Deputy Speaker, Assistant Speaker and the Speaker's Panel
In addition to the Speaker, the House also elects a Deputy Speaker and an Assistant Speaker. The principal responsibility of the Deputy Speaker is to act for the Speaker, both in the Chair and also in the Speaker's capacity when the House is not sitting. The role of the Assistant Speaker is to perform the duties of the Chair if both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are unavailable.
There is also a panel of Temporary Speakers which oversees proceedings if the Speaker, Deputy and Assistant Speaker are all absent.
Deputy Speaker, The Hon. Sonia Hornery MP
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The Deputy Speaker is elected by the House and is the only person who, under the NSW Constitution Act 1902, can act as the Speaker and carry all the powers, authorities, duties and functions of the Speaker in his absence.
The Hon. Sonia Hornery MP was elected Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on 9 May 2023. Before her election, Sonia served as Temporary Speaker between February and October in 2018, and between 2019 and 2023.
Sonia was first elected as the Member for Wallsend in 2007. She was a member of several parliamentary committees and served as Shadow Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for a number of portfolios.
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Assistant Speaker, Mr Jason Li MP
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The Assistant Speaker is elected by the House. If the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are both absent on a day when the House is sitting, the Assistant Speaker is able to perform their duties and oversee the proceedings of the House.
Mr Jason Li MP was elected Assistant Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly on 9 May 2023. He was elected as the Member for Strathfield after winning a by-election in 2022.
Mr Li is Chair of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption as well as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Privilege and Ethics.
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Temporary Speakers
The Speaker may appoint up to five Temporary Speakers to support him on sitting days by taking the chair and presiding over proceedings of the Legislative Assembly. The current panel of Temporary Speakers include the Members featured below.
