Legislative Assembly Standing Orders
Legislative Assembly Standing Orders
The Standing Orders are also available in Adobe Acrobat format
Download the Standing Orders (PDF 532Kb)
The standing orders of the Legislative Assembly were adopted by resolution of 4 March 2004, to be operational from 29 March 2004, with all previous standing orders being repealed from that date.
Their adoption followed consideration of the Standing Orders Committees Report on the Modernisation of Standing Orders. That report included cross-references between the proposed standing orders and the then current standing orders. Some amendments were made to the proposed standing orders at the time of adoption.
The joint standing orders and joint rules of practice of the Parliament were adopted by the Legislative Assembly on 9 August 2006 and by the Legislative Council on 22 August 2006. They are operational from the first sitting day of the 56th Parliament, 19 December 2006.
Their adoption followed consideration of the Standing Orders Committee’s Review of the Joint Standing Orders of the Parliament of Victoria. The report contained proposed joint standing orders and joint rules of practice as recommended by the Standing Orders Committees of both Houses. Some minor amendments were agreed to by the Houses at the time of adoption.
| Chapter 1 | General Rule |
| 1 | Relationship with other orders and practices |
| Chapter 2 | Opening of Parliament |
| 2 | Opening of a new Parliament |
| 3 | Opening of a new session |
| 4 | Governor's speech |
| 5 | Resumption of business after the suspension |
| Chapter 3 | Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Acting Speakers |
| 6 | When Speaker to be elected |
| 7 | Chairing the election |
| 8 | Nominations |
| 9 | Withdrawal of candidate |
| 10 | Voting procedure |
| 11 | Counting the votes |
| 12 | Restriction on discussion of other matters |
| 13 | Identifying the successful candidate |
| 14 | Resolving tie of two candidates for first place |
| 15 | Resolving tie for smallest number of votes |
| 16 | Preservation of voting papers |
| 17 | Speaker takes the Chair |
| 18 | Election of a Deputy Speaker |
| 19 | Temporary relief of Speaker |
| 20 | Panel of Acting Speakers |
| 21 | Absence of Speaker |
| 22 | Electing an Acting Deputy Speaker |
| Chapter 4 | Attendance and Places of Members |
| 23 | Introduction of new members |
| 24 | Front benches |
| 25 | Allocation of seats |
| 26 | Notification of absence |
| 27 | Members list |
| Chapter 5 | Sittings and Adjournment of the House |
| 28 | Initial quorum |
| 29 | Lack of quorum in the House |
| 30 | Disposal of business on adjournment for lack of quorum |
| 31 | When the House may adjourn |
| 32 | Interruption at for adjournment |
| 33 | Adjournment debate |
| Chapter 6 | Business |
| 34 | Precedence of government business |
| 35 | Business not on opening day |
| 36 | Order of business |
| 37 | Other business during MPI time |
| 38 | Grievance debate |
| 39 | Matters of public importance |
| 40 | Statements by members |
| 41 | Statements on parliamentary committee reports |
| 42 | Condolences |
| 43 | Ministerial statements |
| Chapter 7 | Petitions |
| 44 | Procedure for presenting petitions |
| 45 | Content of petitions |
| 46 | Attachments to petitions |
| 47 | Offence to add names of others |
| 48 | Time for presenting petitions |
| 49 | Reading of petitions |
| 50 | Clerk announces petitions |
| 51 | Dealing with petitions |
| 52 | Copy of petition to responsible minister |
| Chapter 8 | Questions Seeking Information |
| 53 | Questions to ministers or other members |
| 54 | Questions on notice |
| 55 | Question time |
| 56 | Language of questions |
| 57 | Content of questions |
| 58 | Content of answers |
| Chapter 9 | Bills |
| 59 | Introduction of a bill |
| 60 | Irregular bill to be withdrawn |
| 61 | First reading and printing of a bill |
| 62 | Question for second reading |
