PARLIAMENT

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

STANDING ORDERS OF PARLIAMENT

AS AT  20 JUNE 2020

Being the revised standing orders adopted on 16 December 1981, to come into effect on 1 
January 1982, as amended on:
6 April 2013,
10 December 2018, and
18 June 2020 (effective 20 June 2020).

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
1. Interpretation
PART 1 – FIRST SITTING OF PARLIAMENT
2. Notice of first sitting of Parliament after a general election
3. Procedure at first sitting of Parliament
4. Roll of Members of Parliament
5. Election of Speaker
6. Procedure when office of Speaker becomes vacant
7. Deputy Speaker
8. Procedure to elect a Prime Minister
9. Procedure when the office of the Prime Minister becomes vacant

PART 2 – OFFICERS OF THE PARLIAMENT
10. Powers and duties of the Speaker
11. Office of the Clerk
12. Hansard

PART 3 – SESSIONS, MEETINGS AND SITTINGS
13. Ordinary sessions
14. Presidential address
15. Extraordinary sessions
16. Special Sitting
17. Days of sitting
18. Hours of sitting
19. Bells
PART 4 – BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT
20. Order of business at a sitting
21. Business having precedence
22. Confirmation of Minutes
23. Statement by Ministers
24. Tabling of documents
25. Urgent debate
26. Speaker to be informed
27. Order of business during a week

PART 5 – PROCEDURE OF BILLS
28. Private bills
29. Government bills
30. Procedure on introduction of a bill 
31. Stages of a bill
32. First reading
33. Referral to a Parliamentary Committee
34. Parliamentary Committee Reports
35. Consideration of committee reports
36. Adoption of report and recommended amendments
37. Committee of the Whole Parliament stage
38. Second reading
39. Amendment to a bill

PART 6 – QUESTIONS, MOTIONS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, OPPOSITION BUSINESS, 
STATEMENTS AND PETITIONS
40. Written questions
41. Oral questions
42. Content of questions
43. Written motions
44. Motions of no confidence
45. Statements by Members
46. Public Affairs
47. Opposition business
48. Petitions

PART 7 – DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT
49. Maximum time limits for speeches
50. Quorum
51. Conduct of debate
52. Rules against anticipation
53. Allegations against another Member or a Member of the judiciary
54. Order in the Parliament
55. Closure of debate
56. Point of order
57. Matters of privilege
58. Voting
59. Ruling of the Speaker
60. Motion to suspend Standing Orders

PART 8 – COMMITTEES OF THE PARLIAMENT
61. Committee of the Whole Parliament
62. Establishment of Standing Committees following an election
63. Functions of Standing Committees
64. Membership of Standing Committees
65. Meetings of Standing Committees
66. Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons
67. Membership Change of Standing Committees
68. Mandate and responsibilities of Standing Committees
69. Quorum of Standing Committees
70. Powers and Procedures of a Standing Committee
71. Committees may report out of session
72. Ad hoc committee
73. Seeking Evidence
74. Exercise of power to send for persons, papers and records
75. Subcommittees
76. Disorder
77. Hearing of Evidence
78. Release of written submissions
79. Evidence on oath or affirmation
80. Conduct of examination
81. Relevance of questions
82. Objection to answer
83. Witnesses’ expenses
84. Transcript of evidence
85. Return of evidence
86. Irrelevant or unjustified allegations
87. Access to information
88. Personal information
89. Confidentiality of proceedings and reports
90. Information on proceedings of Parliamentary Committees
91. Tabling of reports
92. Government response to a report

PART 9 – FINANCIAL PROCEDURE
93. Annual Appropriation Bill and Estimates
94. Financial bills or motions

PART 10 – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS95. Members’ interests96. Attendance of Members of Parliament97. Members’ conduct in the Chamber98. Broadcast of proceedings99. Sessional Orders100. Visitors101. Review of Standing Orders102. Repeal
Interpretation1. In these Standing Orders, unless the context otherwise requires:

‘Clerk’ means the Clerk of the Parliament and includes an Acting Clerk;‘Day’ means a calendar day;

‘Estimates’ means the Statement of Estimates and Budget Narrative accompanying the Appropriation Bill;

‘Leave’ or ‘Leave of the Parliament’ or ‘Leave of the Committee’ means permission to do something that is granted without a dissenting voice;

‘Meeting’ means any sitting or series of sittings during which the Parliament is sitting without special adjournment during the same session;

‘Member’ means a Member of the Parliament of Vanuatu;

‘Minister’ means any Minister appointed under Article 40 of the Constitution and includes the Prime Minister;

‘Nominal Vote’ means a vote taken when a Member wishes to dispute a vote taken on a show of hands;

‘Parliamentary Committee’ means a Standing Committee or an Ad hoc Committeeestablished under these Standing Orders;

‘Public Affairs’ means any matter of national or regional significance for which the Government has responsibility and which is not the subject of a motion or notice of motion on the agenda;

‘Senior Member’ means the longest serving Member in the Parliament;

‘Session’ means a block of sitting days that constitutes a meeting and includes the two ordinary sessions held each year, any extraordinary session and any special sitting;

‘Sitting’ or ‘Sitting day’ means the period between the commencement of business on any day until the adjournment of business on that day and includes any period during which Parliament is in Committee of the Whole Parliament;

‘Speaker’ includes a Deputy Speaker, and a Member elected Speaker under Standing Order 7(4);

‘Special adjournment’ means the adjournment of the Parliament between sessions.PART 1 – FIRST SITTING OF PARLIAMENTNotice of first sitting of Parliament after a general election2. Not later than twenty-one (21) days after a general election the Clerk must send to each Member a notice stating that the first sitting of Parliament will be held at the place and time specified therein. The notice must be given not less than ten (10) days before the date of the first sitting.

Procedure at first sitting of Parliament3. (1) At the first sitting of Parliament after a general election the Clerk reads the notice sent under Standing Order 2 and directs all Members present to take the oath and to sign the Roll of Members in the manner provided by Standing Order 4.(2) The Parliament then elects a Speaker and one or more Deputy Speakers by secret ballot in the manner provided by Standing Orders 5 and 7.(3) Before any formal business can be conducted, the Members assembled must elect a Prime Minister in the manner provided by Standing Order 8.(4) Following the election of the Prime Minister, the Parliament then establishes the Standing Committees and appoints members to them in accordance with Standing Orders 62, 63 and 64.

Roll of Members of Parliament4. (1) There must be a Roll of Members of Parliament.(2) On the direction of the Clerk under Standing Order 3, all Members present must take and subscribe to the oath and sign the Roll in alphabetical order of their surnames. In the event of a Member not being present, that Member must take and subscribe to the oath and sign the Roll at the next sitting of Parliament at which the Member is present.(3) A Member must not sit or vote until that Member has taken and subscribed to the oath and signed the Roll.(4) A Member is regarded as having taken his or her seat when the Member has taken and subscribed to the oath and signed the Roll of Members.(5) Where a Member has been elected through a by-election, the Member must take and subscribe to the oath and sign the Roll simultaneously, in the office of the Speaker and witnessed by the Speaker, within two (2) weeks after the declaration of the election results.

Election of Speaker5. (1) When a quorum is present, the election of the Speaker takes place in the manner set out in the following paragraphs.3(2) The Senior Member presides over the debate for the election of the Speaker. (3) A Member, addressing the Senior Member proposes a Member, then present, to Parliament and moves, “That the Honorable ...................., Member for .................... Constituency, be Speaker of the Parliament”. The motion must be seconded, after which the Member proposed and seconded makes a statement accepting the 
nomination.(4) When a Member is proposed and seconded and has accepted nomination, the Senior Member then asks for further proposals. If there is no further proposal the Senior Member then declares elected the sole Member nominated.(5) When two (2) or more Members are proposed and seconded, and have accepted nomination, the Senior Member selects two (2) tellers from among the Members representing, as far as possible, different political parties, and with their assistance conducts an election by secret ballot.(6) After consultation with the tellers, the Senior Member declares who has been elected Speaker and the Speaker then takes the chair.

Procedure when office of Speaker becomes vacant6. (1) If the Speaker wishes to resign, written notice of this intention must be received by the Clerk. The notice must state the date on which the resignation takes effect.

(2) The Clerk must report to Parliament any notice given by the Speaker pursuant to paragraph (1), or any vacancy in the office of Speaker, at the opening of the first sitting after the notice has been given or the vacancy occurs.

(3) Whenever a notice has been given under paragraph (1) or there is a vacancy in the office of Speaker, Parliament must elect a Speaker in the manner provided by Standing Order 5, subject to paragraph (4).

(4) Where Parliament proceeds to elect a Speaker under paragraph (3), a Deputy Speaker must preside at the commencement of the sitting and when a quorum is present, calls on the Senior Member to preside over the debate for the election of 
the Speaker.

Deputy Speaker7. (1) After the election of the Speaker, Parliament then elects one or more Deputy Speakers in the same manner as the Speaker, except that the Speaker presides.

(2) The first elected is the First Deputy Speaker and the second elected the Second Deputy Speaker, and so forth.

(3) When the Speaker is absent from the country, or is ill, or is otherwise unable to attend to his or her duties because of the death of his or her spouse or child, or when called upon to do so by the Speaker, or should the office of the Speaker become vacant by reason of death or incapacity, the First Deputy Speaker performs the duties and exercises the authority of the Speaker; and if the First 4Deputy Speaker is absent the Second Deputy Speaker, and so forth in the same manner.

(4) Whenever the Clerk notifies the Parliament that the Speaker is absent within the meaning of paragraph 3 and none of the Deputy Speakers is present to take the Chair at a sitting, Parliament may appoint one of its Members to perform the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker for that sitting only or until the return of the Speaker or a Deputy Speaker. A motion for this purpose may be moved without notice, and there is no amendment or debate on the question.

Procedure to elect a Prime Minister8. (1) After the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speakers, Parliament then elects the Prime Minister in compliance with Article 41 of the Constitution.

