Ministers must attend Parliament unless leave is given. Ministers contribute to the daily Parliamentary order of business prepared by the leader of the government. Ministers present and speak to legislation related to their portfolios. It is traditional for at least one Minister to be in the House at all times, sitting in the Minister’s Chair at the Table of the House, this being generally the Minister whose business is under discussion at that time. This Minister also represents the Government in the House.

At Question Time, any Minister may be called upon to reply to a question relating to their portfolio. Question Time is a particular moment which expresses the responsibility of Ministers to Parliament, particularly in the Lower House. although at all times Ministers remain responsible to the House.

Question Time in the Upper House does not carry quite the same significance. Ministers who are Members of the Upper House (Legislative Council) represent the whole government there as well as their own particular portfolios. On certain occasions, Ministers from one house will be permitted to sit in and address the other house for the purpose of explaining a bill relating to their administration. This rarely used provision has been put into effect a number of times since 1995 to present the State Budget since the Treasurer has been a Member of the Upper House and the Budget is traditionally presented in the Lower House.