Peter Slipper (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to advise the House of changes once each week to the existing Speaker's procession. Presently at the commencement of each sitting day the procession forms in the Speaker's walkway and enters the chamber from the rear door. This takes place in private areas of the building and is not accessible to the many visitors to our parliament. At the start of each sitting Tuesday, the procession will take a route that can be viewed from public areas of the building. At all other times, the occupant of the chair will enter and leave via doors at the rear of the chamber, as is the current practice. From next week the procession on Tuesdays will commence in the Members Hall and move through the glazed linkway entering the front of the chamber via the front doors. After announcing the Speaker as usual, the Serjeant-at-Arms will precede the Speaker into the chamber before placing the mace at the end of the table. The Speaker will take the chair via the government side of the table.

Consistent with current practice, the procession will comprise the Speaker, preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms carrying the mace, and the Speaker's attendant. Entry of the procession via the front doors is based on the current practice for formal occasions. The proposed arrangements are similar to arrangements in the Canadian, New Zealand and United Kingdom parliaments. I table this statement for the information of the House.