(2) A Member addressing the Speaker proposes a Member then present to Parliament, and moves “That the Honorable ...................., Member for .................... Constituency, be Prime Minister of the Republic”. The motion must be seconded after which the Member proposed and seconded makes a statement accepting the nomination.

(3) When a Member has been proposed and seconded, and has accepted nomination,the Speaker then asks for further proposals.

(4) When all proposals have been received by the Speaker, the Speaker must, if there is more than one proposal, conduct an election by secret ballot in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Constitution.

Procedure when the office of Prime Minister becomes vacant
9. (1) If the Prime Minister wishes to resign, written notice of the resignation must be 
received by the Speaker. The notice must state the date on which the resignation 
takes effect.

(2) The Speaker must report to Parliament any notice given by the Prime Minister 
pursuant to paragraph (1), or any vacancy in the office of Prime Minister otherwise 
occurring, at the opening of the sitting after the notice has been given or the 
vacancy occurs.

(3) Whenever a notice has been given under paragraph (1) or there is a vacancy in the 
office of Prime Minister, Parliament must as soon as possible, elect a Prime 
Minister in the manner provided by Standing Order 8.

(4) Should a notice of resignation be received during a period in which the Parliament 
is not sitting, the Speaker must within seven (7) days, recall Parliament for the sole 
purpose of electing a new Prime Minister.
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PART 2 – OFFICERS OF THE PARLIAMENT
Powers and duties of the Speaker
10. (1) The Speaker presides at sittings of Parliament and is responsible for maintaining 
order. In exercising this duty, the Speaker may where the circumstances are 
deemed necessary request assistance from officers of Parliament.

(2) The Speaker may, if the circumstances deemed necessary, request assistance 
from the Members of the Police Force

(3) The Speaker presides over debates in Parliament and ensures that the Standing 
Orders, practices and procedures of Parliament are respected and observed by all 
Members.

(4) Where a Member of Parliament raises a point of order concerning the interpretation 
of a provision of the Standing Orders, the Speaker may suspend the proceedings 
temporarily to obtain advice from or through the Clerk prior to making a ruling on 
the issue.

(5) The Speaker does not participate in any debate before Parliament or vote. In the 
case of an equality of votes, the Speaker must give a casting vote and any reason 
stated by the Speaker must be entered in the Minutes of Proceedings.

(6) The Speaker shall read or cause to be read by the Clerk the results of any vote or 
debate of the Parliament.

(7) The Speaker represents the Parliament on all official occasions and signs any 
official document originating from the Parliament.

Office of the Clerk
11. (1) The Clerk is appointed by the President of the Republic on the advice of the 
Parliamentary Management Board.

(2) The Clerk is responsible for keeping the Minutes of Proceedings of Parliament. The 
Minutes must record in respect of every sitting, the attendance of Members, all 
decisions taken, and details of every vote held. The Minutes of Proceedings are 
printed and distributed to all Members and a record of the Minutes is tabled at the 
beginning of the next following session.

(3) The Clerk is responsible for the safekeeping of all records in written, audio and 
electronic form, books, bills and any other documents tabled in Parliament, which 
are open to inspection by Members at all reasonable hours.

(4) The Clerk is responsible, under the direction of the Speaker, for the administration 
of the secretariat of the Parliament and subject to the Parliamentary Management 
Board, has direction and control over all officers and staff of Parliament.

(5) The Clerk is responsible, under the direction of the Parliamentary Management 
Board for the administration of the budget of Parliament and must keep adequate 
accounting records and prepare an estimated budget of expenses for each   

financial year which must be submitted to the Parliamentary Management Board for 
prior approval.

(6) The Clerk performs such other duties arising under these Standing Orders, and all 
other duties in the service of Parliament assigned to the Clerk by Parliament, the 
Parliamentary Management Board or the Speaker. 

(7) Whenever the Clerk is absent, incapable of performing the duties of the office of 
the Clerk, or the office of the Clerk becomes vacant, the powers, functions and 
duties of the Clerk are exercised and performed by a Deputy Clerk, or a person 
nominated for that purpose by the Speaker.

Hansard
12. (1) An official report, known as Hansard, of all debates and proceedings in Parliament 
must be prepared under the direction of the Clerk. The report must be as nearly as 
possible verbatim and must be published.

(2) A copy of the Hansard must be sent to each Member within 30 days after the 
conclusion of the session to which it relates.

(3) Before publishing the Hansard, a copy of any part of it that contains any speech by 
a Member must be sent to that Member for correction of any grammatical or other 
minor technical error. No corrections that alter the meaning, emphasis, or 
substance of the Members speech may be made. If a corrected copy is not 
received from a Member within 7 days of being sent to that Member, the speech 
may be published without any corrections from the Member.

(4) The report under paragraph (1) is published in written or electronic form.
PART 3 – SESSIONS, MEETINGS AND SITTINGS
Ordinary sessions
13. (1) Parliament must meet in two (2) ordinary sessions during one calendar year. Each 
session must be divided into one or more meetings as the case may be.

(2) The first ordinary session of Parliament must commence on the second Thursday 
of May in the calendar year.

(3) The second ordinary session of Parliament must commence on the first Thursday 
of November in the calendar year.

(4) The Speaker must summon Parliament to meet in an Ordinary Session as specified 
in paragraph (2) and (3) at least fifteen (15) days before the specified date.

(5) The Clerk must send to each Member a notice stating an ordinary session will 
commence on the date specified in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(6) The notice containing the list of all bills to be considered in the session must be 
given at least fifteen (15) days before the date appointed for the opening of the 
session.

(7) When at the end of any meeting, an ordinary session is adjourned to be continued 
during another meeting, the Speaker informs the Members of the date on which the 
next meeting commences.

(8) Under normal circumstances Parliament and its committees do not meet in the 
periods of December 15th to January 15th or July 15th to August 15th

(9) The dates of the first and second ordinary sessions referred to in paragraphs (2) 
and (3) apply unless Parliament approves by resolution a sitting calendar with 
alternative dates for the first and second ordinary sessions.

(10) A sitting calendar referred to in paragraph (9) must be approved at the second 
ordinary session in a calendar year to operate for the following calendar year, 
except where there is an election in the following year.

(11) The sitting calendar is prepared in the following manner:
(a) Government must submit to the Speaker a proposed sitting calendar for the 
Parliament no later than fifteen (15) days before the date appointed for the 
opening of the second ordinary session; 
(b) the Speaker must prepare a sitting calendar of the proposed dates of sitting 
for the Standing Committees no later than fifteen (15) before the date 
appointed for the opening of the second ordinary session;
(c) the proposed sitting calendar for the Parliament and for the Standing 
Committees must be sent to each Member with the notice for the second 
ordinary session under paragraph (6).

(12) If Parliament is dissolved on the date of commencement of the first ordinary 
session or the second ordinary session in a calendar year as specified under 
paragraphs (2) or (3), the next ordinary session commences no earlier than thirty 
(30 )days before and no later than sixty (60) days after the date of the last day of 
the first sitting after an election. 

Presidential address
14. (1) H. E. the President may address each Parliament once during the first ordinary 
session in any calendar year.

(2) After the message from H.E. the President, the Prime Minister and the Opposition 
Leader, or in their absence a delegated Member comment briefly on the message. 
Each speech may not exceed more than thirty (30) minutes.

Extraordinary session
15. (1) Whenever the Speaker is requested by the Prime Minister or the majority of 
Members, or where the Speaker so decides, the Speaker must summon Parliament 
to meet in extraordinary session.

(2) Any request made to the Speaker under paragraph (1) must be in writing and 
signed by the Prime Minister or the Members requesting the ordinary session. The 
request must contain:
(a) The reason for which an extraordinary session is requested;
(b) A statement of the specific matter or matters to be discussed during the
extraordinary session;
(c) The expected duration of the extraordinary session and the proposed date for 
its opening.

(3) The business to be transacted by Parliament during an extraordinary session is 
limited to the matter or matters listed in the request made to the Speaker under 
paragraph (2).

(4) An extraordinary session is limited to one meeting of Parliament, unless the 
Speaker otherwise decides for special reasons.

(5) A request made by the majority of the Members of Parliament under this Standing 
Order must be signed by the majority of Members at the same time in the premises 
of Parliament and in the presence of the Speaker or the Clerk.

(6) The Clerk must send to each Member a notice stating that the extraordinary 
meeting will commence on the date specified in the notice. The notice contains a 
statement of the matter or matters to be discussed during the session. The notice 
must be given at least:
(a) seven (7) days before the day appointed for the opening of the extraordinary 
session if there is a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister or a 
vacancy in the office of Prime Minister; or
(b) fifteen (15) days in any other case.

(7) Any Bill proposed to be discussed during the extraordinary session is dealt with in 
the same manner as provided in Standing Order 30.
Special sitting
16. Parliament may hold a special sitting to decide such matters as are required to be 
considered a special sitting under the Constitution or other law.
Days of sitting
17. (1) During the course of a meeting, Parliament sits on Mondays, Tuesdays, 
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays but must not sit on Saturdays, Sundays or 
Public Holidays, unless Parliament decides otherwise on a motion moved under 
paragraph (2).

(2) A Member may, without notice, move that Parliament sits on a Saturday, Sunday 
or Public Holiday, or must not sit on any day named in the motion, and such 
motion is made orally, must be seconded and is decided without amendment or 
debate.

Hours of sitting
18. (1) Unless Parliament otherwise decides on a motion moved under paragraph (2), the 
hours of sitting are 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., and 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. If a vote is 
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being taken at the time appointed for the interruption of business, the interruption 
is deferred until the vote is completed.

(2) Unless otherwise ordered, the Parliament adjourns without motion moved at 5.00 
p.m. on each sitting day to recommence at the time stated in paragraph (1). A 
Member may move that the Parliament adjourn earlier than 5.00 pm on any sitting 
day. The motion is made orally without notice and must be seconded, and is 
decided without amendment or debate.

