Chapter 7 - Meetings
of the Senate
Address-in-reply
Before the Governor‑General’s
speech is reported to the Senate formal business may
be transacted, petitions may be presented and notices given, and documents laid
on the table (SO 3(1)). This
standing order embodies a traditional assertion of the right of the Senate to
transact some business before the opening speech is considered. The President
then reports to the Senate the speech of the Governor‑General. A motion
for an address‑in‑reply to the speech may then be made, or the
consideration of the speech may be made an order of the day for a future time.
While precedence is
given to the address-in-reply debate until the adoption of the resolution, the
standing orders permit formal business to be transacted (SO 3(4)). Formal
business which may be entered upon includes questions (without notice and on
notice), the fixing of days and hours of meeting, the appointment of standing
committees, motions for the printing of documents and matters which come within
the category of Business of the Senate. A matter of privilege may also be
raised. The standing order
is also usually suspended to allow other business to be transacted before the
address-in-reply is passed.
Standing order 194(2) exempts the debate
on the address-in-reply from the usual requirements concerning relevance
and anticipation
and permits debate on any matter.
Amendments may be
moved to the motion for the address‑in‑reply, and on several
occasions have been agreed to (3/6/1914, J.59; 30/8/1973, J.330; 12/3/1974, J.45; 18/3/1976, J.82; è8/10/1996, J.652; 16/5/2002,
J.366; 10/2/2005, J.372-3).
When the address has been agreed to, a motion is made that it be
presented to the Governor‑General by the President and any senators who
may wish to accompany the President. This motion is usually moved by the Leader
of the Government in the Senate. After the motion is carried, the President
informs the Senate when the Governor‑General is able to receive the
address, and invites senators to be present on the occasion.
At Government
House, the usual place for presenting the address, the President and
accompanying senators and officers are received by the Governor-General. The
President reads the address and presents it to the Governor-General who makes a
reply. The President then introduces accompanying senators and officers to the
Governor-General. At the earliest convenient opportunity the President reports
to the Senate the presentation of the address and the reply of the Governor‑General.
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