Jaclyn Symes was commenting during debate over a motion to remove the ritual and replace it with a moment of contemplation.

A vote on the matter was deferred indefinitely.

"There are a range of views on the worth or relevance of reciting the Lord's Prayer at the start of a parliamentary session," Ms Symes said.

"Frankly I actually think the vast majority of Victorians probably couldn't care less about this issue, but some people feel strongly one way or the other."

Ms Symes was speaking as the leader of the government as well as a member for Northern Victoria when she addressed the Legislative Council.

She said the need to respond to the COVID pandemic meant the government had given limited consideration to the removal and was "not in a position to support" the motion yesterday.

Ms Symes said such a change would be better introduced at the start of a parliamentary term and apply in both chambers.

She added the Labor Party would workshop the matter if re-elected at next year's election.

The Opposition's leader in the Upper House David Davis opposed the motion on the basis of a lack of consultation and poor timing given the fallout from COVID.

Wodonga-based Upper House MP Tim Quilty said he would support the motion on the grounds of separation of church and state.

He told colleagues it was about MPs seeing "themselves as important people who do important things".

"Workplaces free from this inflated sense of ego don't have these observances first thing in the morning," Mr Quilty said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"Hairdressers, restaurateurs, and retailers don't usually have a company prayer or other cultural ritual each morning, they leave the matter up to individual choice."

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten, who moved the motion and boycotts the recitation, said the prayer had become divisive, disrespectful and discordant and her action was in the spirit of inclusion.

"This is a chamber for everyone from all religions, from all races and we should be respectful of that," Ms Patten said.

"This is a secular chamber, it's not a church, it's not religious."

Ms Patten ended her speech by quoting Anglican Bishop of Wangaratta Clarence Bester who told The Border Mail "a secular state should not and cannot favour a particular religiosity".

The debate heard the ACT parliament has a moment of reflection rather than the Lord's Prayer.