(3) A Member may move that Parliament sits before 8.30 a.m. or 2.00 p.m., or after 
11.30 a.m. or 5.00 p.m., on any day named in the motion. The motion is made 
orally without notice and must be seconded, and is decided without amendment or 
debate

(4) The Speaker may, at any time temporarily suspend a sitting, but for no longer than 
three hours. The sitting recommences on the ringing of one long bell.

Bells
19. (1) A bell is rung to summon Members to the Chamber for a meeting, to vote, to 
establish a quorum, and at the adjournment of the Parliament.

(2) The timing for bells is as follows:
(a) On any sitting day at 8.15 a.m. for twenty (20) seconds, at 8.26 a.m. for three 
quarters (¾) of a minute, and at 8.29 a.m. for one (1) minute;
(b) At the beginning of the second period at 1.45 p.m. for twenty (20) seconds 
and at 1.59 p.m. for one (1) minute;
(c) For a nominal vote, first bell ten (10) seconds, pause, second bell (10) 
seconds, pause, third bell twenty (20) seconds. Members have four minutes 
from the time the first bell is rung to take their seats for a vote;
(d) For a quorum, one continuous bell for up to five (5) minutes, or until a quorum 
is formed;
(e) For an adjournment, two short bells, five (5) seconds, pause, five (5) seconds;
(f) If the Speaker suspends the Parliament by leaving the Chair in accordance 
with Standing Order 18(4), the bell is rung continuously for five (5) minutes to 
summon Members back to the Chamber.

PART 4 – BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT
Order of business at a sitting
20. (1) The Clerk prepares an agenda for each sitting day showing the business to be 
placed before Parliament, together with such other information as the Speaker 
may, from time to time, direct.

(2) Except at the first sitting of an ordinary session or for an extraordinary session, the 
business of each sitting day is transacted in the following order:
(a) The Prayer
(b) Reading of the agenda by the Speaker;
(c) Confirmation of minutes;
(d) Business having precedence;
(e) Announcements by the Speaker;
(f) Presentation of Petitions;
(g) Statements by Ministers;
(h) Tabling of documents;
(i) Urgent debates;
(j) Business to be transacted on that sitting day pursuant to Standing Order 27;
(k) Announcement of Order of Bills for the next sitting day;
(l) Closing Prayer.

(3) A provisional agenda must be circulated at the end of the sitting day for the next 
sitting day. The final agenda for each sitting day must be circulated as early as 
possible before Parliament sits. 

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the Government must advise the Clerk as soon 
as possible the order in which the bills are to be placed on the agenda in 
accordance with Standing Order 29(2).

Business having precedence
21. The following matters take precedence on any sitting day and must be listed for debate 
immediately following the reading of the agenda by the Speaker:
(a) No confidence in the Prime Minister;
(b) No confidence in the Speaker;
(c) Dissent from a ruling of the Speaker;
(d) Condolence or congratulatory motion.
Confirmation of Minutes

22. (1) The Minutes of any sitting day are compiled by the Clerk and must include a record 
of all proceedings in the Parliament. At the conclusion of each session the Minutes 
and any other relevant documents must be bound and published as the Minutes of 
the Parliament.

(2) The Minutes must record in respect of every sitting, the attendance of Members, all 
decisions taken, and details of every vote held. The Minutes must include a record
of all bills and other documents tabled at each meeting, a register showing the 
history of bills, reports of committees, business not completed and statistics.
(3) The Minutes of a session, unless Parliament otherwise decides, are confirmed at 
the first sitting of the following session.

(4) No debate is allowed on the Minutes except as to any proposed amendment or as 
to their accuracy.

(5) After being confirmed by Parliament, the Minutes are signed off by the Speaker and 
the Clerk as a true and correct record.
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Statements by Ministers
23. (1) A Minister may make a factual statement of no longer than fifteen (15) minutes on 
Government policy, or on matters for which the Minister is responsible. A 
spokesman for each of the parties in the Opposition may speak for no longer than 
five (5) minutes on the statement and Members may be permitted to address 
questions to the Minister.

(2) A Minister making a statement must lodge with the Clerk a copy of the statement in 
written and electronic form and a further sixty (60) printed copies thirty (30) minutes 
before the opening of the sitting in which the statement is made.

Tabling of documents
24. (1) The Speaker, any Minister, or Member may table before Parliament any report, 
petition, paper or document dealing with a matter coming within the responsibility of 
Parliament and a record of such report, petition, paper or document shall be 
entered in the Minutes of the same day.

(2) Any Member may, without notice, move that Parliament hold a debate at a later 
sitting on any matter or matters related to any report, petition, paper or document 
deposited under paragraph (1). Any such motion is made orally, must be seconded 
and is decided without amendment or debate.

Urgent debate
25. (1) A Member may, without notice, move that Parliament hold a debate immediately for 
the purpose of discussing a specific matter which should have urgent 
consideration.

(2) If the Speaker is satisfied that the matter raised is proper to be discussed 
immediately, the motion is made orally, must be seconded and is decided without 
amendment or debate.

(3) Unless Parliament otherwise decides, an urgent debate is limited to thirty (30) 
minutes.

Speaker to be informed
26. A Minister or Member, as the case may be, must inform the Speaker not less than thirty 

(30) minutes before the opening of sitting when the matter is to be considered of his or 
her intention to:

(a) Make a ministerial statement under SO 23; or
(b) Table a report, petition, paper or document under SO 24(1); or
(c) Move a motion to debate a report, petition, paper or document under SO 24(2); or
(d) Move a motion for an urgent debate under SO 25(1).

Order of business during a week
27. (1) When the sitting day business has been transacted in accordance with Standing 
Order 20, Parliament shall proceed with its business, day by day, in the following 
order:

Monday
Morning 8.30 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. Government bills
10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Private Bills and Public Affairs
Afternoon 2.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Oral questions
2.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Government bills

Tuesday
Morning 8.30 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. Government bills
10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Written motions and Public Affairs
Afternoon 2.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Oral questions
2.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Government bills

Wednesday
Afternoon 2.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. Written questions and Public Affairs
3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Government bills

Thursday
Morning 8.30 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. Government bills
10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Private bills and Public Affairs
Afternoon 2.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Oral questions
2.30 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Government bills
4.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Written motions and Public Affairs

Friday
Morning 8.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Government bills
Afternoon 2.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Oral questions
2.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m. Statements by Members and Public Affairs
3.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. Opposition business and Public Affairs
(2) Whenever there is no matter to be considered in a period allotted for Public Affairs, 
the Parliament continues debate on Government bills.

PART 5 – PROCEDURE OF BILLS
Private bills
28. (1) Private bills consist of bills presented by Members who are not Ministers.

(2) Private bills are subject to the same stages and rules of procedure as those laid 
down for Government bills.

(3) In determining the order of private bills on the agenda, the Speaker has regard to:

(a) The wishes expressed by the Member presenting the private bill;
(b) The time when the private bill was presented by the Member;

(4) Any private bill which is set down for any sitting day and which is not disposed of by 
11.30 a.m. on Monday and 11.30 a.m. on Thursday is without the question being 
put, postponed until the next sitting day on which private bills are listed for debate.

Government bills
29. (1) Government bills consist of bills presented by any Minister.

(2) Government decides the order in which Government bills are placed on the 
agenda. This order must be announced by the Government at the end of the sitting 
day before the beginning of the next sitting day.

Procedure on introduction of a bill
30. (1) Any Minister or Member who wishes to introduce a bill before Parliament must 
supply to the Clerk a hard copy and an electronic copy of the bill in French and 
English, not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the sitting at which the bill is to be 
introduced.

(2) In the event that a bill is not received by the Clerk in accordance with paragraph 
(1)(a), the bill must not be introduced in Parliament.

(3) The Clerk shall send a copy of the bill in French and English to each Member not 
less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the bill is to be introduced.

(4) The placing of a copy of the bill in the pigeon hole of each Member at the reception 
desk of Parliament House constitutes notice of the bill.

Stages of a bill
31. (1) There are three (3) stages for the passing of a bill by Parliament:
(a) First reading;
(b) Committee of the Whole Parliament stage;
(c) Second reading.

(2) Despite paragraph (1), where a bill is referred for consideration and report by a 
Parliamentary Committee, there are four (4) stages for the passing of a bill by 
Parliament:
(a) First reading;
(b) Referral to and report by a Parliamentary Committee;
(c) Committee of the Whole Parliament stage;
(d) Second reading.

First reading
32. (1) On the motion being moved “That the first reading of the …………bill be agreed 
to”, a debate may take place which is confined to the principles and merits of the 
bill.

(2) A motion under paragraph (1) may be made orally without notice and without 
being seconded. Any Member may propose an amendment to such a motion.

(3) A Minister introducing a bill at the first reading makes a speech to the Parliament 
outlining the purpose, merits and principles of the bill, and a copy of the speech in 
written and electronic form must be handed to the Clerk forty-eight (48) hours 
before the opening of the sitting at which the speech is to be presented for 
incorporation in Hansard.

(4) The Clerk must sent to each Member the speech of the Minister in written or 
electronic form at least 24 hours before the opening of the sitting at which the 
speech is to be presented.

Referral to a Parliamentary Committee
33. (1) When the first reading of a bill has been agreed to, Parliament may resolve to refer
the bill to:
(a) the Standing Committee with jurisdiction over the subject-matter of the Bill; or
(b) an Ad hoc Committee (whether existing or is established for the purpose of 
considering the Bill).

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to an Appropriation Bill, which is subject to the 
procedure set out in Standing Order 93.

(3) In any case where it is unclear which Standing Committee has jurisdiction over the 
subject matter of the Bill, the Speaker determines which Standing Committee the 
Bill is referred to.

(4) The motion referring the Bill to a Parliamentary Committee may be moved by the 
Minister or Member responsible for the bill orally, without notice and immediately 
after the first reading of the bill.

(5) When a Bill has been referred to a Parliamentary Committee, no further 
proceedings may be taken until the Committee has reported to Parliament.

(6) Each Parliamentary Committee to which a bill is referred examines the bill and—
(a) determines whether to recommend that the bill be passed; and
(b) may recommend amendments in accordance with paragraph (8).

