Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) At the first meeting of the Assembly after a general election, the members present shall, before any other business, elect one of their number to be the Presiding Officer of the Assembly.
(2) The title of the Presiding Officer shall be determined by the Assembly.
(3) If there is a vacancy in the office of Presiding Officer (not because of a dissolution of the Assembly), then:
(a) if the vacancy happens at a meeting, the members present shall, before any further business, elect one of their number to be the Presiding Officer; or
(b) if the vacancy happens at any other time, at the next meeting the members present shall, before any other business, elect one of their number to be the Presiding Officer.
(4) This section does not prevent the Assembly from appointing a
person to preside at meetings in the absence of the Presiding Officer, but a
person holding office as a Minister shall not be so appointed.