President of the Legislative Council

The PRESIDENT (14:18): I wish to bring to the attention of the council a further matter in respect of my intentions in the role of President. I have decided not to attend my party's regular Legislative Council party room nor the joint party room. When the council elected me as President, I promised the chamber that I would faithfully and honourably serve the council to the best of my abilities. It is my view that the President should not only be but should also be seen to be independent and impartial of the day-to-day political debate.

I understand that this is the practice of many other presidents and speakers in other Australian jurisdictions. In coming to this personal decision and advising the council, it is not my intention to reflect negatively on the decisions of my predecessors. It is my view that this is a matter for each president upon their election to the chair.