Bushby out of top Senate race
TASMANIAN Liberal senator David Bushby will not seek the $350,000 a year Senate President’s position.
Senator Bushby said he would be able serve the people of Tasmania better as a senator than as Senate president.
“I believe that my skills and expertise would be better used serving the people of Tasmania and Australia in other ways at this time,” he said.
Senator Bushby’s consideration came after former Tasmanian Senate president Stephen Parry resigned last week because of his dual citizenship.
“Following the untimely resignation of Stephen Parry and on the encouragement of a number of my colleagues, I have over the past few days seriously considered nominating to be the Liberal Party candidate for the position of Presi- dent of the Senate,” he said.
“Having discussed the possibility with colleagues and family and after deep thought, I have come to the decision that I will not seek to take up that opportunity.”
Senator Bushby said he entered politics because he wanted to help make the lives of Australians better and to make a difference.
Liberal colleague Eric Abetz said Senator Bushby was a “tremendous servant of Tasmania”.
“Tasmanians can be assured that David, along with the rest of the Liberal Senate team, will continue to be steadfastly focused on advancing Tasmania’s interests in any way that we can,’’ he said.
The Senate president’s position has become controversial after Nationals senator John Williams said he would put his hand up for the position.
Liberal senator David Fawcett is favourite for the top role.