"Father of reconciliation" and respected Indigenous leader Pat Dodson is set to enter federal parliament as a Labor Senator.
WA Labor senator Joe Bullock announced retirement over same-sex marriage on Tuesday
Bill Shorten announces Yawura leader Pat Dodson as his preferred replacement
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten held a joint press conference with Mr Dodson at Parliament House this morning to announce the Yawura leader from Broome as his preferred candidate to take up a casual vacancy in the Senate.
The path has been cleared for him to enter the Upper House following the resignation of conservative senator Joe Bullock, who is standing down in protest over Labor's party position in favour of same-sex marriage.
Mr Dodson has admitted he left the Labor Party in the eighties and has considered himself non-aligned for many years.
But he said Mr Shorten picked up the phone to offer him the position in a surprise move, and after many years consulting with successive governments he wanted to make a difference from the inside.
"Having spent much of my adult life trying to influence our national conversations, debate, government and the parliament from the outside, it is now time for me to step up to the plate," Mr Dodson said.
"[It is time to] have a go at trying to influence those conversations, debates and public policies from the inside, as a member of the Senate and representing Western Australia."
Mr Shorten described Mr Dodson as as "truth teller" and said his decision to take up public office was a "win for Australia".
"He is a person of unmatched intelligence, integrity and achievement," Mr Shorten said.
Pat has been a great figure in West Australian and Northern Australian public life for so long, and there is an absolute recognition we need a diversity of voices in the Parliament
Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan
"Nationally recognised and rightly admired as the father of reconciliation, a truth teller, a powerful advocate for recognition, justice equality and fairness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has also welcomed the announcement and said Mr Dodson would bring a wealth of political and life experience into parliament.
"I would look forward to working with Professor Dodson in Parliament to further advance the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Senator Scullion said.
WA Labor senator Joe Bullock announced retirement over same-sex marriage on Tuesday
Bill Shorten announces Yawura leader Pat Dodson as his preferred replacement
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten held a joint press conference with Mr Dodson at Parliament House this morning to announce the Yawura leader from Broome as his preferred candidate to take up a casual vacancy in the Senate.
The path has been cleared for him to enter the Upper House following the resignation of conservative senator Joe Bullock, who is standing down in protest over Labor's party position in favour of same-sex marriage.
Mr Dodson has admitted he left the Labor Party in the eighties and has considered himself non-aligned for many years.
But he said Mr Shorten picked up the phone to offer him the position in a surprise move, and after many years consulting with successive governments he wanted to make a difference from the inside.
"Having spent much of my adult life trying to influence our national conversations, debate, government and the parliament from the outside, it is now time for me to step up to the plate," Mr Dodson said.
"[It is time to] have a go at trying to influence those conversations, debates and public policies from the inside, as a member of the Senate and representing Western Australia."
Mr Shorten described Mr Dodson as as "truth teller" and said his decision to take up public office was a "win for Australia".
"He is a person of unmatched intelligence, integrity and achievement," Mr Shorten said.
Pat has been a great figure in West Australian and Northern Australian public life for so long, and there is an absolute recognition we need a diversity of voices in the Parliament
Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan
"Nationally recognised and rightly admired as the father of reconciliation, a truth teller, a powerful advocate for recognition, justice equality and fairness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has also welcomed the announcement and said Mr Dodson would bring a wealth of political and life experience into parliament.
"I would look forward to working with Professor Dodson in Parliament to further advance the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Senator Scullion said.
No comments:
Post a Comment