Maltese migrant elected Speaker in Australia

Maltese migrant and Member for Riverstone, John Aquilina, has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in Australia, marking another milestone in his record political career.

"It has been a long and at times rocky road since a Maltese migrant boy visited this Chamber on a Year 5 school excursion," Mr Aquilina told parliament in his acceptance speech.

Despite his only partial understanding of English at the time, it left him with an insatiable curiosity which eventually led to Mr Aquilina's election as the Member for Blacktown in September, 1981, following four years as Mayor of Blacktown.

Premier Bob Carr paid tribute to Mr Aquilina's achievements as the former Minister for Education, particularly in introducing the highly successful school literacy programme.

The Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the National Party also joined the Premier in congratulating Mr Aquilina on his election as Speaker.