The Governor-General and the Senate The Governor-General as the
representative of the monarch is a part of the legislature, but
does not normally attend or participate in the proceedings of
either House, with two exceptions. The Governor-General at the
opening of each session of Parliament delivers an opening speech
in the Senate chamber. The Governor-General also usually attends
personally to swear in new senators, when there is no President
in office. This is usually after the terms of senators have
begun, but may occur on other occasions. For example, when
Senator Douglas McClelland resigned as President and as a
senator during the summer adjournment in February 1987, the
Governor-General attended the Senate on the first sitting day to
report the resignation and the appointment by the Parliament of
New South Wales of a person to fill the vacancy, and to hear the
affirmation of the new senator. Apart from these occasions
communications between the Governor-General and the Houses
consist of formal addresses