Chapter 6 - Senators
Parties and party leaders
The standing orders and procedures of the Senate recognise the
membership of senators of political parties and their holding office as leaders
of political parties.
A senator’s statement in the Senate that the senator is a member, a
leader or office-holder of a political party is accepted for the purposes of
recognition under the procedures. A senator who changes party membership or who
becomes a leader of a party usually makes a statement to that effect to the
Senate at the earliest opportunity. Statements concerning office-holders of
parties are usually made by party leaders.
The leader in the
Senate of the party or coalition of parties which has formed the ministry is
recognised as Leader of the Government in the Senate, and the leader of the
largest party not participating in the formation of the ministry is recognised
as Leader of the
Opposition in the Senate. These leaders are given a number of powers, such as
the power to make nominations to committees, and certain precedence in
receiving the call from the chair
(see Chapter 10, Debate, and Chapter 16, Committees).
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