| 63 | Reasoned amendment to second reading |
| 64 | Circulation of amendments |
| 65 | Procedure following second reading |
| 66 | Sequence in which bill to be considered in detail |
| 67 | Amendments during consideration in detail |
| 68 | No discussion of select committee proceedings |
| 69 | Reconsideration in detail |
| 70 | Certificate of Clerk |
| 71 | Third reading |
| 72 | Amendments to third reading |
| 73 | Adjourning the third reading |
| 74 | Bill passed |
| 75 | Consequential renumbering of bills |
| 76 | Message sent to Council |
| 77 | Amendments received from Council |
| 78 | Consideration of Council amendments |
| 79 | Governor's amendment |
| 80 | Bills from previous session |
| 81 | Corrections to bills |
| 82 | Bills altering Constitution |
| 83 | Speaker may rule that a bill is a private bill |
| 84 | Objection to private bill |
| 85 | Promoter of private bill to pay for its cost |
| 86 | Procedures for private bills |
| Chapter 10 | Financial Procedures |
| 87 | Introduction of finance bills |
| 88 | Appropriation proposals to be recommended |
| 89 | Limitation on amendments increasing appropriation |
| 90 | Proposing a tax |
| 91 | Divisions in schedule to Appropriation Bill |
| 92 | Presentation of Appropriation Bills |
| 93 | Council's powers to impose fees |
| Chapter 11 | Government Business Program |
| 94 | Agreement of program |
| 95 | Amendment to program |
| 96 | Circulation of amendments under the program |
| 97 | Interruption at completion time |
| 98 | Specified business or bill at the interruption |
| 99 | Non-specified business or bill at the interruption |
| 100 | Procedure for remaining items |
| 101 | Where questions cannot be combined |
| 102 | Points of order and motions |
| Chapter 12 | Rules of Debate |
| 103 | Members to stand |
| 104 | Member's right to speak |
| 105 | When members can no longer speak |
| 106 | Motion that a member be no longer heard |
| 107 | No referring to debate in Council |
| 108 | No member to be referred to by name |
| 109 | Keeping to the subject |
| 110 | Irrelevant material or tedious repetition |
| 111 | Speaking rights of member moving the adjournment |
| 112 | Member may not speak twice |
| 113 | Reply closes debate |
| 114 | Interrupting debate |
| 115 | Order to be maintained by the Speaker |
| 116 | Speaker to be heard |
| 117 | Entry to Chamber |
| 118 | Imputations and personal reflections |
| 119 | No offensive language against other members |
| 120 | Objection to words |
| 121 | Moving around the Chamber |
| 122 | Members not to read newspapers |
| 123 | Personal explanations |
| Chapter 13 | Disorder |
| 124 | Chair ordering member to withdraw |
| 125 | Naming a member |
| 126 | Procedure following naming |
| 127 | Suspension of member following naming |
| 128 | Directions to Serjeant-at-Arms |
| 129 | Grave disorder |
| 130 | Contempt |
| Chapter 14 | Time Limits |
| 131 | Time limit of speeches |
| 132 | Right of reply to debate |
| Chapter 15 | Limitation on Debate |
| 133 | Declaration of urgent bill |
| 134 | Declaration of urgent motion |
| 135 | Debate on allotment of time |
| 136 | Time set for urgent bills and motions |
| 137 | Proceedings to conclude at a set time |
| 138 | Precedence of urgent bill or motion |
| 139 | Urgent bill or motion not to be interrupted |
| Chapter 16 | Notices of Motion |
| 140 | Giving notice |
| 141 | Consecutive notices |
| 142 | Giving notice for another member |
| 143 | Another member moving a member's motion |
| 144 | Notice lapses |
| 145 | Leave for tabling without notice |
| 146 | Precedence of notices of motion |
| Chapter 17 | Motions and Questions |
| 147 | Order of the day defined |
| 148 | Consideration of orders of the day |
| 149 | Further consideration of motions or orders |
| 150 | Precedence of motions |
| 151 | Motion on disallowance of subordinate legislation |
| 152 | Rules relating to motions |