(7) Except as otherwise provided in this Standing Order, a Parliamentary Committee 
may recommend only amendments that are relevant to the subject-matter of the 
bill, are consistent with the principles and objects of the bill, and otherwise conform 
to the Standing Orders and the practices of the Parliament.

(8) Where amendments have been made, the Committee’s Report to Parliament must 
include an amendment version of the Bill that will be tabled in Parliament for further 
deliberation.

Parliamentary Committee Reports
34. (1) A Parliamentary Committee must finally report to Parliament on a bill by the next 
ordinary session or by such other time as fixed or extended by Parliament.

(2) If the committee has not reported within the time for report, the bill is discharged 
from further consideration by the committee and set down for its next stage in
Parliament at a future sitting day in the next ordinary session, unless Parliament 
extends the time for the Committee to consider the bill by a written motion moved 
by the Committee Chairperson.

Consideration of committee reports
35. (1) When a bill has been considered by a Parliamentary Committee and the 
Parliamentary Committee has reported to Parliament, the report is considered by 
Parliament during a period allotted for consideration of Government bills or Private 
Bills, as the case may be.

(2) The motion “That the committee’s report on the bill with amendments or without 
amendments as the case may be, be adopted” is moved by the Chairperson of the 
Parliamentary Committee that considered the bill, orally and without notice and 
without being seconded.

(3) Debate is limited to the report of the Standing Committee, which includes the bill 
with or without amendments.

(4) The Speaker ensures that the matters raised by Members at the report stage are 
relevant.

(5) The report stage concludes when Parliament concurs with the report. The adoption 
of the report on a Government bill, with or without amendments as the case may 
be, may be moved forthwith or at some subsequent sitting.

Adoption of report and recommended amendments
36. (1) At the conclusion of the debate on the Parliamentary Committee’s report on the bill 
and before the Parliament resolves itself into the Committee of the Whole 
Parliament for the consideration of the bill, the Speaker puts the question that the 
report including any amendments recommended by the Parliamentary Committee 
be adopted.

(2) There is no amendment nor further debate on the question.

(3) The amendments recommended by a Parliamentary Committee that are agreed to 
by Parliament are adopted as part of the bill.

(4) If the amendments recommended by the Parliamentary Committee are not agreed 
to by Parliament, any member may move such amendments during consideration 
of the relevant clause at the Committee of the Whole stage of the Bill.

Committee of the Whole Parliament stage
37. (1) When the first reading of the bill has been agreed to, if the bill is not referred to a 
Standing Committee or an ad Hoc Committee in accordance with Standing Order 
33, it is automatically referred to the Committee of the Whole Parliament.

(2) Parliament then forthwith or at some subsequent sitting, resolves itself into the 
Committee of the Whole Parliament for consideration of the bill in detail.

(3) The Committee of the Whole Parliament considers and votes on the bill clause by 
clause and the Chairperson calls the clauses by reading the number of each 
clause.

(4) The Chairperson may, with the consent of the Committee, put a group of clauses 
as one question.

(5) Subject to Standing Order 36, any Member may present an amendment to a clause 
at the relevant time. Such amendment may propose that a clause be deleted, 
replaced, or a new clause inserted, at the proper and logical stage during the 
consideration of the bill. The Committee of the Whole Parliament, after debate, 
votes on the amendment. If the amendment is accepted the bill is amended 
accordingly.

(6) In the event of a controversial issue on a bill or part of a bill during the Committee 
of the Whole Parliament Stage, a motion may be moved orally, without notice, Rules of Parliamentand 
shall be seconded, to recommit the bill or part to a Parliamentary Committee.

(7) The Committee of the Whole Parliament may seek the advice of any person or 
group of persons who it believes may be of assistance during the consideration of a 
bill or any clause of a bill.
Second reading
38. (1) When a bill has been considered and agreed to by the Committee of the Whole 
Parliament, Parliament reads the bill as reported a second time either forthwith or 
at some subsequent sitting.

(2) On the motion for the second reading of a bill being moved, the Speaker puts the 
question, “That this bill be now read a second time and do pass”.
(3) A motion under paragraph (2) may be made orally and without notice and shall not 
be required to be seconded.

(4) The only amendment admissible to a motion proposed under paragraph (2) is:
(a) That the second reading be postponed to some specific date in the future; 
(b) That the bill be referred to the Committee of the Whole Parliament, for a 
limited and defined purpose.

Amendment to a bill
39. (1) Every amendment is required to be seconded.

(2) An amendment must be relevant to the provisions of the bill and to the subject 
matter of the clause to which it relates, and must not be in conflict with the 
principles of the bill as agreed to at the first reading or with any previous decision of 
the Committee of the Whole Parliament.

(3) The Speaker may declare inadmissible an amendment which, in his or her opinion, 
is unintelligible, irrelevant, frivolous or scandalous or is otherwise out of order.

(4) A Member proposing an amendment must put the amendment into writing in 
FrRules of Parliamentench and English in proper form and must lodge it with the Clerk and circulate it 
to Members, and the Speaker, after any debate, proposes the question on 
amendment.

(5) When two or more amendments relating to the same clause are proposed, the 
amendments may be debated together but are voted on separately in the order in 
which they were presented.

(6) An amendment to an amendment which a Member wishes to propose may be 
presented at any time before the conclusion of the debate on the original 
amendment.

(7) An amendment to an amendment is disposed of in the same way as an original 
amendment.

(8) When every amendment to an amendment has been disposed of the Speaker 
proposes the question on the original amendment, or on the original amendment as 
amended, as the case may require.

PART 6 – QUESTIONS, MOTIONS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, OPPOSITION
 BUSINESS, STATEMENTS AND PETITIONS
Written questions
40. (1) Subject to Standing Order 42, any Member may address a written question to a 
Minister relating to a public matter for which the Minister is officially responsible, in 
which the Member seeks information on that matter or asks for official action.

(2) Any Member desiring to ask a written question must give notice by delivering a 
copy of such question to the Clerk not less than five (5) days before the day on 
which the Member intends to ask the question.

(3) The written question must be signed by the Member and show the day proposed 
for asking the question.

(4) The Clerk must transmit, within twenty four (24) hours, the written question to the 
Minister to whom the question has been directed.

(5) The Minister to whom a written question has been directed must deliver sixty (60) 
printed copies of the written answer, and one copy in electronic form, in the 
language in which the question was asked, to the Clerk not later than three days 
after the written question has been transmitted to the Minister.

(6) At the time scheduled for written questions, the Member who signed the question 
reads it, and the Minister to whom the question is addressed reads the answer. The 
text of the written question and answer is reproduced in the Minutes of the sitting.
(7) Written questions and answers are not debated, but the Speaker may allow the 
Member asking the question a supplementary question to elucidate the answer.
Oral questions
41. (1) Subject to Standing Order 42, any Member may address oral questions, without 
notice, to a Minister relating to a public matter for which the Minister is officially 
responsible.

(2) An oral question must be confined to a single question (but the Speaker may allow 
a Member to proceed thereafter with not more than two (2) supplementary 
questions) and must be concise.

(3) The Opposition Leader has first priority of questions asked.

(4) A Minister answering a question must not speak for more than two (2) minutes and 
must be concise.

(5) If a Minister is not present in the Parliament, the Prime Minister will answer the 
question on behalf of that Minister.

Content of questions
42. (1) A question may seek factual information or press for action.

(2) Any question asked in accordance with Standing Orders 40 and 41 must not 
contain:
(a) The names of persons or statements of facts, unless they are strictly 
necessary to make the question intelligible;
(b) Any hypothetical matter, argument, inference, imputation, or any tendentious, 
ironical or offensive expression;
(c) A query seeking an expression of opinion, including a legal opinion.

(3) A question must not refer to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending or 
reflect on a decision of a court of law.

(4) The Speaker may declare inadmissible any question which, in his or her opinion, is 
unintelligible, irrelevant, frivolous, scandalous, or is otherwise out of order.

(5) A Member is responsible for the authenticity of the name of persons, and the facts, 
that are included in the question.
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(6) A Member is entitled to no more than 1 minute to pose his or her question.

Written motions
43. (1) A Member who wishes to move a written motion must give written notice by 
delivering to the Clerk a copy of the motion in French and English signed by the 
Member and by one other Member acting as seconder, not less than two (2) days 
before the day on which the Member intends to move the motion.

(2) The Clerk must give a copy of the motion to each Member within one day of 
receiving the motion.

(3) A motion for debate must contain only one topic and the rules contained in 
Standing Order 42 apply to the contents of any written motion.

(4) When a written motion has been moved and seconded, the Speaker proposes the 
question on it to Parliament in the same terms as the motion and a debate may 
then take place. The mover, or in the mover’s absence the seconder, is entitled to 
open such debate and has a right of reply.

(5) When the debate on the motion has been concluded, the question is put forthwith 
by the Speaker.

(6) A motion may be withdrawn by the mover with the consent of the seconder, and 
with the leave of the Speaker, before the question has been fully put on it, but if so 
withdrawn, the motion may be moved again at some other sitting after due notice.

(7) Should either the mover or the seconder withdraw support for the motion, the 
motion then lapses.

Motions of no confidence
44. (1) A Member who wishes to move a motion of no confidence must give written notice 
by delivering to the Clerk a copy of the motion in French and English signed by the 
Member and by one other Member acting as seconder, not less than seven (7) 
days before the day on which the Member intends to move the motion.

(2) The Clerk must give a copy of a motion of no confidence to each Member at least 
one day before the motion is to be debated.

(3) The rules contained in Standing Order 43(4)-(7) apply accordingly to any motion of 
no confidence.

Statements by Members
45. (1) Any Member may make a statement to Parliament on any matter relating to the 
Member’s responsibilities as a Member of Parliament or on any question of 
Government policy. Any such statement is limited to fifteen (15) minutes.

(2) Any Member who wishes to make a statement in accordance with paragraph (1) 
must inform the Speaker of his or her intention and provide a written copy, thirty 
(30) minutes before the opening of the sitting in which the statement is made

(3) Statements are listed on the agenda in the order in which they are received.

