Canberra: Australia’s parliament has elected a new speaker of the House following the resignation of former speaker Bronwyn Bishop last week. Victorian Liberal MP Tony Smith was elected on Monday, reported Xinhua. After the vote was found to be in favour of Smith, he told reporters he was “humbled” to have full support of his Liberal party colleagues.
“I look forward to what is an important and difficult job that I will do to the best of my ability,” he said. Smith takes the reins from Bishop, who succumbed to fierce public pressure after documents detailed her frivolous spending of taxpayer money on entitlements. He is expected to be a less divisive figure and has already said he would not be as heavy-handed, rather, fairer to both parties while in the position. He said he would not be attending partyroom meetings, something Bishop never did. Australian parliament resumes on Monday for the first time since Bishop resigned.
