House of Representatives Friday 8 November 2013 Federal Parliament opens next week

Hundreds of years of parliamentary tradition and an Indigenous Welcome to Country will feature prominently during the opening of the 44th Parliament in Canberra next Tuesday morning 12 o!ember" #ollowing a Welcome to Country ceremony for members and senators and their guests on the Parliament House #orecourt mosaic from $%4&am' the Cler( of the House of )epresentati!es' *ernard Wright' and Cler( of the +enate' )osemary ,aing' will begin proceedings in their respecti!e chambers at 1-".-am" They will read the proclamation from /o!ernor0/eneral 1uentin *ryce calling Parliament together" In the House' the 2sher of the *lac( )od will arri!e from the +enate to in!ite the 1&- House 3Ps to the +enate chamber to hear the /o!ernor0/eneral4s appointed deputy' the Chief 5ustice of the High Court of 6ustralia )obert #rench declare open the 44th Parliament at 1-%4-am" The 3Ps will return to the House at about 1-%&-am to be sworn in and then elect their +pea(er" 7nce the +pea(er is elected' she or he is dragged 8unwillingly9 to the +pea(er4s Chair :centuries ago +pea(ers in the 2nited ;ingdom ris(ed being beheaded or imprisoned by the 3onarchy<' and then the 3ace is placed on the Table to signify the House of )epresentati!es is properly constituted" The Prime 3inister Tony 6bbott then informs the House that the +pea(er will be presented to the /o!ernor0/eneral at 2".-pm in the 3embers4 Hall" The +pea(er will as( 3Ps to accompany her or him" When the 3Ps return to the House at about .pm' the 2sher of the *lac( )od will (noc( three times on the chamber door before announcing the members are re=uired in the +enate to hear the /o!ernor0/eneral4s opening speech" This speech is a formal declaration of the causes for the calling together of the Parliament' which outlines the agenda of the 44th Parliament" Her speech is followed by a 1>0gun artillery salute fired from #ederation 3all at about .%&-pm" The House resumes formal business at about ."&&pm' when the Prime 3inister announces the 3inistry and Whips' the ,eader of the 7pposition announces the +hadow 3inistry and Whips' and the ,eader of the ationals announces Whips followed by the first reading of a formal bill" The sitting is suspended for an hour" The House resumes at &pm and is expected to elect a ?eputy +pea(er and a +econd ?eputy +pea(er and conduct any other formal business" Parliament will resume on Wednesday morning :1. o!ember<' and on Thursday :14 o!ember<" The House of )epresentati!es will sit again on 1$ o!ember for a wee( while +enate @stimates is on until Thursday 21 o!ember" Parliament begins its final two wee(s of sittings on 3onday 2 ?ecember" WHAT: The opening of the 44th Parliament" WHERE: Parliament forecourt' and the House of )epresentati!es and +enate chambers' Parliament House' Canberra" WHEN: $"4&am on Tuesday 12 o!ember 2-1." MED A !"NTA!T: #or further information about this 7pening of Parliament please contact House of )epresentati!es media manager 6ndrew ?awson on :-2< A2BB 2-A. or -4-1 14.B24" Proceedings of Parliament can be !iewed li!e on the internet on% www"aph"go!"auCli!e" 6 more detailed program on the 7pening of 44th Parliament and also !ideo highlights of the last opening of the 4.rd Parliament in 2-1- are a!ailable at% www"aph"go!"auCParliamentaryD*usinessC7pening

Issued by: 6ndrew ?awson' media manager' International E Community )elations 7ffice' Parliament of 6ustralia Tel% :-2< A2BB 2-A. w(' -4-1 14. B24 mob" 5oin us on Twitter to (eep up to date on a wide !ariety of topics and news from the House" Follow us at http%CCtwitter"comC6boutTheHouse Have #ou $ot About the House ma$a%ine #et& Fisit% http%CCwww"aph"go!"auCath