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Ch5 Members / ATTENDANCE / Leave of absence



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House of Representatives                                Ch 5                                                 p 151

 

Members / ATTENDANCE

 

Leave of absence

A motion to grant leave of absence does not require notice, states the cause and period of leave (for individually identified Members), and has priority over all other business. 1 Leave is usually granted for reasons such as parliamentary or public business overseas, ill health or maternity. During both World Wars leave for long periods was granted to several Members who were serving in the Armed Forces. There have been a few occasions when Members have been granted leave without having been sworn in. The longest period of absence was in relation to the Member for the Northern Territory (Mr Blain) who was granted leave, without having been sworn in as a Member, from 8 October 1943 to 26 September 1945 while he was a prisoner of war. 2 A Member who has been granted leave of absence by the House is excused from the service of the House or on any committee. The leave is forfeited if the Member attends in the Chamber of the House before the end of the period of leave. 3 Another Member may be appointed to a committee to serve in the place of a Member granted leave of absence by the House. 4

Service of the House means attendance in the Chamber, 5 and is interpreted as appearing on the floor of the Chamber—Members on leave may be present in the public gallery. Members have participated in committee proceedings and placed questions on the Notice Paper while on leave. However, they may not lodge notices while on leave, as these must be delivered to the Clerk at the Table in the Chamber.



S.O. 26(a).



VP 1943-44/29; VP 1944-45/21; VP 1945-46/37; VP 1945-46/260.



S.O. 26(b).



VP 1948-49/13.



S.O. 2.