Freshman politicians go to first day of 'Senate school'

Perth Now

a day ago

Fresh-faced senators have attended their first day of orientation ahead of parliament's first sitting.
The politicians will get to know the ins and outs of the upper chamber through a three-day crash course often referred to as "Senate school".
Senate President Sue Lines, wearing in a suit that matched the chamber's colours, welcomed the new cohort on Wednesday while impressing the importance of punctuality.
"Standing up and saying 'I'm really sorry I was late' is not going to cut it," she told them from the Senate floor.
"You're probably going to cop a lot of jeering."
But she also encouraged the Senate newbies to ask questions, repeating the old adage "there is no such thing as a dumb question".
For some, like Australia's youngest-ever senator Charlotte Walker, there will be a lot to learn.
The 21-year-old was not expected to win a Senate seat after she was pre-selected in the usually unwinnable third spot on Labor's South Australian ticket.
However, the strength of Labor's landslide win in May propelled her into the upper chamber and she showed up dressed for the part in a pink silk suit jacket and an eagerness to take it all in.
For others, like Liberal Leah Blyth who filled a vacated Senate seat earlier in 2025, the program would allow her to become even more familiar with parliamentary procedure.
Meanwhile, Labor politician Michelle Ananda-Rajah will have to learn a whole new set of rules after she switched from the House of Representatives to the Senate following the abolishment of her electorate.
Unlike the lower house, the government does not have a clear majority and the chamber president cannot eject members, which means the Senate can get rowdier and more chaotic than the House of Representatives.
Senator Lines also welcomed Tyron Whitten, Warwick Stacey, Corinne Mulholland, Ellie Whiteaker, Jessica Collins, Richard Dowling to the chamber.
Parliament will resume sitting on July 22.