New South Wales Consolidated Acts

CONSTITUTION ACT 1902 - SECT 31

31 Speaker

(1) There shall be a Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, who is the Presiding Officer of the Legislative Assembly and is recognised as its independent and impartial representative.

(2) The Members of the Legislative Assembly shall upon the first assembling after every general election proceed forthwith to elect one of their number to be Speaker, and in case of his death, resignation, or removal by a vote of the said Legislative Assembly, the said Members shall forthwith proceed to elect another of such Members to be such Speaker.

(3) The Speaker so elected shall preside at all meetings of the said Legislative Assembly except as may be provided by the Standing Rules and Orders herein authorised to be made.

(4) The Speaker may, when not presiding--

(a) take part in any debate or discussion, and

(b) vote on any question,

which may arise in the Legislative Assembly.

(5) When the Legislative Assembly is dissolved or expires--

(a) the person who was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly immediately before the dissolution or expiry continues to be the Speaker, and

(b) the person who was the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly immediately before the dissolution or expiry continues to be the Deputy Speaker,

until the Legislative Assembly assembles for the dispatch of business at its first meeting following the general election.