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Ch7 The parliamentary calendar / A PARLIAMENT / Proceedings on opening day / House assembles and Parliament opened



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House of Representatives                                Ch 7                                                 p 215

 

The parliamentary calendar / A PARLIAMENT / Proceedings on opening day

 

House assembles and Parliament opened

On the day appointed for the Parliament to assemble, the bells are rung for five minutes before the appointed time. Prior to the bells ceasing to ring, the Serjeant-at-Arms places the Mace below the Table, as the House at that stage has not elected a Speaker.

When the bells cease ringing, the Clerk of the House reads the proclamation summoning Parliament. Traditionally, the Usher of the Black Rod, having been directed by the Governor-General’s Deputy (or the Senior Deputy where two Deputies have been appointed) to request the attendance of Members of the House in the Senate Chamber, is admitted and orally delivers the message from the Bar of the House. Members, led by party leaders, preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms (without the Mace) and the Clerk, Deputy Clerk and a Clerk Assistant, proceed to the Senate Chamber where the Deputy addresses the Members of both Houses. 1 The following form of words was used at the opening of the 41st Parliament:

His Excellency the Governor-General has appointed me as his Deputy to declare open the Parliament of the Commonwealth. The Clerk of the Senate will now read the instrument of appointment. 2

After the instrument is read the Deputy declares the Parliament open. 3 The Deputy then informs the Members of both Houses that, after certain Senators 4 and Members have been sworn and the Members of the House have elected their Speaker, the Governor-General will declare the causes of the calling together of the Parliament. The Deputy then retires and Members return to the House to await the arrival of the Deputy to administer the oath or affirmation.



In 1976 Members of the opposition party did not attend the Senate Chamber..



VP 2004-05/1.



Until 2004 the Deputy did not explicitly declare the Parliament open—the Deputy’s address was in effect the declaration.



Normally Senators for the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, or Senators filling casual vacancies. In the case of the first meeting of Parliament following a simultaneous dissolution of both Houses it is also necessary for Senators to elect their President.