Jeremy Hanson will no longer contribute to fiery debates during Question Time, taking up the mantle as the ACT Legislative Assembly’s new Speaker. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
In a move that surprised few, former Canberra Liberals deputy leader Jeremy Hanson has become the ACT’s latest Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Mr Hanson stood down from his leadership position, along with Leanne Castley, on 10 November to give their party “the best possible chance of success in the 2028 election”.
As Mark Parton became the new Opposition leader, the Speaker’s chair became vacant.
The Canberra Liberals had announced that Mr Hanson had their nomination for the role, and, behind the scenes, ACT Greens Yerrabi MLA Andrew Braddock, who was the interim Speaker, had his name floated.
But on Tuesday (2 November), no other names were put forward.
There was light applause from former Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley as Mr Hanson was led to the chair.
As he slipped his glasses onto his nose, Mr Hanson acknowledged he had no prior experience in the role.
“I’ve not sat here before, so it’s a very different view, I must say,” he said.
“I’m genuinely humbled and honoured to accept this position.”
Previous concerns had been raised that Mr Hanson would not be an impartial Speaker, a requirement for the role.
From the chair, Mr Hanson gave his commitment to be a “dedicated, respectful and entirely non-partisan” Speaker.
“My job is to find the balance in this place that ensures that each of us, as members, is able to perform our roles as parliamentarians as best we can, so that ultimately we can collectively provide vibrant democracy and good governance to the people of the ACT.”
Chief Minister Andrew Barr gave his congratulations, but admitted he’d never expected Mr Hanson to be behind the Speaker’s desk.
“Of all the places I expected to see you, this wasn’t at the top of my bingo card at the beginning of this year. My expectation is that Question Time will be slightly less rowdy, unless you intend to interject from the chair – which I would not encourage,” Mr Barr said to laughter in the chamber.
“But I certainly welcome the statements you have made and the commitments that you have given across the chamber in seeking this role.”
ACT Labor had put forward five requests to any Speaker candidates ahead of the vote:
- Withdraw from involvement in party room meetings and party parliamentary strategy for the duration of their Speakership. Noting that the Speaker will continue to exercise their vote in the chamber consistent with their party and constituency obligations.
- Outline in writing how they intend to work with the party whips and the Manager of Government Business on the fair and efficient operation of parliamentary sittings.
- Table written reasons prior to making major rulings that will establish precedents.
- Implement reforms to improve the evidence base for committee inquiries from within existing resources, by ensuring the Committee Secretariat and the OLA Library provides subject matter literature reviews/summaries which can be published as part of committee reports.
- Table an annual report with the number of warnings, namings and suspensions issued that year, broken down by MLA and type of conduct.
At a press conference earlier on Tuesday morning, Mr Barr confirmed Mr Hanson had agreed to this list.
“If you’d asked me a year ago, I would have said that was an unexpected outcome, but I think, as he’s indicated to me, he wants this to be the bookend of his career in the Assembly,” Mr Barr said.
“He’s, I think, the equal 2nd longest serving member, so to wind down a 20-year assembly career, it’s not unreasonable to lay down your weapons and be the independent umpire in the chamber.
“That’s what he’s committed to do … if that’s the outcome, we can live with that.”
Mr Parton also offered his congratulations to Mr Hanson.
