56 Where Bills Come From
One of Parliament’s main tasks is to debate and create new laws or bills. Bills are created to solve specific problems in the Australian community. Each year, hundreds of people and organisations request and suggest new laws to answer problems they are facing.
Government departments make many suggestions. Departments advise their minister about existing and new problems that require a specific law.
Often, community groups, businesses or lobby groups approach ministers with requests and suggestions for particular bills.
Sometimes a debate in the community will suggest new ideas for a bill.
Political parties suggest new laws, especially after an election when they want to implement their new policies.
Sometimes a minister sets up a parliamentary committee of inquiry to examine a current issue. The minister and the government may decide as a result that further action is necessary and a new law is created.
Each week, Parliament reserves a time for any non-government member or senator to introduce their own bill, called a private member’s bill. These bills contain ideas which come from non-government political parties or citizens in the electorates of members and the states of senators.
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