'Unusual': the traditions behind parliament's opening
But on the opening day, traditions dating back hundreds of years defined the procedures.
The House of Representatives and Senate met on Tuesday for the first time since Labor's election win, but before any debate on legislation took place, parliamentary rituals had to be taken care of first.
Parliament was opened up by High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gageler, with all MPs and senators packed into the upper house for the occasion, before returning their respective chambers to be sworn in.
Business then turned to electing a Speaker of the House of Representatives and a Senate president.
Traditionally, once a Speaker is elected, they are dragged to the speaker's chair by other MPs.
The dragging tradition dates back to the early days of the British parliament, when people were reluctantly elected to the role due to predecessors being executed or imprisoned due to the monarch not agreeing with the British parliament's outcome.
House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick took part in the ceremonial dragging when he was appointed to the role in 2022, and retained his prominent role in parliament.
"When (the traditions) occur for the first time, people see them and they may seem a little unusual," he told AAP.
"This is what our democracy has been built on. They signify some of the foundations of our parliament."
Later in the day, the Usher of the Black Rod, will knock on the door of the House of Representatives three times to invite MPs to the Senate for a speech by Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
The address will outline the priorities of the government during the upcoming three-year term.
The speech can't happen in the House of Representatives due to a convention dating back to 1642, when King Charles I went into British parliament and tried to arrest five people but was unsuccessful.
Since then, any figure related to the crown such as the Governor General is not allowed in the lower house.
Despite the British traditions on display on parliament's opening day, Australian customs were also part of the mix.
The day began with a welcome to country and Indigenous smoking ceremony.
Senate president Sue Lines said the Indigenous elements of the day were an important part of parliament's opening.
"It's important for me and very symbolic that we back our own traditions and acknowledge First Nations (people), and we also have the quirky bits of the Westminster system," Senator Lines told AAP.
"These traditions also reinforce the different roles that the House of Representatives and the Senate has, and sometimes that's a bit lost because we get into the argument and debate."
Official business will get under way later on Tuesday with maiden speeches by MPs before proposed laws are debated on Wednesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
'A threat no one else sees': The daily, invisible burden of racism for First Nations Australians
Reconciliation Australia published a report in June charting a 15 percent increase in Indigenous people's experiences of racism over the past decade. It concluded that racism is an everyday reality for First Nations people. Kelleigh Ryan, a psychologist and descendant of the Kabi Kabi people and Australian South Sea Islanders, said the failed Voice Referendum brought up a lot of challenges for First Nations people. LISTEN TO Rumours, Racism and the Referendum "It was a great loss. And so it became this invisible blanket of aggression that people had a lot of difficulty with and those who didn't have time and space to grieve were still having to work through that grief," she said. Reconciliation Australia's research found young people and multicultural communities were the most likely to participate in truth-telling activities and celebrations of First Nations culture. Celebrating, reflecting, mourning: Indigenous and migrant perspectives on January 26 Jordan Young, a Darambal man, runs workshops that teach Indigenous culture to schools and businesses. He told SBS Examines it's helped break down negative stereotypes. You're not born with racism, it's a learned trait. "So being able to give these kids another viewpoint, another perspective on Aboriginal culture, is very, very important." This episode of Understanding Hate looks at the rising racism towards Indigenous Australians, and how we can combat the harms.
9 News
5 hours ago
- 9 News
Pro-Palestine protesters barred from Melbourne bridge
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters were met with a wall of police refusing to let them onto the King Street Bridge in Melbourne today. The tense showdown followed a peaceful march through the city. However, some pent-up frustration broke into anger, with riot police seen in the area. The group assembled outside the State Library at midday and wound its way through the heart of the city toward the King Street Bridge. (Asanka Ratnayake) A protester speaks to riot police as people march during a pro-Palestinian rally. (Getty) The group assembled outside the State Library at midday and wound its way through the heart of the city towards the King Street Bridge. Police had sealed it off before anyone got close. A lone counter-protester stood out in the crowd and was taken away in handcuffs. After 21 months of marching it was more than just a Sunday rally for the action group amid increasingly upsetting reports of starvation from Gaza. It was the 92nd gathering of this group and they say they will continue to March every Sunday until they're satisfied there's a ceasefire. As the main protest dissolved and moved back to the State Library, a smaller storm of troublemakers splintered off. The Australian flag was burned as paint hit the concrete As the main protest dissolved, and moved back to the state library a smaller storm of troublemakers splintered off. (Getty) The handful that stayed behind continued to stir chaos, planting themselves in traffic. Police said they feared the worst as they tried to control the crowd, which dwarfed the numbers organisers had expected. CONTACT US
Sky News AU
9 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Dan Tehan flags gas is crucial moving forward as Coalition's net zero review could take up to a year to settle on final outcome
Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan has flagged gas as a crucial element in the Coalition's energy policy moving forward and confirmed the ongoing review into net zero could take up to a year. Net zero has become a critical issue for the Coalition, with former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack tabling a Private Member's Bill last week aimed at overhauling all climate related policies. Numerous Nationals and Liberal backbenchers have publicly spoken out against the controversial policy despite Liberal leader Sussan Ley touting reducing emissions as a top priority for the Coalition. Ms Ley told Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell on Thursday she wanted to develop an energy policy focussed on manufacturing while making power more affordable and also reducing emissions. As the Coalition's working group continues its review on the polarising issue, Mr Tehan, who is leading the policy review, told Sky News' Sunday Agenda that the process could take 'nine to 12 months". 'We've got to work out: okay, what will our nuclear policy be? What will our gas policy be? What will we do with state governments that continue to provide subsidies to keep coal-fired power stations going?' Mr Tehan said. The Nationals are also conducting a review to determine its position on net zero, with the process being led by vocal climate critic Senator Matt Canavan. When asked by Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell what the Coalition's approach on coal would be, Mr Tehan said the working group had a lot to consider and that gas would be an important factor moving forwards. 'We've said the first focus is going to be on gas,' Mr Tehan said. Mr Tehan reiterated he wanted the review to result in a sustainable and coherent policy position and said the Liberal and National parties needed to find common ground on the issue. He said it was vital that the two political camps 'agree on a policy moving forward" and added that another Coalition split would 'not do the cause on the centre-right of Australian politics any good whatsoever'. 'I think all of us, as individuals – all members of both the Liberal Party and the National Party – have to think very seriously about that over the next 12 to 24 months," he said.
