Queen in Parliament

What is the "Queen in Parliament?"

A set of tasks the Governor-General does in the Parliament of Australia on behalf of the Queen.

A set of tasks the state Governors do in the state Parliaments on behalf of the Queen.

A set of tasks the Queensland Governor does in the Queensland Parliament on behalf of the Queen.

 Task 1 - Royal Ascent 

What is Royal Ascent

In the Commonwealth Parliament

A. A group of people write a new potential law which is called a bill and this is introduced in the Parliament of Australia. This link is the introduction of the same sex marriage bill to Parliament of Australia.

B. The Australian Parliament agrees to pass a new law or to change an old law. This link is the passing of the same sex marriage vote in the Parliament of Australia.

C. The bill gets sent to the the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia who signs it on behalf of the Queen. This link is the same sex marraige bill being given royal ascent by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

D. The Bill becomes part of the law.

In the Queensland Parliament

A. A group of people write a new potential law which is called a bill and this is introduced in parliament. This link is the introduction of a bill to the Queensland Parliament to legalise cannabis for medical use.

B. A Parliament agrees to pass a new law or to change an old law. This link is the Queensland Parliament agreeing to make abortion legal.

C. The bill gets sent to the representative of the Queen (at State or Federal level) who signs it on behalf of the Queen.

D. The Bill becomes part of the law.

2. Starting, Pausing and Ending a term of the Australian Parliament

The Governor-General of Australia can

A. Open the Australian Parliament. The link is the Parliament being opened.

B. Reads out a speech written by the Australian Cabinet detailing their plans.

C. Take oaths from new members of the Australian parliament.

D. Swear in the two chairpersons of the Parliament of Australia. The Senate President and the Speaker of the House.

E. Pause and resume the Australian Parliament. The process is called prorogation and this is a link to a description on a government website.

F. End a term of the Australian Parliament and call a general election, which is read outside the Australian Parliament by the Governor-General's Secretary. The Process is called dissolving parliament and issuing writs for an election and this is a link to a video of it.

The Governor-General will almost always use these powers as advised by the Prime Minister.

These are reserve powers so the Governor-General can ignore the advice of the Prime Minister but this very rarely happens.

Starting, Pausing and Ending a term of the Queensland Parliament

The Governor of Queensland can

A. Open the Queensland Parliament. The link is the Parliament being opened.

B. Take oaths from new members of the Queensland parliament.

C. Read out a speech written by the Queensland Cabinet detailing their plans.

D. Swear the chair person of the of the Queensland Parliament. This person is the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.

E. Pause and resume the Queensland Parliament. This process is called prorogation.

F. End a term of the Queensland Parliament and call an election, which is read outside the Australian Parliament by the Governor-General's Secretary. The Process is called dissolving parliament and issuing writs for an election and this is a link to a video of it.

The Governor of Queensland will almost always use these powers as advised by the Premier of Queensland.

These are reserve powers so the Governor can ignore the advice of the Premier but this very rarely happens.