“Off with his head!”
In the Westminster system of government, the office of the Speaker is almost as old as Parliament itself and, in the early days, many a Speaker met with a violent end at the hands of powerful monarchs. As the balance of power shifted from monarch to Parliament, the Speaker’s survival became a decision of the House not the King or Queen. And as time went by, parliamentary procedure and expert parliamentary officers became increasingly important in maintaining order in the House. The role remains a challenging and exciting one in Westminster Parliaments today.
Join us for this panel discussion with The Hon. Jonathan O’Dea MP, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; Ms Helen Minnican, Clerk of the NSW Legislative Assembly; and Mr Simon Johnston, Serjeant-At-Arms of the Legislative Assembly.
Hear about the role of the Speaker, past and present, and what happens in the chamber on a sitting day:
- Why does the Speaker get dragged to the Chair on the first day of Parliament?
- How do the Speaker and the Clerk work together on a Sitting Day?
- What does the Serjeant-at-Arms do and why does he/she carry a Mace?
- How does the Speaker make rulings in the House and maintain order when the House is sitting?
When: Tuesday 22 November 2022
Where: Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
