The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has made 21 recommendations in its report on the “Conduct of the 2022 federal election and other matters”.
The Committee’s first recommendation is that the government consider asking the Committee to inquire into increasing the size of the House of Representatives.
The second recommendation is for territory Senate representation to be doubled from two to four.
The third recommendation is to permit on-the-day enrolment for federal elections and referendums.
The Committee also recommends that the media blackout be removed, subject to the government introducing truth in political advertising laws.
This is the maiden speech by Alan Tudge, delivered in the House of Representatives on October 26, 2010.
Tudge was 39 when he was elected to the Victorian electorate of Aston in Melbourne’s outer east.
Watch Tudge’s maiden speech – final half only (16m):
Aston had been held for the Liberal Party by Chris Pearce since a by-election in 2001. Previously, the seat had been held since 1990 by Peter Nugent, whose death precipitated the by-election. The only ALP member for Aston was John Saunderson, who won the seat at its creation in 1984, was re-elected in 1987 and defeated by Nugent in 1990.
Aston included the suburbs of Vermont, Knox, Scoresby and Wantirna. By the time Tudge retired in 2023, the seat had been redistributed a number of times and had shifted eastward to take in Boronia and Ferntree Gully, areas formerly in La Trobe.
Prior to his election, Tudge worked as a management consultant. He was seconded to Noel Pearson’s Cape York Institute. From 2002, Tudge worked as an adviser to Howard government ministers Brendan Nelson and Alexander Downer, before setting up his own policy advisory firm.
Tudge became a minister in 2016 and served in a number of portfolios under prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, until the government’s defeat in 2022. His first portfolio was as Minister for Human Services. His role in the RoboDebt scandal led to him giving testimony to the RoboDebt Royal Commission in the week before his retirement.
Tudge’s ministerial career ended as Minister for Education and Youth. He stood aside in December 2021, following allegations about his relationship with his former press secretary, although he retained the title until the government lost office.
At his final election on May 21, 2022, Aston recorded an 11.64% fall in the Liberal Party’s primary vote. A two-party-preferred swing of 7.32% saw Tudge retain the seat with 52.81% of the two-party vote.
This post was updated on February 9, 2023, following Tudge’s announcement of his retirement. A transcript of Tudge’s maiden speech appears below, as does video of his resignation statement.
Watch Tudge’s resignation statement and responses by Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Dutton (16m):
Kristy McBain has delivered her first speech to the House of Representatives, following her election as the ALP member for Eden-Monaro at a by-election on July 4, 2020.
McBain’s maiden speech is the first to be delivered in the House since the imposition of COVID-19 rules. Family members were permitted in the public gallery, but not the usual group of supporters and friends. At the end of her speech, colleagues did not hug her or shake her hand. A few bumped elbows. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the ALP gave her “a giant virtual hug”.
McBain, 37, is the former mayor of Bega Valley Shire. In her speech, she described herself as not of “the political class”.
At the by-election held to replace her predecessor, Mike Kelly, McBain polled 35.89% of the primary vote, a fall of 3.28%, in a field of 14 candidates. The Liberal Party candidate, Fiona Kotvojs, polled 38.33% of the primary vote, an increase of 1.32%. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party polled 5.34%. After preferences were distributed, McBain polled 50.39%, to 49.15% for the Liberals, a swing against the ALP of 0.46%.
A historic meeting of the Australian Parliament began today, with members of both houses now able to participate remotely in proceedings, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The House of Representatives met at 10.00am and formalised the arrangements.
Members are able to participate from their electorate offices via the parliament’s video system. They cannot vote remotely.
The government and opposition agreed on the format of remote access in recent weeks. Negotiations were handled by the Leader of the House, Christian Porter, and the Manager of Opposition Business, Tony Burke.
Statements from House Speaker, Tony Smith, and the Senate President, Scott Ryan, appear below.
Watch the opening proceedings in the House of Representatives (24m):
The new ALP member for Corangamite, Elizabeth (Libby) Coker, has delivered her first speech to the House of Representatives.
There were twenty-seven new members of the House elected at the May 18 federal election. Coker is the last to deliver her maiden speech. She is the last of nine new ALP members.
A former teacher and journalist, Coker was a councillor on the Surf Coast Shire Council, having been elected in 2008 and serving as mayor in 2009-10 and 2012-13.
Coker unsuccessfully contested Corangamite at the 2016 election. At this year’s election, she defeated the Liberal Party’s Sarah Henderson, who held the seat for two terms from 2013. Henderson is about to be appointed to fill a casual Senate vacancy.
Coker secured a 1.04% swing, winning Corangamite with 51.07% of the two-party-preferred vote. She polled 35.47% of the primary vote, an increase of 1.41%. The Liberal Party polled 42.33% of the primary vote, a decrease of 1.34%.
Corangamite, a Federation seat established in 1901, is in the south-west of Victoria. It extends from the suburbs of Geelong, through Queenscliff and Colac, and through the towns along the Great Ocean Road.
Listen to Coker’s speech (31m):
Watch Coker (31m):
Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Libby Coker, ALP member for Corangamite.
The SPEAKER (17:18): Before I call the honourable member for Corangamite, I remind the House that this is the honourable member’s first speech. I ask the House to extend to her the usual courtesies.
