Members

Speaker, Election

The CLERK: Honourable members, I received the following letter from the Hon. Vincent Tarzia, dated 28 July 2020:

Dear Mr Clerk

The purpose of this letter is to inform of my resignation from my role as Speaker of the House of Assembly in the South Australian Parliament, effective immediately.

I thank the staff of the Parliament, and the Members of Parliament for their contribution during my term.

It has been a privilege and honour to serve in this role, and at all times I have worked to maintain the dignity, reputation and integrity of the Parliament.

I have tried to be a fair, diligent and approachable Speaker.

Special thanks to the staff of the Parliament for assisting with opening up the Parliament to the public, with the live streaming of Question Time on Facebook.

Best regards,

The Hon. Vincent Tarzia MP

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (11:00): I remind the house that it will now be necessary to proceed to the election of the speaker. I move:

That the member for Heysen take the chair of this house as Speaker.

Mr TEAGUE: I accept the nomination.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (11:01): I move:

That the member for Florey take the chair of this house as Speaker.

Ms BEDFORD: I am more than deeply honoured to accept the nomination.

The CLERK: As there are two nominations, both members proposed may address the house, as may the movers and seconders and any other member.

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (11:02): I thank the mover and the seconder. I accept the nomination with humility. That is with the consciousness of the high honour bestowed by honourable members upon the Speaker of this house. I am also aware that I have served a relatively short period in this place, having been elected in March 2018.

It is vital that the Speaker is fair, impartial and acting in accord with our rules-based system in this house in the interests of all members. I will do that. I pay respect to all members and I recognise the member for Florey, who has also accepted nomination.

I brought to this role my experience in the legal profession, through which I have developed a deep respect for our system of justice. This parliament, its deliberations and leadership, is at the core of our state's institutional strength and integrity. I am particularly conscious of the value of our parliament at this time as we face a global pandemic. In that regard, I am glad that the parliament has been able to continue sitting throughout this year with only very minimal disruption. That should continue. As I said in my first speech:

It is a great honour to serve in this parliament. When we look about us in this chamber, we are reminded of the long and stable history of democracy in South Australia. It is a proud history, but we should never take it for granted. We live in a time when democratic systems are in retreat in many parts of the world and when public faith in democracy is in decline. The preservation of democracy and the preservation of public confidence in democracy is a profound responsibility for all of us who serve here. I hope that I may fulfil my responsibilities in this house to our democracy and to the communities of Heysen.

With the confidence of the house, I hope to fulfil my responsibilities to this house, to our democracy and to all South Australians as Speaker.

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (11:04): Members, we gather here on Kaurna lands today to create what I hope will be an exciting new page in the history of this parliament. I am honoured to be nominated for the role of Speaker, and I thank my colleagues on the crossbench for their encouragement and support and the opposition for understanding the reasons I have accepted the nomination.

I know perhaps better than most how things work in politics and have endured a few exciting votes in my time, but I believe very strongly in the value of the vote. Whatever happens here today, democracy of a sort will take place because members will have had a chance to use their consciences, to truly press the reset button, with the important role of Speaker being decided by one of South Australia's best creations: the secret ballot.

Before that takes place, however, I enjoy the very liberating experience of having unlimited time to address you all, and that may be something I push to the full advantage. Lunch is at one, so who knows how we will go. I know there is other pressing business, and the leader of the business of the house told us about it this morning.

I have always owned my own vote, and this is an opportunity for us to show the people for whom we all come to this place to work that we put them first. After all, we are here to debate their futures and not our own. This house, the people's house, should be a place of great discussion and debate, a place where ideas and inspiration mix freely, a place where every member has a voice and where every issue is a matter of public importance.

Dissent is not something to be scorned or suppressed; rather, it is to be celebrated as a sign of a healthy democracy. Any repercussions or recriminations against anyone taking part in today's vote should be called out, and it would be a terrible indictment should I not continue to enjoy a good relationship with all of you here just for wanting to give you a choice.

So I come to what can only be described as the mother of all interviews. In the past, a panel of nine has probably been the biggest I have faced; today, I have 46 very discerning people to address. Even more daunting as a panel is the electorate that I have been able to represent—and which we all represent, a panel of some 20,000-plus members—every time we go to an election.

I am beholden to the electors of Florey for backing me on six occasions, most recently in the very difficult circumstances where my actions were again motivated by providing a choice to voters. So today's circumstance is not really new for me; it is something that I have believed in for a very long time. I could not have done this, of course, without my family and staff, who have been more than happy to work with me on each occasion I have put my name forward in this state.

In offering this chance to push the reset button, I am very aware of the fact that, during the past two days, we have had a couple of really important announcements, which I know will go a long way to reinforce to the people of this state that we are actually here for their futures and not our own. While I know you are all very busy people, and while I did detect some of my lines in the member for Heysen's recent address, I did forward to you all a letter. As only four of you have responded, I can only presume that you have not had time to read it.

The thing I think is most relevant to today's vote is at Westminster, the mother of all parliaments, it has been a long-held tradition that Speakers should be independent of party allegiances and above day-to-day multipartisan contests. I acknowledge, Premier, I have taken a variation of the norm in not supporting the government's nominee because I actually believe it is critically important that all members have a say in who the Speaker of the house is. The role of the Speaker must aim to bring out the best in our parliament and in each parliamentarian. I know all of us combined can put our efforts into making this state as great as we all know it is, and it can be even more so.

