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Ch7 The parliamentary calendar / A PARLIAMENT / Proceedings on opening day / Deputy appointed by Governor- General



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House of Representatives                                Ch 7                                                 p 215

 

The parliamentary calendar / A PARLIAMENT / Proceedings on opening day

 

Deputy appointed by Governor-General

The Deputy appointed by the Governor-General to declare open the Parliament is ordinarily a Justice of the High Court. It is usual for the Chief Justice to be appointed the Deputy. The Chief Justice (or other judge) is also authorised by the Governor-General to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to Members. A second judge 1 would be given the necessary authority when a large number of Senators were to be sworn in, such as at the opening of Parliament following a double dissolution. Should only one judge be authorised to administer oaths/affirmations in such situations, Members of the House would have a lengthy wait while Senators were sworn in. The simultaneous swearing in of Senators and Members is also regarded as symbolic of the independence of the Houses.



The term ‘Deputy’ in such cases (although appearing in the Votes and Proceedings in the past, e.g. VP 1987-89/3) is technically a misnomer. In the past the judge commissioned to swear in Members has been described as ‘Commissioner’ (even when also appointed Deputy), e.g. VP 1950-51/3.