Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
Previous Fragment    Next Fragment
Ch7 The parliamentary calendar / A PARLIAMENT / Proceedings on opening day / Governor-Generals speech



Download WordDownload Word

House of Representatives                                Ch 7                                                 p 217

 

The parliamentary calendar / A PARLIAMENT / Proceedings on opening day

 

Governor-General’s speech

In the meantime the sitting of the Senate, having earlier been suspended until such time as the Governor-General has appointed (usually 3 p.m.), resumes and the Governor-General is escorted by the Usher of the Black Rod to the Vice-Regal Chair on the dais in the Senate Chamber. Black Rod is then directed by the Governor-General to inform the Members of the House that their attendance is required in the Senate Chamber. Black Rod proceeds to the House of Representatives and, in keeping with tradition, knocks three times on the Chamber door. On recognising Black Rod the Serjeant-at-Arms informs the Speaker of Black Rod’s presence. The Speaker directs that Black Rod be admitted and Black Rod then announces the Governor-General’s message. The Speaker, preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms (carrying the Mace which is left covered at the entrance to the Senate Chamber), accompanied by the Clerk, Deputy Clerk and a Clerk Assistant, and followed by party leaders and Members, proceeds to the Senate Chamber. 1 The Governor-General invites the Speaker to be seated in a chair provided at the Table. Members, after bowing to the Governor-General, take seats in the Senate Chamber.

The Governor-General then declares the causes of the calling together of the Parliament. In this speech, termed the Governor-General’s ‘opening speech’, the affairs of the nation are reviewed briefly and a forecast given of the Government’s proposed program of legislation for the session. The speech is normally of about 30 minutes duration. 2 At the conclusion of the speech a copy is presented to the Speaker by the Governor-General’s Official Secretary, 3 and an artillery salute is fired. The Governor-General retires from the Senate Chamber, after which the Speaker and Members return to the House in procession.



In 1976 Members of the opposition party did not attend the Senate, H.R. Deb. (19.2.76) 166, 169-70.



The opening speech for the 7th Parliament consisted of five lines mentioning only the need for the Houses to approve supply, VP 1917/5. The speech for the 27th Parliament consisted of four paragraphs, H.R. Deb. (25.11.69) 18-19.



The text of the speech appears in Hansard, e.g. H.R. Deb. (16.11.2004) 16-21.