A parliamentary committee is a sub-group of the Parliament that does inquiry and oversight work on behalf of the Parliament. It contains Members of the House of Representatives and/or Senators.

When the House is debating legislation or scrutinising government activities, various phrases are used, sometimes in a shorthand way. The concepts they refer to, which describe aspects of Australia’s ...

The respect for humanity and sense of ethics that underpin human rights are often said to derive from religious belief. Certainly, the major religions of the world emphasise our common humanity and ...

The normal flow of the legislative process is that a bill (a draft Act, or, in the terminology of the Constitution, a proposed law) is introduced into one House of Parliament, passed by that House and ...

A senator is a member of the Australian Senate, elected to represent a state or territory. There are 76 senators, 12 from each state and two each from the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern ...

Under Australia’s Constitution each House of Representatives may last no more than three years from the first meeting of the House after an election, but may be dissolved sooner. General elections are ...

8.1 This chapter considers the African diaspora living in Australia. It begins with a review of the number of Africans living in Australia, and their geographic origins. The Chapter then discusses ...

Following a referral from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, on 22 August 2024 the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport commenced an inquiry into the ...

At the commencement of every Parliament the Speaker nominates a panel of not less than four Members to assist the Chair. [290] At any time during the Parliament the Speaker may nominate additional ...

Claressa Surtees commenced as Clerk of the House of Representatives in 2019, appointed for a single term of up to ten years. The Clerk is principal adviser to the Speaker and Members on House and ...

The standing orders are the rules of the House made under the power granted by section 50 of the Constitution. They are of continuing effect and apply until changed by the House. [393] Standing orders ...

Under the doctrine of ‘public interest immunity’, historically described as ‘Crown privilege’, the Executive Government may seek to claim immunity from requests or orders, by a court or by Parliament, ...