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Appendix D - Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Committee of Privileges 1971-2005

As at 30 November 2005, there have been nine chairs of the Committee of Privileges, namely Senators Drake-Brockman, Button, Jessop, Childs, Giles, Reynolds, Teague, Ray and Faulkner. Until 10 October 1994, the chair was required, by Standing Orders, to be a member nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Changes to Standing Orders which took effect on that date require that certain committees, including the Privileges Committee, be chaired by a member nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. The longest-serving chair has been Senator Robert Ray, who held the office for eight years and six months.

Chairs’ terms of service

Note: The chairmanship record, while complete, shows lengthy gaps between chairs at times. While the committee was generally re-established promptly in each new Parliament, it did not meet and elect a chair until it received a reference. Where the same person was re-elected chair in successive Parliaments, the period of service is shown as continuous.

Name State Party Term of Service
Drake-Brockman, Thomas Charles WA CP 4/5/71-26/2/73
Button, John Norman  VIC ALP 22/7/75-11/11/75
Drake-Brockman, Thomas Charles WA CP 10/4/78-30/6/78
Jessop, Donald Scott  SA Lib 28/9/78-4/2/83
Childs, Bruce Kenneth  NSW ALP 15/6/84-5/6/87
Giles, Patricia Jessie WA ALP 18/3/88-30/6/93
Reynolds, Margaret QLD ALP 1/7/93-9/10/94
Teague, Baden Chapman SA Lib 13/10/94-29/4/96
Ray, Robert Francis VIC ALP 9/5/96-15/11/04
Faulkner, John Philip NSW ALP 18/11/04-

Deputy chairs’ terms of service

Deputy chairs of the committee have been elected only recently. Their terms of service are as follows:

Name State Party Term of Service
Lewis, Austin William Russell VIC Lib 9/5/91-19/8/92
Teague, Baden Chapman SA Lib 20/8/92-9/10/94; 9/5/96-30/6/96
Reynolds, Margaret QLD ALP 13/10/94-29/4/96
Knowles, Susan Christine WA Lib 12/9/96-22/8/03; 12/2/04-30/6/05
Payne, Marise Ann NSW Lib 18/9/03-12/2/04
Ronaldson, Michael John Clyde VIC Lib 23/6/05-

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