In the past, I have had the opportunity to be Deputy Speaker and look after the house under that most esteemed character, former Speaker Atkinson. I have obviously had the opportunity to sit under a number of Speakers, so I am aware that Speakers' personalities or traits do tend to lift the house. I think the house does need to be—whoever is successful today—a place of much more harmony.

As Mother of the House, I am sure some of you will know my commitment to parliament and the promotion of what it does amongst the people, the role of democracy and the value of the vote, and I will always put parliament first. In my trips around the state, dressed rather quaintly as a person of the last century, I cannot explain to you how important it is: people do know what is going on in here. We may not think they understand the intricacies of what goes on, but they do understand and they want to be proud of us. It is our role to make sure they are proud of us and their parliament.

South Australia deserves a parliament focused on its needs, especially in the face, as the member for Heysen said, of the challenges we will have to address in the post-COVID environment. I would also anticipate putting significant effort into continuing my community outreach so that we have more people engaged in the process and not looking on it as a forced journey to have a sausage one day every four years, because democracy actually happens every day.

Early steps in what we might do here would be to upgrade our website and reach out further to the schools of the state, and regional visits. I know we are very keen to make sure the regions are included in everything we do. So I can assure you that not only will I give you my word on impartiality but I will always put parliament first and I will do everything that I can to lift our standing in the community.

Further, with the support of the house and in cooperation with Legislative Council, as your Speaker, if I am elected, I will also seek to work with all members to advance reform of the practices and operations of the house and the parliament. I think it is vitally important we prioritise making parliament a better workplace and example to the rest of the state.

So our choice of Speaker must be a new beginning, a real line, a chance to reshape the future of how our parliament will be seen and regarded by the communities of our electorates. I put myself forward as your candidate and leave myself in your hands in confidence that each of you will exercise your vote according to your conscience and with the best interests of the parliament and the public of South Australia foremost in your minds.

The CLERK: There being two members who have accepted nominations, there must be a ballot pursuant to standing order 8. Members are required to write the name of their chosen candidate on the ballot slip being distributed.

The house then proceeded to a ballot.

The CLERK: There being 23 votes for the member for Florey, 23 votes for the member for Heysen and one informal vote and there being two candidates with an equality of votes, pursuant to standing order 9 there is a requirement for a fresh ballot. Members are required to write the name of their chosen candidate on the ballot slip being distributed.

The house then proceeded to a ballot.

Ms BEDFORD: Mr Clerk, I am a little concerned that members have been showing their votes to other members in a secret ballot, which could be—

Members interjecting:

Ms BEDFORD: Order, stop!

Members interjecting:

Ms BEDFORD: No, stop—a contempt of the parliament and the process we are undertaking.

The CLERK: I acknowledge the member's comments. There being 25 votes for the member for Heysen and 22 votes for the member for Florey, the member for Heysen having received an absolute majority of votes, I declare the member for Heysen to be elected as Speaker of this house.

Mr TEAGUE: In compliance with the standing orders and in accordance with the traditions of the parliament, I humbly submit myself to the will of the house.

Mr Teague was escorted to the dais by the mover and seconder of the motion.

The SPEAKER (Hon. J.B. Teague) (11:26): Standing as I do at this top step, I am very conscious of the fine traditions of this house. I thank members for the confidence that they have placed in me. Fairness to all members is at the core of this role, and I will do my best faithfully to do fairness to all members in preserving the utmost reputation, strength and solidarity of this place.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (11:27): Mr Speaker, I offer my congratulations to you. I have known the member for Heysen for some years. He was, of course, elected to this parliament only 2½ years ago, but in that time he has very much impressed the party room, as well as his own electorate, the electorate of Heysen. I have no doubt whatsoever that you will do an outstanding job in this role.

Can I also, while I am on my feet, acknowledge the work of the previous Speaker, the member for Hartley, and congratulate him on his carriage of this very important office. I also acknowledge the member for Florey, who is the Mother of the House or, as somebody said recently, the Grandmother of the House.

Ms Bedford: My preferred title.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I thank you for your speech to the house. Many of the sentiments contained in it are sentiments we strongly support on this side of the house. We thank you for the contest. We do live in a democracy, and I think it is important that we have opportunities like this. We look forward to continuing to work very cooperatively with you. Sir, to you, we say congratulations and all the very best in this important office of the parliament.

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (11:28): On behalf of the opposition, Mr Speaker, we too would like to congratulate you on being elected and elevated to this incredibly esteemed office and a fundamentally important role in the functioning of a robust democracy. You are elected to this position at an incredibly important time for our state. Naturally, it is well documented that the role of this parliament during the course of this global pandemic is important. The deliberations that are undertaken in this place are critical to the standard of living and the livelihoods of so many South Australians.

It is a democracy, and in that context I, too, would like to thank the member for Florey for her nomination in this role. Albeit that we would have liked to see the member for Florey's elevation to this esteemed position, we do, indeed, sir, wish you all the very best in your newly elevated position and hope that you conduct the function of the Speakership with independence and impartiality.

It is unfortunate, Mr Speaker, that you have come to the role at a time when the house is not necessarily standing in the greatest of stead. The vacancy of the Speakership comes in acrimonious circumstances at a time that has called into question the repute of this parliament. I sincerely hope, sir, that your leadership in this position does the parliament great justice and the people great justice and indeed restores confidence and faith to what should be an institution that sets an example to the South Australian people, rather than the opposite.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (11:30): Let me give you my congratulations, Mr Speaker, as well—and I will embellish that or go more deeply into that in person. Thank you to the member for Florey for standing, and I am pleased that we had a very clear majority in the vote in the end. So congratulations, Speaker.