Senate Documents and Publications - Alphabetical listing
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Alert Digest (Scrutiny of Bills Committee)
Issued each week when the Senate is sitting, the Alert Digest summarises the bills considered by the Scrutiny of Bills Committee that week and sets out the Committee's views on any clauses which it considers contravenes the principles contained in its terms of reference.
Annual Report, Department of the Senate
Articles, addresses and other publications by Senate staff
Includes papers by former Clerk of the Senate, Harry Evans and papers prepared for the Parliamentary Studies Centre.
Australasian Federal Conventions of the 1890s–Records
Proceedings and transcripts of convention debates.
Bills List
Issued fortnightly in sitting periods by the Table Office, this publication lists, in alphabetical order, all the bills currently before the Parliament. The title of the bill is followed by a brief description of its purpose and the dates of introduction into the Senate and the House of Representatives, if applicable.
Bills Referred to Committees
Brief Guides to Senate Procedure
This series is aimed at those who require a practical understanding of the main procedures used in the Senate.
Brochure (HTML format) (PDF)
The Research Section publishes a 16-page colour brochure about the Senate and its work.
Business of Committees
Also known as the "Committee Red", this document is issued the day before committees are scheduled to hold public hearings in Parliament House. It lists the time, place and business of forthcoming committee meetings and hearings, the names of committee chairs and secretaries, and a list of persons scheduled to appear as witnesses (when known).
Business of the Senate
Prepared twice each year by the Table Office and consolidated annually, this document contains a comprehensive summary of matters considered by the Senate including statistics on legislative work, hours of sitting, questions, petitions and other Senate business.
Can Responsible Government Survive in Australia? by David Hamer
This work provides a detailed and systematic comparative analysis of the powers and procedures of twenty legislatures in Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Committees—Public Hearings/Meetings List
Contains date, time, venue and purpose of forthcoming committee meetings and hearings both at Parliament House and elsewhere. Lists the name and phone number of the secretary of each committee scheduled to meet.
Constitution (HTML format) (PDF format)
The AGPS edition of the Constitution contains the Proclamation Declaring the Establishment of the Commonwealth; the Letters Patent Relating to the Office of the Governor General; the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942; the Australia Act 1986; and an overview, notes and index.
Corporate Plan, Department of the Senate
The Corporate Plan outlines the Department’s strategic direction in providing non-partisan advice, support and information to senators, and information about the Senate and its committees to the public.
Delegated Legislation Monitor
Published each week when the Senate is sitting, the Monitor lists disallowable instruments of delegated legislation tabled in the Senate in the preceding week, summarises the effect of the delegated legislation, cites the parent Act from which it derives its authority, and notes the date it was made and the date it was tabled.
Disallowance Alert
A list of disallowance notices before the Senate.
Dynamic Red
The Dynamic Red provides information on the proceedings of the Senate which is updated during the course of the sitting day. It shows the progress of legislation and the results of motions moved and other business conducted in the Senate. Where possible, it also contains links to source documents such as those relating to committee memberships, tabled documents and amendments to legislation.
Enterprise agreement 2010—2012
Conditions of employment in the Department of the Senate.
Government Guidelines for Official Witnesses Before Parliamentary Committees and Related Matters
These are guidelines on the procedures to be adopted by government officers when requested to assist parliamentary committees. The guidelines are the government's views and have not been endorsed by either House of Parliament. .
Hansard
Hansard is the official record of what is said in Parliament and is published in proof (daily) and official (weekly) versions and in bound volumes covering each sitting period.
Hansards 1996-2010 (PDF format)
Hansards 1981-2010 (HTML format)
How to Make a Submission to a Senate or Joint Committee Inquiry
This leaflet contains general advice to those wishing to make written submissions to committees.
Index to Papers Presented to Parliament
An index to papers presented in the Senate and the House of Representatives (published twice each year).
42nd Parliament (2008-2009) - (PDF format)
41st Parliament (2004-2007) - (PDF format)
40th Parliament (2001-2004) - (PDF format)
39th Parliament (1998-2001) - (PDF format)
38th Parliament (1996-1998) - (PDF format)
Journals of the Senate
The Journals of the Senate are the official record (minutes) of the proceedings of the Senate and the most authoritative source of information about Senate activities and decisions. They record all actions taken by the Senate in the course of its proceedings.
Journals 2002-2010 (PDF format)
Journals 1973-2010 (HTML format)
List of Senators
Lists senators (and senators-elect) by name, state/territory and party, together with their state or territory telephone and fax numbers and mailing addresses; identifies party leaders, ministers, whips and other office holders; includes a table showing dates of expiry of senators' terms of service, information relating to the filling of casual vacancies and appointments, a summary of party representation, and a list of senior officers of the Senate and other parliamentary departments.
