STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE

Mr TAYLOR (Hume—Leader of the Opposition) (15:15): Mr Speaker, I too would like to congratulate you on your election as President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the IPU. The IPU is, of course, the oldest multilateral political organisation in the world, and you are the first Australian to lead this important body in its 138 years. In fact, you are the first, as I understand it, from the Pacific to lead this organisation in 138 years.

It was founded in 1889 and works for peace and cooperation. Importantly, as the Prime Minister has just said, it works to champion the establishment and development of parliamentary democracies around the world. That is a cause that should be championed and must be championed at this time.

It's a noble and worthwhile cause, especially at a time when we see, as we've just heard, threats to democracies around the world—threats that we should all be concerned about. This has, as I understand it, also been a two-year campaign. Many who have come from this side of the chamber, or indeed the other side at times, have played an important role in getting you into this position.

We join with the rest of the chamber in congratulating you on this role. You are eminently suited to it. I know you will do a magnificent job and you will do our nation proud in that job.

We wish you every success.