Standing orders are the rules adopted by Parliaments to regulate everything from the passage of legislation, to the rules for debate, and even the behaviour of members.
The rules are the glue that binds everything together. Good rules operate independently of politics and trends, can be applied consistently and without favour, and preserve fair and equal opportunity for members regardless of their political persuasion. They safeguard freedom of speech, the rights of the minority, and the role of the Council as a House of Review.
As the oldest legislature in Australia, the Legislative Council was the first legislative body in the country to adopt rules for parliamentary procedure, drawing initially on rules operating in the House of Commons and House of Lords. While many of these first rules remain in some form, over time the House has developed its own practice and procedure, while also drawing inspiration from other legislatures.
The rules have been adopted or redrafted in full only seven times: twice during the First Council (1824–1855), and five times during the bicameral Legislative Council (1856 to present). This includes the most recent review in 2022, with the Council currently trialling proposed new standing orders which, if approved by the House, will be sent to the Governor for final approval prior to the commencement of the new Parliament.
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