(4) If no motion for a debate on matters of public affairs is presented or accepted in 
accordance with Standing Order 46, the period of time allotted for public affairs 
may be used for statements by Members.

Public Affairs
46. (1) Any Member may move, without notice, that Parliament hold a debate for the 
purpose of discussing a question relating to matters of public concern or public 
administration during a period allotted for Public Affairs.

(2) The Member must inform Speaker of his or her intention under paragraph (1), thirty 
(30) minutes before the opening of the sitting during which the motion is to be 
presented. 

(3) A motion presented under paragraph (1) may be made orally and must be 
seconded, and is decided without amendment or debate.

Opposition business
47. (1) The Opposition Leader or another Opposition Member designated by the 
Opposition Leader may, during the period allocated for Opposition business, move 
a motion to take note of a matter related to public policy or public administration.

(2) The Opposition Leader or another Opposition Member designated by the 
Opposition Leader must inform Speaker of his or her intention under paragraph (1) 
and provide the Speaker with a written copy of the motion, two (2) days before the 
sitting day in which the motion is to be presented. 

Petitions
48. (1) Members may present to Parliament petitions received from the citizens of the 
Republic of Vanuatu provided they are in the correct form. The form of petition is 
attached to these Standing Orders as Appendix 1.

(2) A petition must:
(a) commence with the words “To the Honorable Speaker and Members of the 
National Parliament of Vanuatu”;
(b) be clearly written, typed or printed, nor have anything attached to it, and not 
contain any alterations;
(c) state the facts which the petitioners wish to bring to the notice of the 
Parliament;
(d) be respectful and moderate in its language and not contain irrelevant 
statements;
(e) conclude with a request that the Parliament do, or not do, something or take 
some course of action; and the content of (a), (b), (c) and (d) must appear at 
the top of each sheet;
(f) be in French and English, or in Bislama;
(g) contain at least one signature;
(h) contain the name, address and original signature of each petitioner

(3) A petition is not in order:
(a) If it is on the same matter as an earlier petition which was finally dealt with by 
Parliament during that term, unless substantial and relevant new evidence is 
available that was not available when the earlier petition was considered;
(b) If is on a matter for which legal remedies have not been exhausted.

(4) The Member presenting the petition cannot be a signatory.

(5) The Member presenting the petition is responsible for ensuring that the petition is in 
order and must sign the front sheet to verify this.

(6) The Member presenting the petition must lodge it with the Clerk by 12.00 p.m. on 
the day before it is to be presented. 

(7) The Speaker will call for petitions to be presented at the time set down in the 
agenda and the Clerk will announce that petitions have been received by reading 
the name of the Member presenting the petition and the purpose of the petition.

(8) After the Clerk announces the petition, the Member presenting the petition may 
move to refer the petition to the most appropriate Standing Committee under which 
the subject matter of the petition falls. The motion is made orally and must be 
seconded and is decided without amendment or debate.

(9) No discussion will be allowed upon the subject matter of any petition at the time it is 
presented and every petition presented is deemed to be received by the 
Parliament.
(10) There is no requirement for a Member to present a petition to the Parliament when 
requested to do so.

PART 7 – DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT
Maximum time limits for speeches
49. The following maximum time limits shall apply for speeches:
Bills
First reading Government bills – (SO 32)
Minister and first Member 
leading for the Opposition
All other Members
Minister in reply
                                                 - Unlimited
                                                 - up to three (3) speeches on 
                                                   any one question
                                                 - 10 minutes for first speech and 
                                                    then 5 minutes each
                                                 - Unlimited
Committee of whole Parliament
Minister                                     - Unlimited
All other Members                    - up to three (3) speeches on 
                                                   any one question
                                                  - 5 minutes each
Second reading
All Members                              - on each question
                                                  - 10 minutes
Parliamentary Committee Report stage
All Members                             - 10 minutes
First reading private bills – (SO 28)
Mover
All other Members
Mover in Reply
                                                  - Unlimited
                                                  - up to three (3) speeches on 
                                                    any one question
                                                  - 10 minutes for first speech and 
                                                     then 5 minutes each
                                                  - Unlimited
Committee of whole Parliament
Mover
All other Members
                                                  - unlimited
                                                  - up to three (3) speeches on 
                                                    any one question
                                                  - 5 minutes each
Parliamentary Committee Report stage
All Members                              - 10 minutes
Second reading
All Members                              - on each question
                                                  - 10 minutes
Debates not otherwise provided for
All Members
Public Affairs - (SO 46)
Mover
Responses                                - 15 minutes

                                                  - 10 minutes
                                                  - 5 minutes
Inaugural address, speeches following - (SO 14)
Prime Minister                           - 30 minutes
Opposition Leader                    - 30 minutes
Any other Member                    - 5 minutes



Opposition business - (SO 47)
Opposition Leader                   - 20 minutes
All other Members                   - 10 minutes


Privilege (suddenly arising in Parliament) - (SO 57)
The Member                           - may speak for 10 minutes to 
                                                 establish a prima facie case
Speaker's ruling, dissent - (SO 59)
All Members, including reply  - 10 minutes

Statements by Ministers - (SO 23)
Minister                                 - 15 minutes
Comments by Opposition     - 5 minutes
spokespersons


Statements by Members - (SO 45)
Members                              - 15 minutes
Suspension of a Member - (SO 54(3))
Minister                                - 10 minutes
Member in response           - 10 minutes

Suspension of Standing Orders - (SO 60)
Mover                                  - 5 minutes
One other member              - 5 minutes
Reply                                   - 5 minutes

Tabling of documents - (SO 24)
All Members                        - 10 minutes
Urgent Debate - (SO 25)
Mover                                  - 10 minutes
All other Members              
- 5 minutes  

Written motions (not for bills) - (SO 43)
Mover                                    - 15 minutes
Member next speaking         - 15 minutes
All other Members                - 10 minutes
Reply                                    - 10 minutes

Quorum
50. (1) A quorum is two thirds of the Members of Parliament as set down in Article 21(4) of 
the Constitution.

(2) If there is no such quorum at the first sitting in any session Parliament must meet 
three (3) days later, and a simple majority of Members then constitutes a quorum.

(3) On any sitting day, if the attention of the Speaker is directed to the fact that a 
quorum is not present, the Speaker orders bells to be rung until a quorum is 
present and, if at the end of five (5) minutes a quorum is not present, Parliament 
adjourns until the next sitting day without question put.

(4) Once it has been shown, at any time, that a quorum is present, it is not in order to 
draw the attention of the Speaker to the absence of a quorum until the end of one 
(1) hour from that time.
Conduct of debate
51. (1) Any Member who wishes to speak must raise a hand in a clearly visible manner 
and must not speak until the Speaker has given the Member leave to do so.

(2) When speaking a Member addresses the Speaker and must stand and speak from 
the place where the Member sits in Parliament. A Member must not interrupt or 
challenge another Member who has the floor.

(3) No Member is entitled to speak more than (3) times on the same subject, excluding 
questions and answers related to the subject.

(4) The Speaker may call a Member to order if the Member’s speech is not relevant to 
the matter under debate. If the Member does not comply, or persists in speaking 
after having been requested to conclude their speech, the Speaker may direct the 
Member to cease speaking.

Rules against anticipation
52. (1) A Member may not raise in debate any matter that is the subject of a motion listed 
on the agenda.

(2) The Speaker may, however, allow the Member to speak if, in the Speaker’s 
opinion, there is no likelihood that the matter will come before the Parliament in a 
reasonable time, or if the matter is of great urgency.

Allegations against another Member or a Member of the judiciary
53. (1) Members must not make allegations against, or complaint about, the conduct of 
another Member of the Parliament, or a Member of the judiciary, other than by 
specific and distinct substantive motion stating the nature of the allegation or 
complaint against that person.

(2) The Member moving the motion must produce evidence to support the charge and 
the motion must be confined to the allegation or complaint.

Order in the Parliament
54. (1) The Speaker, after having called the attention of Parliament to the conduct of a 
Member who persists in irrelevance or tedious repetition, either in the Member’s 
own speech or in the speeches of other Members in the same debate, may direct 
the Member to cease speaking.

(2) If any Member:
(a) persistently or willfully obstructs the business of Parliament;
(b) is guilty of disorderly conduct;
(c) uses objectionable words which the Member refuses to withdraw;
(d) persistently or willfully refuses to conform to any Standing Order;
(e) persistently or willfully disregards the authority of the Speaker;
the Speaker may order the Member to withdraw immediately from Parliament 
Chamber for the remainder of the sitting.

(3) In the case of more serious misconduct, the Speaker may name the Member and 
state the nature of the misconduct. Then Parliament may, on a motion moved by a 
25
Member, suspend the Member so named from the precincts of the Parliament and
from any meetings of parliamentary committees. 

(4) The period of suspension shall be two (2) sitting days for a first offence, four (4) 
sitting days for a second offence within the same session, and eight (8) sitting days 
for a third or subsequent offence within the same session. The Member must 
withdraw immediately from Parliament and its precincts for the period of the 
suspension.

(5) In the case of grave disorder arising in the Parliament, the Speaker may leave the 
Chair without question put for a period not exceeding three hours.

(6) Any motion presented in accordance with paragraph 3, must be in writing, 
seconded, and two (2) days clear notice shall be given to the Speaker.

Closure of debate
55. (1) After a question has been proposed, any Member may move “That the question be 
put”, and, unless it appears to the Speaker that such motion is an abuse of the 
rules of Parliament or an infringement of the rights of a minority, the question, “That 
the question be put”, is put forthwith.
(2) A motion presented in accordance with paragraph (1) must be seconded and is 
decided without amendment or debate.

Point of order
56. (1) The Speaker calls the attention of Parliament to any violation of the Standing 
Orders.

(2) A Member may, at any time, call the attention of the Speaker on a point of order. 
The Member must indicate to the Speaker, as briefly as possible, which Standing 
Order, practice or procedure has been violated.

(3) The Speaker may allow a point of order to be debated before making a decision but 
such debate is strictly confined to the point of order raised.

