Sergeant at Arms, Ben Foxe

The Sergeant-at-Arms is a parliamentary officer and not a Member of Parliament. They work in the House of Assembly. Their role as a member of the Clerk's team is to help maintain order in the Chamber and to make sure procedures are followed correctly. The Sergeant also escorts the Speaker into the Chamber every day, carrying the Mace over their right shoulder. Like other members of the Clerk's team, the Sergeant-at-Arms wears a black robe in the Chamber, to show they are apolitical. "Apolitical" means they do not express a political opinion.

The Sergeant-at-Arms, along with the Usher of the Black Rod in the Legislative Council, is also responsible for the security of Parliament House.

History

Robert Clerk, Sergeant at Arms 1885-1900

The role of the Sergeant-at-Arms was originally as a member of the royal bodyguard in England. In the 15th century the first Sergeant-at-Arms  was appointed to the House of Commons, the lower House of the English Parliament.

The first Sergeant-at-Arms in the Tasmania House of Assembly  was William de Gillern in 1856. The Sergeant-at-Arms in Tasmania used to wear a ceremonial outfit based on traditional court dress from the United Kingdom. This included a black tail coat, a lacy collar called a jabot, shoes with a silver buckle and a ceremonial sword and scabbard.

.