Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (11:27): I would like to make, if I may, some brief remarks to congratulate Senator McLachlan on his election as Deputy President on behalf of the— An honourable senator interjecting Senator WONG: government. I'm still getting used to saying that! There might be a few faux pas for a little while! I did note this morning, following the election of President, the longstanding convention as to the government of the day nominating the President and the opposition of the day nominating the Deputy President and Chair of Committees. I want to make a comment about that, because there were a couple of interjections. It's a reflection of the Westminster system. It's a reflection that, under our system, a party forms government and a party forms opposition. A party forms opposition. If somebody else formed a government or an opposition one day, the same convention presumably would apply. It reflects— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WONG: respectful debate on something where we are electing the Deputy President. It is a reflection of a Westminster system, which, in this chamber, also recognises that no single party of government, as I said, holds the majority—generally—in the chamber. I'll make a couple of comments about Senator McLachlan. He may have only served in this chamber since 2020, but he had been a member of the Legislative Council in our home state of South Australia for some time prior to that. I do want to say—and this is no disrespect to you, President—that I'm delighted that another South Australian is taking a leadership role in this place. I note— An honourable senator interjecting— Senator WONG: The Tasmanians have got the whips sewn up though! He's also served as president of the legislative council for a couple of years. I think that role, his experience in presiding in that role, has been evident in his work in this chamber. I look forward to working with you. We hope you and the President will form a very good team in the way that we've seen under previous presidents and deputy presidents, a very collegiate approach to the management of the chamber, and I look forward to your fair and inclusive chairing continuing. The government congratulates you, Senator McLachlan, and we wish you all the best in your role.