| 153 | Putting the question |
| 154 | Restrictions on further motions |
| 155 | Closure motions |
| 156 | Rescission |
| Chapter 18 | Amendments, General Principles |
| 157 | Motion to amend |
| 158 | Procedure for inserting, adding or omitting words |
| 159 | Substituting words |
| 160 | Order of moving amendments to figures |
| 161 | Main motion |
| Chapter 19 | Divisions |
| 162 | Resolving a question |
| 163 | Party vote unless a conscience issue |
| 164 | Procedure for a division |
| 165 | Procedure for a party vote |
| 166 | Procedure for a personal vote |
| 167 | Casting vote |
| 168 | Points of order |
| 169 | Error in tally |
| 170 | Pecuniary interest |
| Chapter 20 | Tabling of Documents |
| 171 | Orders for documents and records |
| 172 | Documents from the Governor |
| 173 | Other methods of tabling documents |
| 174 | Documents presented by member |
| 175 | Documents to be given to Clerk |
| 176 | Documents not presented under an Act |
| 177 | Printing of documents |
| Chapter 21 | Messages and Addresses |
| 178 | Agreeing to an address proposed by the Council |
| 179 | Addresses to the Governor |
| 180 | Addresses to the Sovereign |
| 181 | Message announced by Speaker or Chair |
| 182 | Governor's answer to an address |
| Chapter 22 | Strangers |
| 183 | When strangers not allowed |
| 184 | Withdrawal of strangers |
| 185 | Discipline of strangers |
| 186 | Discharge of a person arrested |
| Chapter 23 | Witnesses |
| 187 | Attendance of member before the House |
| 188 | Attendance of member before a select committee |
| 189 | Request for Council member or officer to attend |
| 190 | Summoning a witness |
| 191 | Witness in prison |
| 192 | Select committee summons procedure |
| 193 | Failure or refusal to attend |
| 194 | Oath |
| 195 | Examination before the House |
| 196 | Evidence of witnesses protected |
| 197 | Officers not to give evidence without leave |
| 198 | Council request for Assembly member or officer to attend |
| 199 | Information regarding improper conduct of a member |
| 200 | Interference with witnesses and false evidence |
| Chapter 24 | Select Committees |
| 201 | Appointment |
| 202 | Number of members |
| 203 | Quorum |
| 204 | Speaker and Deputy Speaker to consent |
| 205 | Notice for appointment of a select committee |
| 206 | Ballot for appointment to select committee |
| 207 | Members discharged and added |
| 208 | List of members |
| 209 | Meetings of select committees |
| 210 | Election of Chair and Deputy Chair |
| 211 | Absence of Chair and Deputy Chair |
| 212 | Casting vote |
| 213 | Quorum |
| 214 | Power to send for persons, documents and other things |
| 215 | Subcommittee of a select committee |
| 216 | Deliberations in private |
| 217 | Disclosure of evidence and other documents |
| 218 | Unreported evidence |
| 219 | Recording of evidence |
| 220 | Record of proceedings of committee |
| 221 | Chair to prepare draft report |
| 222 | Proceedings on consideration of draft report |
| 223 | Minority report |
| 224 | Report tabled |
| 225 | Interim reports |
| 226 | Report of Standing Orders Committee |
| Chapter 25 | Citizen's right of reply |
| 227 | Citizen's right of reply procedure |
| Chapter 26 | Records of the House |
| 228 | Votes and Proceedings |
| 229 | Reproduction of parliamentary documents |
| 230 | Printing and distribution of documents |
| 231 | Documents and evidence not tabled |
| Chapter 27 | Broadcasting of proceedings |
| 232 | Broadcasting rules |
| Time Limits | Summary of Time Limits |
| Joint Standing Orders | Standing Orders covering both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council |
| Joint Rule of Practice 1 | Joint sittings held under the Constitution Act 1975 s 65G |
| Joint Rule of Practice 2 | Joint sittings held under the Constitution Act 1975 s 27A |
| Footnotes | Footnotes for the Legislative Assembly Standing Orders |