Notes for the Guidance of Witnesses Appearing Before Senate Committees
This leaflet describes the procedures relating to the appearance of witnesses at committee hearings and contains advice to those appearing as witnesses.
Notice Paper
The Notice Paper is the official list of all business before the Senate—a list so long that it could not possibly be dealt with in one day.
Notice Papers 2002-2010 (PDF format)
Notice Papers 1997-2010 (HTML format)
Odgers' Australian Senate Practice
Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice is a detailed reference work on all aspects of the Senate's powers, procedures and practices. Matters covered range from broad constitutional principles to the fine details of the rules of debate and procedure. The work has for its base the Constitution, the standing orders, rulings of successive presidents, practice and precedent.
Twelfth edition
Supplement updates to 30 June 2010 (PDF format)
Order of Business - Senate "Red"
The Senate Order of Business is issued each sitting day before the Senate meets as a guide to the matters proposed to be dealt with that day, and includes a list of government documents to be tabled. It is referred to as the Senate "Red" because of the distinctive red stripe along its top and side. The Red contains the most up-to-date information available at the time it is printed. The program in the Senate, however, is subject to change, so the details in the Red are updated throughout the day online in the Dynamic Red.
Current Order of Business (PDF 67KB) (HTML format)
Papers on Parliament
Papers in this series include the texts of Senate Occasional Lectures and other papers on parliamentary and governance issues.
Current issue
Previous issues
Platypus and Parliament: The Australian Senate in Theory and Practice by Stanley Bach
This major study of the history and operations of the Australian Senate covers a range of topics including the design and operation of Australia’s system of government, an analysis of the confrontation between the Senate and the House of Representatives in 1975, proposals for parliamentary reform, the republic debate, minority parties and the balance of power, mandate theory, accountability and responsible government.
Portfolio Budget Statements 2010–2011
Department of the Senate budget initiatives and explanations of appropriations specified by outcome.
Privileges Commmittee, 125th report - Parliamentary privilege: Precedents, procedures and practice in the Australian Senate 1966-2005 (Parliamentary Paper No. 3/2006)
This report is a comprehensive guide to the history, practice and procedures of the Senate Committee of Privileges. It contains a history and analysis of Senate privilege matters from 1901 to 2005, a summary and index of Privileges Committee reports from its establishment in 1966, statistics on the Committee's work and lists of members, chairs and deputy chairs.
Procedural Information Bulletin
Issued at the end of each block of sitting weeks the Bulletin provides a summary of legislative highlights and committee reports tabled; and a commentary on the major procedural matters arising in the period under review.
Procedures to be Observed by Senate Committees for the Protection of Witnesses
This leaflet outlines the rights and obligations of witnesses before Senate committees.
Register of Senate Committee Reports
The Register of Senate Committee Reports and subsequent annual supplements list reports tabled since 1970 by committees administered by the Senate Committee Office and bills referred to committees.
Scrutiny of Bills Committee Report
Scrutiny of Disallowable Instruments 2010
The Scrutiny of Disallowable Instruments lists those disallowable instruments (both legislative and non-legislative) that appear to breach the principles of scrutiny of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances.
Senate Briefs
This series aims to give a basic introduction to the Senate and its work.
Senate Daily Summary
The Senate Daily Summary is issued by the Senate Table Office as a convenient summary of each day’s proceedings in the Senate. Most of the items in the Summary have direct links to the relevant section of the Journals and other Senate documents.
Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees—The First 20 Years, 1970-1990
Outlines the work of each of the legislative and general purpose standing committees during the period 1970-1990. An introductory section outlines the origins of the standing committee system.
Senators’ Guide to Procedures
Guide to the most frequently used procedures and the relevant standing and other orders.
Standing Orders and other orders of the Senate
Section 50 of the Constitution empowers the Senate to make rules and orders with respect to the manner in which its powers, privileges, and immunities may be exercised and upheld, and the order and conduct of its business and proceedings either separately or jointly with the House of Representatives.
Current edition
Annotations to current edition (PDF 15KB)
Previous editions [link to http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/standing_orders/previous_editions/index.htm]
Annotated Standing Orders of the Australian Senate (commentaries on the standing orders)
StatsNET
Statistics on Senate activities and summaries of legislation and other business conducted by the Senate.
Tabled Papers
This database provides a search facility to enable access to digitised images of documents tabled in the Senate. Documents tabled in the Senate from 1901 onward are accessible through the database.
Tips on searching the database
Work of Committees
Issued twice yearly, Work of Committees provides an overview of committee activities for the period under review.
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