December 11, 2023
Senator Patrick Dodson delivered his maiden speech to the Senate today.
Dodson, 68, was chosen to fill a casual vacancy from Western Australia in the Senate, on April 28, following the resignation of Joe Bullock. He sat briefly in the 44th Parliament but did not make a maiden speech before the Parliament was dissolved for the July 2 election.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has made a number of changes to his Shadow Ministry, including the promotion of just-appointed Senator Patrick Dodson
The changes are as a result of the parliamentary retirement of Gary Gray, (Brand-WA), who held the posts of Shadow Minister for Resources and Shadow Minister for Northern Australia.
The Resources portfolio goes to Jason Clare, (Blaxland-NSW). He will be assisted by new Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources, Jim Chalmers, (Rankin-Qld).
Shayne Neumann, (Blair-Qld), becomes Shadow Minister for Northern Australia.
The new Shadow Minister for Regional Communications will be Stephen Jones, (Throsby-NSW).
Senator Dodson (WA) becomes Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader. He took up his Senate seat three days ago.
The Expert Panel appointed by the Gillard government has issued a report which recommends recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution, the repeal of race provisions and a constitutional prohibition of racial discrimination.
The Panel, co-chaired by Patrick Dodson and Mark Leibler, was established in December 2010. Its report says: “It is now for the Government and the Parliament to take the Panel’s recommendations forward.