Each chamber has a presiding officer

The House of Representatives elects a Speaker and the Senate elects a President. These officers chair proceedings, apply standing orders, maintain order and perform administrative and representative functions for their chambers.

They are parliamentarians, but while presiding they are expected to apply the rules of the chamber rather than simply act as ordinary party debaters.

Maintaining order

The presiding officer calls speakers, rules on points of order and can direct members or senators to comply with parliamentary rules. In the House, the Speaker can take disciplinary action allowed by standing orders when disorder continues.

Question Time disputes often turn on rulings from the chair, which is why procedural language can become a major part of political coverage.

Interpreting standing orders

Standing orders govern debate, motions, questions, amendments and many other procedures. The Speaker or President applies those rules during proceedings, informed by precedent and parliamentary practice.

A ruling may be challenged through procedures available to the chamber, but disagreement with a ruling is not the same thing as the ruling having no effect.

Voting and political affiliation

The Speaker and President are elected from among parliamentarians and usually come from a political party. Their voting rights differ between the chambers because of constitutional and procedural rules.

This is another example of why House and Senate procedure should not be assumed to be identical simply because both have a presiding officer.

Administrative roles

The presiding officers also have responsibilities connected with parliamentary administration, security, services and the operation of Parliament House, often working with departmental officials and joint committees.

Their role therefore extends beyond what viewers see during televised debates.

Primary sources and further reading

We use authoritative Australian institutions as the starting point for this explainer. Follow these links for the underlying rules, official guidance and current details.