Honourable senators, I would like to take this opportunity to remind the Senate that, pursuant to rule 2-4(1), “[a]t the beginning of the first session of each parliament, and at any subsequent time during the course of sessions of that parliament that the position becomes vacant, the Speaker pro tempore shall be elected by secret ballot, provided that if more than two senators stand for election, the election will be conducted by ranked ballot.”

Rule 2-4(2) also states that, following consultations with the leaders and facilitators of the recognized parties and parliamentary groups, the Speaker of the Senate must inform the Senate of the process to be followed within the first five sitting days. Accordingly, in the next few days, once the consultations have been completed, I will be announcing the process to be followed for this election of the Speaker pro tempore.