(4) On a point of order, the Speaker may give a decision either forthwith or at a later 
sitting. The Speaker must indicate reasons for the decision.

Matters of privilege
57. (1) A Member who wishes to raise a matter which the Member believes to affect the 
privileges of the Parliament or one of its Members must do so as soon as possible 
after the matter comes to the Member’s attention. The Member verbally informs the 
Speaker, stating the facts to which the Member wishes to draw attention, thirty (30) 
minutes before the beginning of the sitting at which the Member proposes to raise 
the matter.

(2) When a Member is called by the Speaker to speak to the matter of privilege, the 
Member states briefly the facts to which the Member wishes to draw the attention 
of Parliament and the grounds on which the Member believes that those facts 
affect the privileges of Parliament or one of its Members.

(3) If the Speaker is of the opinion that the matter raised affects the privileges of 
Parliament or one of its Members, any Member may move an oral motion without 
notice based on that matter of privilege, and such motion is debated forthwith.

(4) If, during the course of any sitting, a Member raises a matter which, in the opinion 
of the Speaker, appears to involve the privileges of Parliament or one of its 
Members and which calls for the immediate attention of Parliament, the Speaker 
interrupts the proceedings, except when a question has been put, and Parliament 
proceeds forthwith to debate a motion based on such matter.

Voting
58. (1) Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or the Standing Orders, all 
questions proposed for decision in Parliament or in Committee of the Whole 
Parliament are determined by a majority of the votes of the Members present.

(2) Members must signify their vote by raising a hand.

(3) If a Member disputes the result, that Member may request that a nominal vote be 
taken.

(4) If a Member requests that a nominal vote be taken, the Speaker orders that the 
bells be rung. Members who are not in the Chamber have four minutes to attend in 
the Chamber.

(5) The Clerk s requests each Member separately, referring to the Member by the 
Member’s constituency, how the Member desires to vote. The vote of each 
Member is recorded in the Minutes.

(6) A Member may at any time request that their vote be recorded in the Minutes. If 
such a request is made, the Speaker orders the Clerk to record the vote of that 
Member in the Minutes.

Ruling of the Speaker
59. The ruling of the Speaker as to any question related to the application or interpretation of 
these Standing Orders must not be challenged except on a written motion made in 
accordance with Standing Order 43.

Motion to suspend Standing Orders
60. (1) Whenever there is a case of urgent necessity to suspend Standing Orders for the 
proper conduct of the business of Parliament, any order may be suspended on oral 
motion without notice. 

(2) If Parliament agrees to a suspension motion, the Standing Orders are suspended 
but only so far as is necessary to carry out the objective for which the motion was 
made.

(3) A motion to suspend Standing Orders must be seconded and does not take effect 
unless it has been supported by the votes of not less than two thirds of the 
Members present.

(4) When the conduct of the business of Parliament requires, the Speaker may, with 
the unanimous consent of the Members present, suspend any specified Standing 
Order.

(5) To avoid doubt, the suspension of Standing Orders does not permit the transaction 
of any business of Parliament in breach of the Constitution or any law. 

(6) The suspension of Standing Orders must be directed towards issues of substance 
arising at the sitting, more so than the presence of the majority in the Parliament.
PART 8 – COMMITTEES OF THE PARLIAMENT
Committee of the Whole Parliament
61. (1) There is a Committee of the Whole Parliament which consists of all Members.

(2) The Speaker is the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole Parliament. The 
Chairperson has the same powers and duties as the Speaker.

(3) The Committee of the Whole Parliament considers any bill in accordance with 
Standing Order 37.

Establishment of Standing Committees following an election
62. (1) A motion to establish the Standing Committees and to appoint members to them 
must be considered by Parliament as the next formal business immediately after 
the election of the Prime Minister and before the closing of the first sitting. 

(2) The Office of the Clerk must prepare a written motion which sets out:
(a) a list of the Standing Committees as provided for under Standing Order 63(1);
(b) the number of members to be appointed to each committee by the Prime 
Minister and the number of members to be appointed by the Opposition 
Leader;
(c) the functions of the Standing Committees as provided for under Standing 
Order 63(2). 

(3) Notwithstanding Standing Order 43, the motion in paragraph 2 is moved without 
notice by a Deputy Speaker and seconded by a Deputy Speaker, and may be 
amended and debated.

(4) The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader must nominate to the Speaker the 
names of the Members to be appointed to each Standing Committee no later than 
5 pm on the third day following the closing of the sitting.

(5) If the Prime Minister or the Opposition Leader fails to nominate members to the 
Standing Committees as required under paragraph 4, the Speaker, after consulting 
with the Prime Minister or the Opposition Leader as the case may be, may then 
28
appoint such Members from their respective political group, having regard to the 
criteria under Standing Order 64.

(6) The names of the Members that have been appointed to a Standing Committee 
must be posted as soon as possible in such place or places as the Speaker directs.

(7) The appointment of a Member to a Standing Committee is effective from the date 
on which the Speaker receives the nomination from the Prime Minister or the 
Opposition Leader, or makes the appointment.

Functions of Standing Committees
63. (1) The following Standing Committees are established at the commencement of each 
Parliament and their subject areas are:
(a) Public Accounts Committee: Government Expenditure and Financial 
Performance, Public Audit, Taxation, Revenue, Publicly owned Financial 
Corporations, Finance, Superannuation, Insurance;
(b) Committee on Economic and Foreign Policies: Trade, Tourism, Economic 
and Fiscal Policy, Foreign policy, Agriculture, Public Utilities, Infrastructure, 
Land, Investments, Regulation of economic activities, Commerce, business 
development;
(c) Committee on Social Affairs: Health, Education, Justice, Professional 
Associations and Accreditations, Climate Change, Youth and Sport, Internal 
Affairs, Labour Relations, Culture, Social Infrastructure;
(d) Committee on Institutional and Constitutional Affairs: State office, 
Parliament (including Standing Orders Review, Privileges and Entitlements, 
Ethics and Integrity), Judiciary, Public Service Commission, the Ombudsman 
Office, the Auditor General Office, the Public Prosecutor Office, the Public 
Solicitor Office, State Law Office, the Electoral Commission, National Council 
of Chiefs, Local Authorities, other Government departments not covered by 
(a)(b) or (c), and matters related to the Constitution and its amendment.

(2) The Standing Committees under paragraph (1) consider, enquire into or examine 
and report to Parliament on the following types of business referred by the 
Parliament or otherwise provided under the Standing Orders:
(a) Bills;
(b) estimates and audit reports;
(c) annual reports of Government Ministries;
(d) receive briefings or initiate inquiries into matters related to their related subject 
areas;
(e) any order made by a Minister under an enactment related to the subject areas 
of the committee;
(f) any matter, business or question, as may be referred to the appropriate 
Standing Committee by Parliament from time to time.

(3) Where a Standing Committee conducts an activity listed in paragraph 2, the 
committee must ensure that full consideration will be given to the principle of 
gender equality so as to ensure all matters are considered with regard to the 
impact and benefit on both men and women equally.

(4) A Standing Committee continues in existence for the duration of the Parliament 
unless Parliament provides otherwise.

Membership of Standing Committees
64. A Standing Committee consists of no more than seven (7) Members and the 
Membership of the Standing Committee must have regard to:
(a) The proportional representation of Government and Opposition Members;
(b) The views of the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, and the leaders of all 
political parties represented in the Parliament;
(c) Priority must be given to Members who hold no offices in Parliament, the 
Government or the Opposition;
(d) The Chairperson must be a Member of the Government, with the exception of the 
Public Accounts Committee which is chaired by an Opposition Member.

Meetings of Standing Committees
65. (1) The first meeting of each Standing Committee is held at a time appointed by the 
Clerk.

(2) At its first meeting, or at its first meeting after a vacancy occurs in the office, a 
Standing Committee must elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among 
themselves.

(3) Subsequent meetings of a Standing Committee are held at such times as the 
Chairperson may appoint.

(4) Except as provided by Standing Order 67, the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson 
may be removed from office by the Committee only at a meeting of which at least 
seven (7) days-notice is given of a Member’s intention to move for such removal.

Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons
66. (1) Subject to any decisions and directions of the Standing Committee, the 
Chairperson has the authority to:
(a) convene the meetings of the Committee;
(b) preside at the meetings of the Committee;
(c) exercise such powers or performs such functions, tasks and duties as may be 
conferred on the Chairperson by resolution of the Committee and in 
compliance with these Standing Orders; and 
(d) exercise such powers or performs such functions, tasks and duties conferred 
by these Standing Orders or resolution of Parliament, including ensuring that 
the Committee complies with Standing Orders 63(2) and (3).

(2) The Chairperson of a Standing Committee has the same power as the Speaker but 
may participate in debate and vote. In the case of a tied vote, the Chairperson has 
a casting vote.

(3) If the Chairperson is absent, unable to perform the duties listed in paragraph (1) or 
if there is a vacancy in the office of Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson performs the 
30
functions, tasks and duties of the Chairperson until the Chairperson is no longer 
absent or a new Chairperson has been elected to office in the case of a vacancy. 

Rules of Parliament

(4) The Vice Chairperson of a Standing Committee has the same privileges as the 
Chairperson for the period of his or her appointment.

Membership Change of Standing Committees
67. (1) In the event that the Membership of Standing Committees needs to be altered as a 
result of a change of Government, a reshuffle of parties within the Government 
midterm, or by virtue of a Member moving from Government to Opposition, or 
Opposition to Government, or for any other reason, the Prime Minister and the 
Opposition Leader as the case may be, must nominate to the Speaker as soon as 
possible, the names of replacement members of the Committee.

(2) The names of any replacement Members of the Committee must be posted as 
soon as possible in such place or places as the Speaker directs.

(3) In any circumstance where a committee Chairperson ceases to be a Member of the 
Government, or in the instance of the Public Accounts Committee ceases to be a 
Member of the Opposition, that Member immediately ceases to be a Chairperson.

