Members

President, Election

The CLERK: Honourable members, I have to inform the council that I have received the following letter from the Hon. T.J. Stephens:

Dear Clerk,

I write to you formally advising my resignation from the office of President of the Legislative Council effective 2:00pm on 8 September 2020.

Yours sincerely,

Hon. Terry Stephens MLC

I call the on the Treasurer.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:15): Mr Clerk, I move:

That the Hon. J.S. Lee be the President of the Legislative Council.

The CLERK: The Hon. J.S. Lee, do you accept the nomination?

The Hon. J.S. LEE: I accept the nomination.

The CLERK: Are there any other nominations?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): I move:

That the Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins be the President of the Legislative Council.

The CLERK: The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins, do you accept the nomination?

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I submit myself to the will of the council.

The CLERK: Are there any other nominations? There being no other nomination, however there being two members proposed and seconded for the office of President, ballot slips will be distributed in accordance with standing order 18 and honourable members will please write on the slip the name of the member whom they consider most fit and proper to be the President of the Legislative Council.

The council then proceeded to a ballot.

The CLERK: I ask the Treasurer and the Leader of the Opposition to come to the table to act as scrutineers.

The Hon. J.S. Lee received 11 votes. The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins received 11 votes. As there is an equality of votes, another ballot is necessary under standing order 20. Election slips will again be distributed.

The council then proceeded to a ballot.

The CLERK: I again invite the Treasurer and the Leader of the Opposition to act as scrutineers.

As there is again an equality of votes, the question must be determined by lot. I will write down the names of the two nominees.

The member whose name I first draw from the ballot box will be deemed to have obtained the greater number of votes and will duly be elected President.

The Clerk then proceeded to draw the lot.

The CLERK: The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins' name having been withdrawn from the box he is therefore deemed to have obtained the greater number of votes. Accordingly, I declare the Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins elected as President. The Treasurer and the Leader of the Opposition will escort the President-elect to the chair.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins was escorted to the dais by the Treasurer and the Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:32): I move:

That the sitting of the council be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

Motion carried.

Sitting suspended from 14:32 to 14:49.

The President read prayers.

The PRESIDENT: We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of this country throughout Australia, and their connection to the land and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.