Parliamentary Presiding Officers Amendment Act 1992

No. 163 of 1992

An Act to amend the Parliamentary Presiding Officers Act 1965 in relation to the Deputy Presiding Officer of each House of the Parliament, and for other purposes

[Assented to 11 December 1992]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title etc.

1.(1) This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Presiding Officers Amendment Act 1992.

(2) In this Act, “Principal Act” means the Parliamentary Presiding Officers Act 1965¹.

Commencement

2.  This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Interpretation

3.  Section 2 of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section is substituted:

Interpretation

“2. In this Act:

‘Deputy Presiding Officer’ means:

(a)     in relation to the Senate—the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees;

(b)     in relation to the House of Representatives—the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees;

‘Presiding Officer’ means:

(a)     in relation to the Senate—the President of the Senate;

(b)     in relation to the House of Representatives—the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”.

Presiding Officer to be deemed to continue to be Presiding Officer after resignation

4.  Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a)     by adding after “his” (twice occurring) “or her”;

(b)     by adding after “he” (twice occurring) “or she”;

(c)     by inserting “, or the House of Representatives expires,” after “is dissolved”.

President of Senate to be deemed to continue to be President after expiration of term of service

5.  Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a)    by adding after “his” “or her”;

(b)    by adding after “he” (twice occurring) “or she”.

Deputy Presiding Officer to be deemed to be Presiding Officer in event of death, absence or incapacity of Presiding Officer

6.  Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a)     by omitting “Chairman of Committees” (wherever occurring) and substituting “Deputy Presiding Officer”;

(b)     by omitting from paragraph (1)(b) “either of the last two preceding sections” and substituting “section 3 or 4”;

(c)     by inserting after “is dissolved” in subsection (1) “, or the House of Representatives expires,”;

(d)     by omitting from subsection (2) “the last preceding sub-section” and substituting “subsection (1)”.

Presiding Officer to be deemed to continue to be Presiding Officer after dissolution or expiry of House

7.  Section 6 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a) by inserting “, or the House of Representatives expires” after “is dissolved”;

(b) by inserting “or expiry” after “dissolution”.

Deputy Presiding Officer to be deemed to be Presiding Officer in event of death, absence or incapacity of Presiding Officer after dissolution or expiry of House

8. Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended:

(a)    by inserting “, or the House of Representatives has expired” after “has been dissolved”;

(b)    by inserting “or expiry” after “dissolution”;

(c)     by omitting “Chairman of Committees” and substituting “Deputy Presiding Officer”.

NOTE

1. No. 5, 1965.

[Second reading speech made in—

Senate on 25 June 1992

House of Representatives on 25 November 1992]