Blogotariat

This is Senator Dave Sharma’s maiden speech to the Senate. Sharma, a Liberal, assumed his NSW Senate position on November 30, 2023. He filled a casual vacancy created by the departure of Senator Marise Payne. At her retirement, Payne was the longest-serving female senator, having held her seat for 26 years, 5 months and 21 days since 1997. Previously, as the member for Wentworth (2019-2022), Sharma delivered a first speech to the House of Representatives. In 2018, Sharma contested the by-election for the Sydney electorate of Wentworth, occasioned by the departure of the former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.