
Rulings & Statements
In addition to presiding over the Senate’s proceedings, the Speaker plays an important role in upholding decorum during the sitting and ensuring the orderly conduct of Senate business. The Speaker may therefore be required to rule on certain procedural matters, including points of order, prima facie merits of questions of privilege and applications for emergency debates.
Points of order or questions of privilege are raised by Senators either to seek clarification in relation to a proceeding or to bring to the attention of the Senate an occurrence which may have breached parliamentary privilege or undermined the dignity of the Senate. A Senator who wishes to raise a matter of urgent public interest may also request that an emergency debate be held on that subject.
When issuing a ruling on these procedural matters, the Speaker cites the reasons for the decision together with references to the rule or other written authority applicable to the case. These rulings exemplify the ways in which the Rules of the Senate and practices interact and how they may be applied on a day-to-day basis.
November 5, 2020
October 29, 2020
October 29, 2020
October 29, 2020
June 18, 2020
March 10, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
May 30, 2019
May 16, 2019
May 2, 2019
April 11, 2019
April 4, 2019
April 4, 2019
February 19, 2019
November 8, 2018
September 25, 2018
April 24, 2018
April 17, 2018
March 22, 2018
February 15, 2018
February 13, 2018
February 6, 2018
January 31, 2018
November 1, 2017
September 26, 2017
June 20, 2017
June 15, 2017
June 15, 2017
May 30, 2017
May 11, 2017
April 13, 2017
January 31, 2017
November 15, 2016
October 18, 2016
June 22, 2016
June 17, 2016
June 16, 2016
June 9, 2016
June 9, 2016
February 4, 2016
February 3, 2016
January 26, 2016
December 11, 2015
December 8, 2015
December 3, 2015