Opening of Session-Election of Speaker-28 October, 1981 29 Wednesday, 28 October, 1981 FIRST SESSION OF THE FORTY-SEVENTH PARLIAMENT The House met at 2.15 p.m., pursuant to the proclamation of His Excellency the Governor. The Clerk read the proclamation. The Clerk announced that he had received a list, certified by His Excellency the Governor, of the names of the members to serve in this Parliament, together with the writs on which they had been returned; with His Excellency's certification that the writs had been returned prior to the day by which they were by law returnable. OPENING OF SESSION The Usher of the Black Rod, being admitted, delivered a message from the Commissioners requesting the immediate attendance of this House in the Legislative Council Chamber to hear the Commission for the opening of Parliament read. The House went, and members having returned, OATH OR AFFIIWATION OF ALLEGIANCE The Clerk informed the House that His Excellency the Governor had issued a Commission authorizing the Hon. N. K. Wran, the Hon. L. J. Ferguson and the Hon. P. F. Cox to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen required by law to be taken or made by members of the Assembly. The Clerk read the Commission. MEMBERS WORN All members, with the exception of Mr Jones, Mr O'Connell and Mr O'Neill, took and subscribed the oath or affirmation, and signed the roll. ELECTION OF SPEAKER Mr PETERSEN (Illawarra) [3.2]: Mr Clerk, I move: That Lawrence Borthwick Kelly do take the chair of this House as Spder. 30 ASSEMBLY-Election of Speaker This is the third time that I have had the honour of proposing the honourable member for Commal for the high office of Speaker. In 1976 I seconded the motion moved by the honourable member for Balrnain. In 1978 I moved a motion similar to the one I have moved today. On that occasion I said that I looked forward to being a member of the Forty-seventh Parliament, when another member would again nominate the honourable member for Corrimal for the Speakership. As a representative of a neigh- bouring electorate and a political and personal friend for twenty-four years, I am flattered that rather than call upon another member to nominate him, he has requested me to do so. Since his election to Parliament in 1968 the honourable member for Corrimal has been an avid student of the workings of Parliament. In the Forty-fourth Parlia- ment he became a member of the Standing Orders Committee-an experience that stood him in good stead when he was elected Speaker of the Forty-fifth Parliament. In 1976 I said that if there was one reason for preferring him to a candidate of the coalition parties, it was his attachment to democracy as a form of govern- ment. At that time the Labor Party had a majority of only one in the Legislative Assembly. Labor's commitment to the principles of democracy were fully tested by the Opposition, particularly when it is considered that Labor had a minority of one in the grossly undemocratic, anachronistic Legislative Council. It was indicative of the man's stature in office that I could say in 1978 that the honourable member for Corrimal had not disappointed us in our expectations of him as Mr speaker-demonstrated by the fact that he was unopposed in caucus when nominated for the position. In 1978 the Labor Government had a majority of twenty-seven in the Legis- lative Assembly and a majority of three in the partially democratically elected Legis- lative Council. I must say, frankly, that in the past three years with those numbers life became much more joyous, with Mr Speaker Kelly in full control of the House. The successful implementation of the Government's legislative programme was in no small part due to the way in which though allowing the opposition the full rights to speak and criticize, Mr Speaker Kelly made it his duty to ensure that the progressive policies of the Labor Government were carried through. As part of his duties in the office of Speaker the honourable member for Corrimal has been chairman of two important committees of Parliament-the Building Committee and the House Com- mittee. His accountancy experience was extremely valuable in overcoming difficulties experienced in moving to our present, much more adequate quarters than existed in the old building, which lacked both convenience and architectural merit. The new building will be completed during this term of Parliament. The fact that the changes have been made with a minimum of disruption and with a maximum of concern for the needs of members is due undoubtedly to his administrative competence, which I am glad to recognize. Additionally, Mr Speaker Kelly displayed a concern for the rights of the staff, which is a credit to his Labor principles. However, important though that administrative competence may be, it is not only for that ability that he will be remembered. The term of the honourable member for Corrimal as Speaker will be remem- bered as one in which a Labor Government carried through reformist programmes that had the undoubted support of a majority of the people of New South Wales. That support was reilected again in the results of the recent elections. The fact that the Labor Party's majority increased to thirty-nine in the Legislative Assembly and to four in the Legislative Council is due basically to the satisfaction that the electorate in general displays towards the New South Wales Labor Government. An integral part of that Gover~lmentis the office of Speaker. The contributions made by Mr Speaker Election of Speaker-28 October, 1981 3 1 Kelly have increased public confidence in the role of government. I urge honourable members to vote unanimously to elect Lawrence Borthwick Kelly again as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. Mr QUINN (Wentworthville) [3.9]: Mr Clerk, I second the motion. Honour- able members are aware that the honourable member for Corrimal has occupied the position of Speaker of this House during the terms of the past two Parliaments. He has carried out his duties with dignity and has been a true guardian of the rights and privi- leges of all members of this House, irrespective of the side of the House upon which they may sit. He is a strong disciplinarian and has maintained order on difficult occa- sions when a lesser man may have failed. He has used Standing Order 387 and Standing Order 392 only as a last resort, and then only after frequent warnings. Members of the Opposition may complain that those orders are applied only to Opposition members. I, too, thought that when I occupied a seat on the Opposition benches under the Speakerships of the late Sir Kevin Ellis and the present honourable member for North- cott. The true position is that Government supporters, having been repeatedly called to order, either comply with Mr Speaker's directions or quietly leave the Chamber. The honourable member for Corrimal has demonstrated his ability to exert control over all members of the House, whether they be the Premier, Ministers, party lenders or private members. His rulings have been fair and consistent. He has proved himself to be a worthy custodian of the rights and privileges of all members. He is the choice of the Labor Party. I commend the motion to the House. Mr KELLY (Corrimal) [3.10]: I accept the nomination and submit myself to the will and pleasure of the House. Mr DOWD (Lane Cove), Leader of the Opposition [3.10]: It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the Opposition to state that it does not oppose the nomination of Lawrence Borthwick Kelly, the former Speaker of the House, for re-election to this high office. Indeed, the Opposition would contemplate no one else from the Govern- ment benches to hold that post. No other Speaker, I might say, will have had an Opposition so willing to respect the proceedings of the House, especially decisions from the Chair. Parliament would be a dull place indeed without the glimpses of democracy that set us apart from the rest of the world. Though it seems to Opposition members that there have been times when the Speaker's rulings have been somewhat more rigorous than we would have liked, I note that I have suffered his censure on four occasions only. I think that is a tribute to the former Speaker's patience rather than to my conduct. I have served in this Parliament under only two Speakers, and as I understand that the other person who served as Speaker in my time in this House is not available for the office, I say only that I have learned much about the office of Speaker as I have observed Lawrence Borthwick Kelly carrying out his duties. In making these remarks I wish to thank the honourable member for Corrimal for the assistance he has given to me and for the courtesy he extended to my colleagues and staff inside and outside the House prior to 19th September and since that time, in what sometimes have been trying days. I look forward to maintaining an excellent working relationship with the new Speaker. Mr PUNCH (Gloucester) , Leader of the Country Party [3.12]: The Country Party does not oppose the appointment of Lawrence Borthwick ICelly as Speaker. I trust that the impartiality he has shown will continue to be demonstrated, particularly in regard to question time and the allocation of questions.