Members

Simms, Hon. R.A.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (17:16): By leave of the council, I move, with much pleasure:

That this council welcomes the Hon. Robert Simms, elected by an Assembly of Members of both houses on 4 May 2021 to replace the Hon. M.C. Parnell (resigned).

In speaking briefly to this motion I know I speak on behalf of all members of the Legislative Council in warmly welcoming the Hon. Mr Simms—that will be the first time it has been put on the public record. In doing so I am not going to spend any more time in saying nice things about the Hon. Mr Parnell, a Green giant that you are following in this particular chamber. I thought my very kind comments about the Hon. Mr Parnell were buried in the annuls of Hansard, only to find the Premier digging them up and quoting them back at me this morning in terms of the welcome at the Assembly of Members to you, the Hon. Mr Simms.

As I said, we welcome you here today. In terms of the process today, this is an opportunity for you to make your first speech—we have moved on from 'maiden' speeches to first speech—to the Legislative Council. It will then be adjourned, soon after your speech, and one or two other members will speak on another occasion. We will not delay the dinner break unduly for both you and others, and will allow you the opportunity to speak.

In welcoming the Hon. Mr Simms, I have just one simple message as the Leader of the Government to the Hon. Mr Simms. As I said, he is following a Green giant in this particular chamber, the Hon. Mr Parnell, but the simple message is: I am from the government and I am here to help you. With that, we welcome you to this particular chamber.