House of Representatives Standing and Sessional Orders

As at 12 March 2008

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Chapter 2: Proceedings when Parliament called together

Chapter outline

This chapter sets out procedures for the meeting of Parliament:

after a general election of Members
for a new session of the same Parliament, and
including the Governor-General's speech and the address in reply.

First meeting of new Parliament after general election

4 First meeting of new Parliament after general election

When Parliament first meets after a general election, the procedure shall be as follows¹:

Members shall assemble in the House of Representatives at the time appointed by the Governor-General in the Proclamation calling Parliament together in accordance with section 5 of the Constitution.
The Clerk shall read the Proclamation to Members, who shall wait for a message inviting them to attend the declaration of the opening of Parliament.
Members shall proceed to another place to hear the declaration and return to the House.
The Clerk shall present the returns to writs following the general election.
Each Member shall swear the oath or make the affirmation of allegiance in accordance with section 42 of the Constitution, both orally and in writing.
Members shall elect a Speaker under standing order 11 [Election procedures].
The Prime Minister or another Minister shall inform the House the time when the Governor-General will receive the Members of the House and the Speaker.
Before any business of the House, the Speaker, leading other Members, shall present himself or herself to the Governor-General at the appointed time. The Speaker and Members shall then return to the House. The Speaker shall resume the Chair and report to the House.
Finally, a Minister shall inform the House the time when the Governor-General will state the reasons for calling Parliament together. The House may then suspend its sitting until that time, when it shall again assemble and wait for a message from the Governor-General.

Governor-General's speech and reply

5 House attends to hear Governor-General's speech

When the House receives the message from the Governor-General, Members of the House shall attend at the place appointed by the Governor-General to hear the speech stating the causes for the calling together of Parliament, in which the Government's program may be announced.
After the speech, the Speaker and the Members shall return to the Chamber.

6 Opening speech reported-Address in Reply

Before the Governor-General's speech is reported some formal business shall be transacted and the Prime Minister may announce his or her ministry.
The Speaker shall report the speech to the House.
A committee shall be appointed to prepare an Address in Reply to the speech and to present it to the House.
When the committee presents the proposed Address in Reply to the House a Member shall move-

That the Address be agreed to.

7 Presentation of Address

After the House has agreed to an Address in Reply, the Speaker shall present it to the Governor-General. Any Member may accompany the Speaker for the presentation.
The Speaker shall then report to the House the Governor-General's reply to the Address.

First meeting for new session-continuing Parliament

8 First meeting for new session following prorogation other than for a new Parliament

On the first meeting of a second or subsequent session of Parliament, instead of the procedure set down in standing order 4, the procedure shall be as follows:

Members shall assemble in the House at the time appointed by the Governor-General in the Proclamation calling Parliament together.
The Clerk shall read the Proclamation to Members.
The Speaker shall read Prayers.
Members shall wait for a message from the Governor-General stating the time when he or she will declare the causes for the calling together of Parliament.
Subsequent procedure shall follow standing orders 5-7.

When Governor-General does not attend

9 When Governor-General does not attend

If the Queen attends a meeting to declare the causes for the calling together of Parliament, references to the Governor-General in this chapter shall be read as references to Her Majesty.
If the Governor-General appoints a Deputy in accordance with section 126 of the Constitution to announce the causes for the calling together of Parliament, references to the Governor-General in this chapter shall be read as references to the Deputy.

Footnotes

1	A detailed program is issued for each occasion. ^Back

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