It’s hats off to Senate’s latest star recruit: Patrick Dodson

Labor’s star recruit Patrick Dodson began his first day as a senator with his Akubra firmly in place.

Senator Patrick Dodson, without trademark hat, takes his place on the opposition benches of the Senate yesterday

Labor’s star recruit and Aboriginal elder Patrick Dodson began his first day as a senator with his black Akubra firmly in place. But he quickly removed his trademark hat as the upper house delved into parliamentary business.

The West Australian senator, who yesterday officially filled the casual vacancy left by the departure of Joe Bullock, said it was “very moving” to be sworn in as an MP in front of his friends and family, including brother Mick Dodson and a niece who flew from their home town of Broome.

Bill Shorten, deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek and eight lower house opposition MPs also watched on from the sidelines, as did indigenous WA Liberal MP Ken Wyatt and his wife, Anna.

A Yawuru man known as the Father of Reconciliation, Senator Dodson said Labor was “well placed” to advance the issues about which he cared deeply: constitutional recognition, reducing indigenous custody levels, supporting remote communities and the development of northern Australia. Senator Dodson entered the chamber sporting his much-loved Akubra with red, yellow and black band and kept it on as he made the oath of allegiance and signed the senators’ roll, becoming one of the first MPs to wear a hat in the chamber.

But after a round of applause, handshakes and congratulations from his colleagues he decided to lose the hat.

While Senator Dodson’s office was unable to confirm if he would continue without the Akubra, The Australian understands there is a preference from the Senate that he do so despite there being no dress rules prohibiting a senator from wearing a hat.

Senator Dodson, who was a royal commissioner into Abor­iginal deaths in custody and the first chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, joins indigenous senators Nova Peris (Labor), Joanna Lindgren (Liberal) and Jacqui Lambie (independent) in the upper house and Mr Wyatt in the lower house. He thanked the Opposition Leader and Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, for “making this ­opportunity possible”. “Their foresight and imagination has made it possible for my Yawuru people to now have a ­senator coming from the small town of Broome sitting in the Senate as a representative of our great state,” he said. Mr Shorten tweeted it was a “privilege” to witness Senator Dodson’s swearing-in.