Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

NORFOLK ISLAND ACT 1979 - SECT 42

             (1)  Subject to subsection 39(3) and to the standing rules and orders of the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker shall preside at all meetings of the Legislative Assembly at which he or she is present.

             (2)  Subject to subsection 39(3) and to the standing rules and orders of the Legislative Assembly, if the Speaker is absent from a meeting of the Legislative Assembly or is unable, by reason of the operation of subsection 39(3), to perform his or her functions, the Deputy Speaker shall preside.

             (3)  If both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are absent from a meeting of the Legislative Assembly or are unable, by reason of the operation of subsection 39(3), to perform the functions of the Speaker, the members present shall elect one of their number to preside.

             (4)  At a meeting of the Legislative Assembly, unless otherwise provided by enactment, 5 members constitute a quorum.

             (5)  Questions arising at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.

             (6)  The member presiding at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly has a deliberative vote only, and, in the event of an equality of votes on a question, the question shall pass in the negative.

             (7)  If a motion of no confidence in the Chief Minister is before the Legislative Assembly, the Legislative Assembly must deal with that motion before proceeding to the despatch of any other business.