Senator the Hon Scott Ryan from Victoria 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.

• The role of the President of the Senate 
• Former Presidents 

Senator Sue Lines from Western Australia 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 Ryan is absent. As Chair of Committees, Senator Lines presides when the Senate is sitting as a ‘committee of the whole’ to consider legislation in detail. She 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. She 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 David Bushby
Government Whip

Senator Anne Urquhart
Opposition Whip

Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Whip

Senator John Williams
Nationals Whip