This Act seeks to provide for greater independence from the political process by the Speaker of the House of Assembly by requiring a person who has been elected as Speaker to not be a member of, or to actively participate in the votes and proceedings of a registered political party.

This Act also amends the Constitution Act 1934 by creating a relevant election period commencing on 1 July in the year immediately before a general election of members of the House of Assembly, in accordance with section 28(1) and ending on the day of that general election. This amendment directs that the Governor may not prorogue the Parliament and the Speaker may re-join a political party during the relevant election period and comes into operation immediately to include the current election period.