(1) In this Act, unless the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or
requires--
"Periodic Council election" means an election held for the return of 21
Members of the Legislative Council.
"The Legislature" means His Majesty the King with the advice and consent of
the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly.
(2) For sections 22H, 22I
and 32, in relation to ascertaining a quorum for, or determining a question
in, a House of Parliament, a Member of Parliament is taken to be present at a
meeting of the House if the Member attends the meeting remotely using an audio
visual link in accordance with--
(a) the Standing Rules and Orders of the
House, or
(b) a resolution or sessional order of the House.
(3) Subsection
(2) has effect for a House of Parliament only if the Presiding Officer of the
House has declared that--
(a) it will be impracticable for Members of the
House to meet in person during a specified period due to a public emergency,
including a public health crisis, natural disaster, major accident, civil
disturbance or act of terrorism, and
(b) a majority of the Members of the
House have requested remote attendance of the House be permitted under this
section during the specified period.
(4) A Member is taken to have made a
request under subsection (3)(b) if the following person has made the request
on the Member's behalf--
(a) if the Member belongs to a party--the Member's
party leader,
(b) a Member of Parliament nominated by the Member to the
Presiding Officer.
