The Earl of AirlieMy Lords, I have the honour to present to your Lordships a message from Her Majesty the Queen, signed by her own hand. The message is as follows:
"I have received your Address praying that I will give directions that there be presented on behalf of both Houses of Parliament the gift of a vice-regal chair to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to mark the bicentenary in 1988 of the first European settlement of Australia and the opening of the new Parliament House in Canberra. It gave me great pleasure to learn that you desire to make such a presentation and I will gladly give directions for carrying your proposal into effect".