You are here: Home > FAQ > 12. Parliamentary Committees

FAQ

OUr parliament: 12. parliamentary committees

12.1 What is a parliamentary committee?

A parliamentary committee is a small group of parliamentarians who investigate and report on a particular subject, issue or problem. Parliamentary committees usually consist of six to ten government and non-government parliamentarians. One of the committee members is the chairperson who runs the proceedings.

Parliamentary committees are part of the federal Parliament and are set up by both the Senate and the House of Representatives to fulfil one of the following tasks:

  • investigate bills
  • inquire into important policy matters
  • check on the government and to ensure it is doing its job properly
  • allow members of the Australian public to input the legislative process
  • make recommendations that improve a bill or situation.

Some committees operate throughout the life of a parliament. These committees are called standing committees. Other committees are set up for a specific purpose and disband after presenting the final report to parliament. These committees are called select committees.

top

12.2 What do parliamentary committees do?

Parliamentary committees investigate issues in detail. Committees collect evidence including advice and ideas from experts and the general public on specific issues of interest to the Parliament. The information collected by committees:

  • assists parliamentarians to understand complex and technical issues
  • allows interested members of the public to present their ideas to the Parliament
  • leads to amendments (changes) to bills
  • leads to changes in policy
  • results in more informed debate and decisions
  • streamlines the work of the Parliament by doing some of the work of the chamber, in smaller meeting rooms.

top

12.3 How do parliamentary committees work?

Parliamentary committees are usually set up to explore complex issues on behalf of the Parliament. Below is an outline of the committee inquiry process.

  1. Decide the terms of reference (the specific purpose of the committee).
  2. Advertise the inquiry and its terms of reference in newspapers. This brings the inquiry to the attention of the public and experts on the subject and invites all interested people to write a response to the terms of reference. This is called a submission.
  3. Consider the submissions and invite people or groups (witnesses) to attend the committee hearings to give evidence.
  4. Listen to what witnesses have to say about the subject during committee hearings held in Parliament House or in different places around Australia. Travelling to locations outside Canberra helps the senators and members to meet a wide variety of concerned people and takes the Parliament to the people.
  5. Work with the committee secretariat, researchers and writers to write a report which has considered the evidence and which recommends to the Parliament a course of action.
  6. Present the report to the Parliament and highlight the inquiry findings.
  7. Distribute copies of the report through various means including national and state libraries and publications on the Parliament's website.
  8. Allow the government time to consider the report and then to respond to the report and its recommendations in the Parliament.

Parliamentary committees have the power to call for specific information and to compel the attendance of individuals. Parliamentary privilege gives witnesses the protection to speak freely to committees without fear of adverse action or reprisal for what they have said.

top

12.4 What is a Senate committee?

There are many different types of committees. Senate committees generally examine bills that are currently passing through the Senate, provide a forum for the investigation of issues of national importance and scrutinise government expenditure, decisions and activities. Senate committees are made up of eight senators including a government chair and a government majority.

Senate committees may recommend amendments to bills and changes to public policy.

top

12.5 What is a House of Representatives committee?

There are many different types of committees. House of Representatives committees are generally investigative committees which have the power to inquire into a specific issue or problem in detail and to recommend action to solve the problem. The name of the committee usually gives an indication of the topic and area of investigation.

The terms of reference for an investigative committee are often developed by the House of Representatives, a government minister, by a law or sometimes by the committee itself. Many committees hold public hearings where evidence, points of view and opinions can be given by people who have an interest in the terms of reference of that particular committee.

top

12.6 What are joint committees?

Joint committees are made up of members of the House of Representatives and senators of the Senate. The operation of a joint committee is similar to other committees. Joint committees, however, usually concentrate on major issues and/or areas of national security and intelligence. Joint committees report to both houses of parliament.

top

12.7 What are Senate Estimates hearings?

Senate estimates hearings meet three times a year to scrutinise how the government has spent the Budget funds. The only witnesses who appear before estimates hearings are ministers and senior public servants in government departments and bodies which receive government funding such as Telstra and the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). The House of Representatives does not hold estimates hearings.

top