(4) The election of a replacement Chairperson or Vice Chairperson caused by the 
circumstances in paragraph (3) is then conducted in accordance with Standing 
Order 65.

(5) If in the interval between any two (2) meetings of the Parliament during the 
currency of its term, any Member of a Committee has absented himself or herself 
without leave of absence or in the opinion of the Committee without good cause 
from more than three (3) consecutive meetings of the CoRules of Parliamentmmittee, that member is 
deemed to have forfeited his or her entitlement to receive the allowances payable 
for the days or period of absence.

(6) If the absence referred to in paragraph (5) continues for three (3) consecutive 
meetings, that Member is deemed to have forfeited his or her seat on the 
Committee and must be replaced in accordance with the procedure under 
paragraph (1).

Mandate and responsibilities of Standing Committees
68. (1) Following the appointment of any Standing Committee after a general election, the 
Chairperson of that Standing Committee must prepare a report to Parliament for 
the next session that:
(a) Lists the matter(s) to be enquired into and examined by that committee in the 
twelve (12) months following;
(b) Sets the date on which the committee is to report on each of the matters listed 
for enquiry.

(2) The Chairperson of a Standing Committee may report to Parliament from time to 
time on any other matter enquired into or examined by the Committee.

(3) During the Second Ordinary Session of each calendar year, the Chairperson of 
each Standing Committee must table a report of the committee’s general activities 
including the Members’ attendance, and a separate report on any enquiries for the 
preceding period.

(4) The failure of a Chairperson to comply with paragraphs (1), (2) and (3), constitutes 
a substantial breach of this Standing Order and the Parliament may resolve to 
dismiss the current Members of the Standing Committee immediately and replace 
the Members in the manner set down in Standing Order 67.

Quorum of Standing Committees
69. (1) A majority of the Members of a Standing Committee including the Chairperson 
constitutes a quorum.

(2) If there is no quorum present within 10 minutes of the time for a meeting to 
commence, the meeting is adjourned.

(3) If there is no quorum present during a meeting, the meeting is suspended for up to 
10 minutes and, if no quorum is formed, the meeting is adjourned.

(4) If a meeting is adjourned for 3 consecutive times due to lack of quorum, the 
Chairperson must close the meeting.

(5) A Member must be present in the meeting in order to constitute the quorum.

Powers and Procedures of a Standing Committee
70. (1) A Standing Committee may establish its own rules of procedure but must observe 
the Standing Orders of Parliament so far as may be applicable.

(2) A Standing Committee must observe the Procedural Guidelines for Parliamentary 
Committees adopted by the Parliament.

Committees may report out of session
71. Should the Parliament be adjourned and a Parliamentary Committee agrees to any 
report before the Parliament resumes sitting:
(a) The committee may send any such report, Minutes and evidence taken by the 
committee to the Clerk;
(b) Upon receipt by the Clerk the documents shall be deemed to be published, and the 
report shall be printed and may be circulated; and
(c) The documents must be tabled in Parliament at its next sitting.

Ad hoc committee
72. (1) A Member may present a motion to constitute an ad hoc committee for the purpose 
of studying a bill or part thereof, or a specific matter indicated in the Motion which 
seeks to amend the Constitution, cross-portfolio bills, or which cannot be catered 
for by the Standing Committees of Parliament. Such a motion may be moved orally, 
without notice and must be seconded.

Rules of Parliament

(2) If the motion is agreed to, the Member then prepares a written motion which states 
the terms of reference of the ad hoc committee and the duration of time for which it 
will operate and moves the motion in accordance with the procedure provided for in 
Standing Order 43.

(3) An ad hoc committee shall consist of not more than seven (7) Members, 
representing proportionally, as far as possible, the political parties represented in 
the Parliament. A majority of the Members of an ad hoc committee including the 
chairperson shall constitute a quorum.

(4) The Chairperson of the ad hoc committee has the same powers and duties as the 
Speaker, but may participate in any debate and vote. In the case of a tied vote, the 
Chairperson has a casting vote.

(5) An ad hoc committee to which a matter has been referred, considers it in 
accordance with the terms of reference indicated in the motion creating the ad hoc 
committee and on the completion of its inquiry the Chairperson shall report on it to 
Parliament.

(6) An ad hoc committee may establish its own rules of procedure but must observe 
the Standing Orders of Parliament and any applicable Procedural Guidelines for 
Parliamentary Committees adopted by the Parliament.

Seeking Evidence
73. (1) The Chairperson of a Parliamentary Committee may, on behalf of the committee, 
request any person to attend and give evidence before the committee.

(2) The Chairperson may, on behalf of a committee, request that papers and records 
that are relevant to its proceedings be produced.

Exercise of power to send for persons, papers and records
74. (1) A Parliamentary Committee has the power to send for persons, papers and 
records.

(2) A Parliamentary Committee may:
(a) direct that any person be summoned to attend and be examined and give 
evidence before the committee; and
(b) direct that any person be summoned to produce papers and records in that 
person’s possession, custody or control, that are relevant to the committee’s 
proceedings.

(3) Any such summons is signed by the Chairperson and served upon the person 
concerned under the Chairperson’s direction.

Subcommittees
75. (1) A Parliamentary Committee may appoint a subcommittee.

(2) A Parliamentary Committee may prescribe rules for the conduct of subcommittee 
proceedings provided that these rules are consistent with Standing Orders. Subject 
to any such rules, the same rules for the conduct of proceedings in a subcommittee 
apply as apply to the Parliamentary Committee.

Disorder
76. (1) The Chairperson of a Parliamentary Committee may order any visitor to withdraw 
from a meeting if that person’s conduct is disorderly.

(2) The Chairperson of a Parliamentary Committee may order any Member of 
Parliament who is not a member of that committee to withdraw from a meeting if 
that Member’s conduct is disorderly.

(3) A Parliamentary Committee may resolve to exclude a member of the committee 
from a meeting of the committee if that Member’s conduct is highly disorderly. The 
Member may be excluded for up to the remainder of the meeting held on that day.

Hearing of Evidence
77. (1) The proceedings of a Parliamentary Committee during the hearing of evidence on 
any matter which is the subject of examination by the committee are open to the 
public.

Rules of Parliament

(2) Some or all of the evidence to be given to a Parliamentary Committee may, by 
leave, be heard or received in private.

(3) The Parliamentary Committee shall require all visitors to withdraw from a meeting 
while evidence is being heard in private.

(4) Evidence heard or received in private remains confidential.

(5) A person who is to appear before a Parliamentary Committee may raise any matter 
of concern relating to that evidence with the clerk of the committee before that 
appearance. Any such matter will be brought to the attention of the committee.

Release of written submissions
78. (1) A Parliamentary Committee may make a written submission to it available to the 
public at any time after having received it.

(2) If not already available, a written submission becomes available to the public when 
the witness who made the submission provides oral evidence in public before the 
committee.

Evidence on oath or affirmation
79. (1) A Parliamentary Committee may order any person to take an oath or make an 
affirmation before giving evidence to it.

(2) The oath or affirmation is administered by the Clerk of Parliament or a Deputy 
Clerk

Conduct of examination
80. (1) The examination of a witness is conducted as the Chairperson, with the approval of 
the Parliamentary Committee, directs.

(2) The Chairperson and every member of the committee, through the Chairperson, 
may put questions to a witness.

Relevance of questions
81. (1) The Chairperson will take care to ensure that all questions put to a witness are 
relevant to the proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee and that the 
information sought by those questions is necessary for the purposes of those 
proceedings.

(2) A witness may object to a question on the ground that it is not relevant. The 
Chairperson shall determine whether it is relevant to the committee’s proceedings.

Objection to answer
82. (1) Where a witness objects on any ground to answer a relevant question put to the 
witness, the witness will be invited to state the ground upon which objection to 
answering the question is taken.

(2) Where a witness objects to answer a question on any ground, a Parliamentary 
Committee, unless it decides immediately that the question should not be pressed, 
will consider in private whether it will insist upon an answer to the question, having 
regard to the importance to the proceedings of the information sought by the 
question.

(3) If the committee decides that it requires an answer to the question, the witness will 
be so informed and is required to answer.

(4) The committee may decide that the public interest would best be served by hearing 
the answer in private.

(5) Where a witness declines to answer a question to which the committee has 
required an answer, the committee may raise the issue as a matter of privilege 
pursuant to Standing Order 57.

Witnesses’ expenses
83. (1) No expenses shall be paid to any witness or proposed witness except with the 
permission of the Speaker.

(2) A Parliamentary Committee, its Chairperson, members of the committee or any 
other person shall not give any undertaking, promise or assurance to any person 
that any expenses of a witness or proposed witness will be paid out of public 
money unless the Speaker has given prior authorisation.

Transcript of evidence
84. (1) A Parliamentary Committee may decide to record and, if it thinks fit, transcribe 
evidence given to it.

(2) Reasonable opportunity will be afforded to witnesses to make corrections to errors 
of transcription in any transcript of their evidence.

Return of evidence
85. A Parliamentary Committee may return or expunge from any transcript of proceedings 
any evidence or statement that it considers to be irrelevant to its proceedings, offensive 
or possibly defamatory.

Irrelevant or unjustified allegations
86. Where a witness gives evidence that contains an allegation that may seriously damage 
the reputation of a person and the Parliamentary Committee is not satisfied that the Rules of Parliament
evidence is relevant to its proceedings, the committee will give consideration:
(a) to returning any written evidence and requesting that it be resubmitted without the 
offending material;
(b) to expunging that evidence from any transcript of evidence; or
(c) to seeking an order of Parliament preventing the disclosure of that evidence.

Access to information
87. A Parliamentary Committee will give a witness reasonable access to any material or 
other information that the witness has produced to the committee.

Personal information
88. (1) Any person whose reputation may be seriously damaged by the proceedings of a 
Parliamentary Committee may request from the clerk of the committee a copy of all 
material, evidence, records or other information that the committee possesses 
concerning that person.

(2) The committee considers any such request and may, if it considers it to be 
necessary to prevent serious damage to that person’s reputation, furnish such 
material.

