Senate Office Holders

Senator the Hon John Hogg from Queensland is President of the Senate. His main roles are to guide and regulate proceedings in the chamber, to oversee administration of the Department of the Senate and, in conjunction with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to oversee the Department of Parliamentary Services. He appears before Senate estimates hearings in relation to those departments and the Parliamentary Budget Office. Ceremonial duties of the President include participation in the opening of Parliament and visits by foreign Heads of State, representing the Parliament at international conferences, leading delegations to other nations, and receiving visiting delegations and other official visitors.

As set out in the standing orders, the President is chair of the Appropriations and Staffing, Library and House Committees, and is a member of the Procedure Committee.

The President is elected to the position by senators according to section 17 of the Constitution and Chapter 2 of the Senate standing orders.

• President's Welcome 
• The role of the President of the Senate 
• Former Presidents 

Senator Stephen Parry from Tasmania is the Deputy President and Chair of Committees. This office is also elected by senators, in accordance with Chapter 3 of the standing orders. The Deputy President’s role is to relieve the President in the Senate and to perform the other duties of President when Senator Hogg is absent. As Chair of Committees, Senator Parry presides when the Senate is sitting as a ‘committee of the whole’ to consider legislation in detail. He also manages a panel of senators who act as Temporary Chairs of Committees.

The Deputy President is the chair of the Procedure Committee, and a member of the House Committee. He also chairs meetings of the chairs of the Senate’s legislative and general purpose standing committees, which may consider and report to the Senate on any matters that relate to the committees’ operations.

• Odgers’ Chapter 5 – Officers of the Senate: Deputy President and Chair of Committees

Senator the Hon Chris Evans
Leader of the Government in the Senate

Senator the Hon Eric Abetz
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate 

Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins
Manager of Government Business in the Senate 

Senator Mitch Fifield
Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate

Senator Anne McEwen
Government Whip

Senator Helen Kroger
Chief Opposition Whip

Senator Rachel Siewert
Australia Greens Whip

Senator John Williams
Nationals Whip