Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria. The presiding officer of the upper house of the Parliament of Victoria, the Victorian Legislative Council, is the President of the Victorian Legislative Council.
A Speaker is elected at the beginning of each new parliamentary term by the Legislative Assembly from one of its members. The Assembly may re-elect an incumbent Speaker by passing a motion; otherwise, a secret ballot is held. The House can dismiss the Speaker by a majority vote, and the Speaker can resign.
In practice, the Speaker is usually a member of the governing party or parties, who have the majority in the House, and continues to be a member of his or her political party, but it is left to their individual discretion as to whether or not they attend party meetings. The Speaker also continues to carry out his or her ordinary electorate duties as a member of Parliament and must take part in an election campaign to be re-elected as a member of Parliament.
A Deputy Speaker, also elected by the Assembly, supports and assists the Speaker in the execution of his or her duties, and acts Speaker in their absence or during a vacancy in the position.Speakers of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
