Australia’s Milton Dick Takes the Helm as IPU President, Succeeding Tanzania’s Tulia Ackson

 

By TBN Reporter

Australia’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick, has been elected as the 32nd President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), officially concluding the three-year tenure of Tanzania’s Dr. Tulia Ackson.

The leadership transition took place on Friday during the 153rd IPU Assembly hosted in Arusha.

Dick secured a decisive first-round victory in a secret ballot, capturing 56 percent of the vote. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis, finished second with 38 percent, followed by Chilean Senator Rojo Edwards Silva with six percent.

Addressing the assembly following his election, Dick highlighted parliamentary democracy and collective engagement:

"Today, there are no winners or losers. The IPU has spoken with one voice. This is democracy," Dick stated. "Dialogue still matters, respect still matters, cooperation still matters. We will work together, listen to one another and seek common ground."

Key Highlights of the Transition:

• Tulia Ackson’s Legacy: Dr. Ackson was elected as the 31st IPU President at the 147th Assembly in Luanda, Angola, in October 2023, making history as the first African woman to head the global body.

• Milton Dick’s Background: Representing Queensland’s federal seat of Oxley since 2016, Dick assumed the role of Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives in 2022 and retained his position unopposed in 2025.

• Role Ahead: As IPU President, Dick will preside over statutory meetings, represent the body on the international stage, and collaborate closely with IPU Secretary-General Anda Filip to steer parliamentary diplomacy on key global challenges.