18. If the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Assistant Speaker and Temporary
Speakers are all absent on a day when the House is sitting, the Clerk shall
inform the House which shall, upon motion without notice, before any further
business is conducted, proceed to the election of an Acting Speaker and:
(1) The Clerk shall preside for the election of an Acting Speaker in the
same manner as for the election of Deputy Speaker.
(2) The Members present, if a quorum, may elect an Acting Speaker who shall
perform the duties of the Speaker.
(3) If the House does not proceed to an election the matter shall stand
adjourned until the next sitting day or if a sitting day has not been set, a
date set by the Government, when the election of an Acting Speaker, if still
necessary, shall take precedence of all other business.
amended 3 July 2009 |