President of the Victorian Legislative Council

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President of the Victorian Legislative Council

The President is the presiding officer of the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house of the Parliament of Victoria. The President leads council meetings, enforces the rules, and helps run Parliament together with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The President is the ceremonial head of the Council and represents it to other organisations.

The President must be a member of the Council and is elected by the Council from among its members. If the office is vacant, the Council elects a new President. The President can be removed by a vote of the Council.

The current President is Shaun Leane (Labor), who has held the role since 20 December 2022. The Deputy President assists the President; the current Deputy is Wendy Lovell.

Formation of the office: 21 November 1856; the inaugural holder was Sir James Frederick Palmer. The President’s style is The Honourable.