(3) The committee may furnish such material in a form different from that requested if 
to provide it in the form requested would impose undue difficulty, expense or delay.

Confidentiality of proceedings and reports
89. (1) The proceedings of a Parliamentary Committee or a subcommittee, other than 
during the hearing of evidence, are not open to the public and remain confidential 
until the committee reports to Parliament.

(2) A report or a draft of a report of a Parliamentary Committee or subcommittee is 
confidential until the committee reports to Parliament.

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not prevent:
(a) the disclosure, by the committee or by a member of the committee, of 
proceedings, a report or a draft report to a member of Parliament or to the 
Clerk in the course of their duties, or;
(b) the disclosure of proceedings, a report or a draft report in accordance with 
these orders.

Information on proceedings of Parliamentary Committees
90. (1) The Chairperson of a Parliamentary Committee may, with the agreement of the 
committee, make a public statement to inform the public of the nature of the 
committee’s consideration of a matter.

(2) The Parliamentary Committee may make its proceedings available to any person 
for the purpose of assisting in the committee’s consideration of a matter.

Tabling of reports
91. (1) When a day is fixed for the tabling of a report by a Parliamentary Committee, the 
final report must be made on or before that day, unless Parliament grants further 
time.

(2) A report of a Parliamentary Committee is tabled by the Chairperson in accordance 
with the Standing Order 24 of Parliament.

(3) The Chairperson of a Parliamentary Committee must provide the report to the Clerk 
of Parliament at least one (1) working day before the date at which the report is to 
be presented in Parliament.

Government response to a report
92. (1) In the case of an examination of an issue of public policy or of the operations of a 
Ministry or a Department or a public corporation, a Parliamentary Committee may 
require a written response from the Government.

(2) If a Parliamentary Committee requires a written response from the Government, 
under the terms of paragraph (1), the Government must, not more than 90 days 
after the Parliamentary Committee’s report has been tabled, table a paper in 
Parliament responding to the committee’s report.

PART 9 – FINANCIAL PROCEDURE
Annual Appropriation Bill and Estimates
93. (1) The annual Appropriation Bill and Estimates shall be presented by the Minister of 
Finance on any convenient day during the first week of the second ordinary session 
of each year.

(2) The Government shall supply to the Clerk sixty (60) printed copies in French and 
English and one copy in electronic form not less than thirty (30) days prior to the 
meeting at which the bill is to be introduced.

(3) The Clerk shall send a copy of the Appropriation Bill and Estimates in French and 
English to each Member not less than twenty-five (25) days prior to the meeting at 
which the bill is to be introduced.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), not more than ten (10) sitting days are allotted 
for the consideration of the Appropriation Bill and Estimates by the Committee of 
the Whole Parliament. The days so allotted do not include any day on which the 
Appropriation Bill and Estimates does not stand first in the list of Government bills 
on the agenda.

(5) The days occupied by the consideration of a supplementary Appropriation Bill or 
any supplementary estimate are not included in the ten (10) day period.

(6) A Member may move orally, without notice that additional time not exceeding five 
(5) days be allotted for consideration of the Appropriation Bill and Estimates. Such 
motion must be seconded and decided without amendment or debate.

(7) On the last of tRules of Parliamenthe days allotted for consideration of the Appropriation Bill and 
Estimates, including any additional days allotted under paragraph (6), the Speaker 
forthwith puts every question necessary to dispose of the vote then under 
consideration, and puts the question with respect to each head of the budget, that 
the total amount of the vote outstanding in the head be granted for the services 
defined in the head.

(8) For the purposes of this Standing Order, the Appropriation Bill includes the annual 
estimates of revenue and expenditure, any supplementary or additional budget for 
the current financial year, and any excess vote.

Financial bills or motions
94. Only a Minister may present: 
(a) A bill, including any amendment to a bill, which in the opinion of the Speaker, 
makes provision for any of the following purposes:
(i) The imposition of taxation or the alteration of taxation otherwise than by 
reduction;
(ii) The imposition of any charge upon the Revenue Fund or Public Funds of the 
Republic of Vanuatu, or the alteration of any such charge;
(iii) The payment, issue or withdrawal from the Revenue Fund or Public Funds of 
the Republic of Vanuatu of any moneys not charged thereon, or any increase 
in the amount of such payments, issue or withdrawal;
Rules of Parliament(iv) The composition or remission of any debt due to the Government of The 
Republic of Vanuatu;
(b) A motion the effect of which, in the opinion of the Speaker, is that provision would 
be made for any of the purposes in paragraph (a).

PART 10 – MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
Members’ interests
95. (1) Every Member must, within three (3) weeks of signing the Roll of Members of 
Parliament, inform the Speaker in writing of the following:
(a) The Member’s affiliation or alliance with any political party or group 
represented in Parliament;
(b) All companies, businesses or other organisations in which the Member has 
any pecuniary interest of any kind, whether direct or indirect, as owner, 
employee, partner, shareholder or otherwise.

(2) The Speaker must make arrangements for such information given by Members to 
be recorded in a book kept for that purpose and to record any necessary 
alterations.

(3) Any Member must, as soon as possible, inform the Speaker of any change in the 
Member’s political affiliation, or pecuniary interests of any kind, recorded in 
accordance with paragraph (2).

(4) A Member may, within twenty-eight (28) days of being notified of a non-disclosure, 
rectify the omission and is then treated as having made the necessary disclosure.

(5) If a Member willfully fails to disclose any pecuniary interest, the Parliament may 
suspend that Member in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 54(3).

(6) A Member must not speak or vote on any matter in which the Member has a 
pecuniary interest without disclosing the nature and the extent of such pecuniary 
interest.

(7) Paragraph (6) does not apply to any debate concerning any remuneration or 
Rules of Parliamentallowance to be received by Members in their capacity as such, or to any interest 
which a Member may have in any matter in common with the public generally or 
with any class or section thereof.

Attendance of Members of Parliament
96. (1) A Member may be excused by the Speaker from attending a sitting of Parliament 
on the grounds of illness. The Member is required to present a medical certificate 
from a registered medical practitioner to the Clerk to justify his or her absence.

 
(2) Provided the Member has produced a medical certificate required under paragraph 
(1), the Member is entitled to receive the sitting allowance for the days covered by 
the medical certificate.

(3) The Speaker may grant a Member permission to be absent from attending a sitting 
of Parliament on account of other family cause of a personal nature and the 
Member is entitled to receive the sitting allowance for such days determined by the 
Speaker.

(4) The Member’s absence under this Standing Order is to be recorded in the Minutes 
of Proceedings as being absent with permission of the Speaker on account of 
illness or other family cause of a personal nature, which for the avoidance of doubt, 
such period of absence must not exceed a period of three (3) months).

(5) A Member who is absent without cause or prior permission of the Speaker must 
forfeit his or her entitlement to any of the allowances payable for such days of 
absence.

Members’ conduct in the Chamber
97. (1) On the first day of the Ordinary Sessions, Members must wear a suit or similar 
style.

(2) Members must wear formal business attire when in the Chamber.

(3) Members may use mobile phones or other electronic devices in the Chamber 
provided the device is on silent mode and the use does not disturb the proceedings 
of Parliament or other Members.

(4) Members must not make or receive any phone calls inside the Chamber.

Broadcast of proceedings
98. The Parliament authorizes, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the 
Speaker from time to time, the broadcasting and rebroadcasting of such proceedings, or 
extracts thereof, in any form, both within and outside the Parliamentary precincts, by any 
medium.

Sessional Orders
99. The Parliament may from time to time adopt Sessional Orders which have effect for the 
duration of the session unless otherwise ordered.

Visitors
100. (1) When Parliament is sitting, visitors may be admitted only to such places as may be 
reserved for them by the Speaker. Visitors must be properly dressed and they 
remain seated and silent. They must refrain from making utterances, gestures of 
approval or disapproval and from communication in any way with the Members.

(2) The Speaker may exclude or order the withdrawal of visitors in special 
circumstances.

(3) Visitors admitted into Parliament who misconduct themselves or do not withdraw 
when ordered to do so by the Speaker shall be expelled forthwith from Parliament 
and its precincts.

(4) While Parliament or the Committee of the Whole Parliament is sitting visitors must
not take photographs, video or sound recordings, or use mobile phones inside the 
Parliamentary Chamber.

(5) For the purposes of this Standing Order, the word ‘visitor’ includes all persons other 
than Members, officers or staff of Parliament, but excludes any person or group of 
persons giving advice or assisting Parliament in accordance with Standing Order 
37(7).

Review of Standing Orders
101. During the term of every Parliament, the Parliament must refer to a Parliamentary 
Committee a motion for the committee to:

(a) conduct a review of the Standing Orders, procedures and practices of the 
Parliament; and
(b) report to the Parliament before the end of the term on its enquiry, including any 
recommendations for the amendment, revocation or addition of any Standing Order 
or the alteration of any procedure or practice of Parliament.

Repeal
102. The Standing Orders that were in force before are repealed and replaced by these 
Standing Orders, revised and endorsed by Parliament on 18th June 2020.

APPENDIX 1 – PETITIONS
FORM OF PETITION WITH INSTRUCTIONS
………………….. (Signature of presenting Member)
PETITION
To the Honorable Speaker and the Members of the National Parliament of Vanuatu
The petition of ……………………………………………………………………………….
(identify here who the petitioners are, in general terms, for example, citizens of Vanuatu, 
or residents of Vanuatu, or residents of……………. [name region, constituency, town or 
village])
Brings to the attention of the Parliament ……………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(the circumstances of the matter)
The undersigned petitioners thereof ask the Parliament to ………………………………...…..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(outline the action that the Parliament should, or should not, take)
Signature Name Address
42
FORM OF PETITION WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS
………………….. (Signature of presenting Member)
PETITION
To the Honorable SRules of Parliamentpeaker and the Members of the National Parliament of Vanuatu
The petition of ……………………………………………………………………………….
Brings to the attention of the Parliament ……………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The undersigned petitioners thereof ask the Parliament to ………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...….
Signature Name Address