Claydon reclaims Deputy Speaker’s chair as 48th Parliament opens

newy.com.au – Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon was on 22 July 2025 returned unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives when the 48th Parliament held its first sitting in Canberra.

Ms Claydon, who first assumed the Deputy Speaker’s chair on 26 July 2022, will again support Speaker Milton Dick in maintaining order during debates and presiding over the Federation Chamber. Liberal MP Ian Goodenough was elected Second Deputy Speaker, completing the presiding officers’ line-up for the new Parliament.

“It is a tremendous privilege to be elected as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and I thank Members from all sides for placing their trust in me,” Ms Claydon told the chamber after her re-election. “I take this responsibility very seriously and will approach the role with the fairness, integrity and respect that it demands.”

During her first term Ms Claydon oversaw implementation of the landmark Set the Standard report, drafted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, and chaired the committee that produced Australia’s first parliamentary Codes of Conduct, adopted on 14 October 2024. She said the new codes “recognition of the strength and voice of Newcastle in the Australian Parliament” would guide further efforts to improve workplace culture.

The Labor backbencher is only the third woman to hold the Deputy Speaker’s post since Federation, following Anna Burke and Julie Owens. A former Newcastle City Councillor, she entered federal politics in 2013 and retained her seat at the 3 May 2025 election with 45.3 per cent of first preference votes and a 65.8 per cent two candidate preferred margin over the Greens’ Charlotte McCabe.

In addition to her presiding duties, Ms Claydon serves as Federal Labor Caucus Chair and co-convenes EMILY’s List Australia. Her electorate covers 159 square kilometres from Minmi to Stockton after boundary changes ahead of the 2025 poll.