Chapter 17 - Witnesses
One of the
principal functions of the Senate, perhaps more important than the
functions of making laws and debating matters of public interest, is to conduct
inquiries into such matters of public interest and into the conduct of
government. Inquiries assist the Senate to obtain information which is
necessary to enable it to legislate effectively and to inform the public of the
manner in which government is conducted so that the electors will also be
capable of making informed decisions.
Inquiries are conducted principally by seeking information and opinions
from persons who possess the information and whose views are likely to be
significant. The formal method whereby this information-gathering is conducted
is through hearings of evidence at which witnesses attend and provide
information by making submissions and answering questions.
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