in a fashion that adds to the civility of the discourse in the pursuit of what is in the best interest of the people of South Australia.

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (11:40): On behalf of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition I too offer our heartfelt congratulations for your election to this high office of the Parliament of South Australia. We look forward to your impartial chairmanship of this chamber. Thank you, sir.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Health Industries) (11:40): I also, as Leader of Government Business in the house, offer my congratulations. You certainly had a firm control over the previous parliament in the time that you were in office. I always found, sir, when I was in that chair, that the rulings of Speaker Gunn were particularly useful.

The SPEAKER: I thank the house for its confidence, and I hope that the Leader of Government Business will be able to recall that it requires a motion after naming for us to get on with the business of the house; a matter that he singularly forgot in the last parliament. Thank you.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (11:42): I inform the house that His Excellency the Governor will be prepared to receive the house for the purposes of presenting the Speaker at 12:15 today. I move:

That the sitting of the house be suspended until 12:05pm.

Motion carried.

[Sitting suspended from 11:43 to 12:05]