Joint meetings of the Australian Parliament

A joint meeting of the Australian Parliament is a convening of members of the Senate and House of Representatives sitting together as a single legislative body.

The Australian Parliament has two bicameral houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Subject to the Constitution of Australia, each house has its own rules, standing orders and procedures; its own presiding officer; and meets separately, at dates and times it alone decides.

However, there are some occasions when the two Houses have come together as a single body.

Typically, the Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over the joint meetings. If the Governor-General attends the meetings, he or she could preside instead of the Speaker of the House.