Public Gallery
Please view these guidelines if seated in the gallery
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Gallery Guidelines
1. Visitor stickers or passes must be worn and displayed at all times.
2. Visitors must be accompanied by a passholder at all times, including the public gallery.
3. Filming or photography from the public galleries is not permitted without the approval of the President.
4. Mobile phones must be switched off or on silent.
5. Eating and drinking is not permitted.
6. Interjections from the galleries are disorderly and not permitted.
7. Persons seated in the galleries must not communicate with or attempt to communicate with members in the Chamber.
8. Visitors must leave any large bags and umbrellas in the Vestibule.
9. Signs and props must not be taken into or displayed from the galleries.
10. It is not appropriate to read books or newspapers or to engage in audible conversation while in the galleries.
11. No leaning on or over the railing/balustrade.
12. Instructions of parliamentary staff and Protective Services Officers must be complied with.
Anyone failing to comply with these guidelines may be asked to leave the gallery
Thank you for visiting the Legislative Council.
Please view below for interesting information about this chamber and see a staff member if you require assistance.
House of review
The Legislative Council is often referred to as the "House of Review” as it plays a crucial role in scrutinizing and reviewing legislation and government actions. Bills are reviewed during Committee of the Whole, where the bill is reviewed clause by clause, with Members of the Council asking the Minister responsible questions.
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15
Government
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14
Opposition
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11
Crossbench
Key roles in the Chamber
President
The President’s main role is to preside over the House while it is in session. While the House is sitting, the President will:
- Maintain order
- Allocate the call (whose turn it is to speak)
- Adjudicates on points of order
Along with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the President is one of the two Presiding Officers of Parliament, and has responsibility for certain administrative/policy decisions in parliament
Clerks
The Clerks of the department sit at the table in the center of the Chamber and provide procedural support to the Members.
The Clerks produce the official minutes of the Council, and will advise Members on things such as the Standing Orders.
The Black Rod
The Usher of the Black Rod is responsible for the security of the Chamber as well as performing ceremonial duties. At the beginning of each sitting day, the Usher of the Black Rod will ‘stamp in’ and announce the President to the Council.
The Black Rod itself is made of Fiddleback Blackwood & gilded sterling silver and has a sovereign coin embedded in its base. It is placed on the table when the Chamber is in session, with the crown pointing towards the chair.
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1979
Gracia Baylor and Joan Coxsedge became the first women elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
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8
regions that make up Victoria are each represented by five Members
Chamber architecture
Have you spotted these unique features of our Chamber?
The Vice Regal Chair
The chair located behind the President, under the canopy is known as the Vice-Regal Chair, and only the King or the Governor can sit in it.
This is used every 4 years for the opening of Parliament.
The only time a reigning monarch has sat in this chair was in 1954, when Queen Elizabeth opened Parliament. A photo of this event is on display in the Vestibule.
The Canopy
The canopy that sits behind the Vice-Regal chair was a gift from the United Kingdom Government, and includes:
- The shells representing the openness of Parliament,
- The glow of the lights representing the enlightenment of Parliament
- The Lion (strength) representing England
- The Unicorn (purity) representing Scotland
The Angels
The eight angels across the top of the Chamber are:
- Statecraft – scales
- Mercy – sheathing a sword
- Architecture – open ledger, ruler, compass & protractor
- Fame or Glory – trumpet of fame
- Wisdom – helmet with shield & sword
- Unity – with an unbroken chain. This was renamed from Liberty, as the chain was originally unbroken. The chain was ‘fixed’ when the federal parliament moved out of the building in 1927
- History – holding a book & pen
- Plenty – holding a cornucopia & sprinkling gold dust.
The Eagles
The Eagles at each end of the Chamber are believed to represent either the German House of Hanover or Saxe-Coburg.
Queen Victoria was a descendent of the House of Hanover, and her husband, Prince Albert was from the House of Saxe-Coburg
