Bushby ponders president’s post

TASMANIAN Liberal senator David Bushby is considering a tilt at the $355,000-ayear Senate president’s job in the wake of Stephen Parry’s resignation over his dual citizenship.

“Senator Bushby is considering his options and will make a decision in coming days,” a spokesman said.

His nomination to the Liberal party room to be the party’s nominee would come before the Senate sits again on November 13.

Hobart-based Senator Bushby is the Liberal Senate Whip and may be pitted against fellow Liberal, David Fawcett, and the Nationals’ John Williams. He received backing yesterday from fellow Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz.

“I understand Senator Bushby is considering his options. If he decides to run there is no doubt he would make a very competent President of the Senate,” Senator Abetz.

“This is a matter for the Liberal Senate party room to determine.” Mr Parry resigned as Senate president and senator for Tasmania after receiving advice from the Home Office he held British citizenship through his UK-born father. He is the first Liberal to be embroiled in the citizenship saga following the disqualification of cabinet ministers and Nationals Barnaby Joyce and Fiona Nash. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, travelling overseas, was disappointed in Mr Parry’s actions. “He chose to delay his reporting of it, he should have reported it much earlier and it could have been referred to the High Court together with the other matters that were dealt with,” Mr Turnbull said from Jerusalem.

Also yesterday, Greens leader Richard di Natale said the party would nominate Tasmanian senator Peter Whish-Wilson for the position of Senate president.

Senator Whish-Wilson yesterday said the Senate president position should not just be the gift of the Liberal Party. “There should be a vote on who is best for the job,” he said. “If elected I would reform Question Time because currently it is a joke.”

Tasmanian independent senator Jacqui Lambie has laughed off any suggestion that she is in the running.

“I couldn’t properly represent Tasmanians as presi- dent in the way that I do now,” she said. “Besides, I am not sure that the world is ready for President Lambie.”

Greens senator Nick McKim dismissed speculation his place could be under threat as a result of a recount.

“We have taken advice from a constitutional lawyer and are assured that my position is secure and not under question,” he said.

Attorney-General George Brandis said the Senate would refer Mr Parry’s situation to the Court of Disputed Returns for orders to be made.

“I do not anticipate any delay in the making of the usual order for a special count of the Senate ballot papers for Tasmania,” he said.

David Bushby