Deputy Speaker - House of Representatives
I feel privileged to have been elected Deputy Speaker of the 43rd Australian Parliament in 2008. I am the second woman in the history of the Parliament to hold the position. The first was Joan Child, formerly the ALP Member for Henty.
At the beginning of each Parliament after the Speaker has been elected the House of Representatives elects Members to the positions of Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker.
If the Speaker is absent the Deputy Speaker becomes the Acting Speaker. The Speaker appoints a panel of Members from both sides of the House to serve in the Chair. Together with the Deputy Speaker, and Second Deputy Speaker, they are all able to take the Chair in the House at the request of the Speaker. While in the Chair they have virtually the same procedural powers and functions as the Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker takes the Chair of the Main Committee. This position has basically the same functions, and similar powers to regulate the conduct of business, and authority to preserve order (other than to ‘name’ a Member), in the Main Committee as the Speaker has in the House.
Click here for additional information on the role of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
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