In her ceremonial role, the Governor attends the Ceremonial Openings of Parliament which typically take place following a general election.

To ensure that Parliament was able to resume more swiftly following the recent election, today the 52nd Parliament was opened by Commissioners appointed by Letters Patent.  As a result, the usual ceremonial aspects, including a speech read by the Governor, did not take place.

Following the Commissioners’ Opening, as per Tasmania’s Constitution Act 1934 the Governor this afternoon received the newly elected Speaker of the House of Assembly at Government House.

As is tradition, the new Speaker Jacquie Petrusma MP was presented to the Governor by her nominator, Premier Jeremy Rockliff MP, and she then read out her letter of election.

The Governor congratulated the Members of the House of Assembly on choosing a Speaker, and read the following statement:

“I readily assure you, Honourable Speaker, of my confirmation of all of the constitutional rights and privileges of the House of Assembly, the proceedings of which will always receive my most favourable consideration.”

The Speaker and the Premier then returned to Parliament for the resumption of the session.