Chapter 16 - Committees
Evidence
gathering
Hansard
Standing order 35(2) requires that
the examination of witnesses be recorded in a transcript of evidence. The
standing orders relating to the Appropriations and Staffing Committee, legislative and
general purpose standing committees and committees considering estimates all
provide for a daily Hansard to be published of the public proceedings of a
committee (SO 19(10), 25(16) and 26(7) respectively).
For committees considering estimates, the Hansard report is to be circulated in
a manner similar to the daily Senate Hansards, as soon as practicable after each
day’s proceedings (SO 26(7)).
A provision
requiring the publication of a daily Hansard of a committee’s public
proceedings is a standard inclusion in resolutions establishing select
committees. Most committees may also take evidence in camera and a Hansard
record is made of this evidence but not published. Committees may, however,
decide to publish such evidence at a later date and witnesses are required to
be warned, before giving evidence in camera, that this may occur (Privilege
Resolution 1(8); for use of in camera evidence, see Chapter 17, Witnesses,
under Publication of in camera evidence).
Hansard is initially produced as a proof version and is supplied to
members and witnesses for correction. Corrections are restricted to
typographical errors and errors of transcription or fact. New material may not
be introduced; nor may the sense of evidence be altered. A witness who wishes
to provide additional material may do so by way of a supplementary submission,
as required by Privilege Resolution 1(17). A committee may decide what wider
circulation the uncorrected proof should have. Many committees prefer to have
the evidence distributed as soon as possible, albeit in proof form, rather than
some weeks later when the corrected transcript becomes available. Uncorrected
proofs carry a warning that the document may contain errors and should not be
quoted in public without acknowledging that the source is an uncorrected proof.
Committees usually authorise the secretary to distribute copies of the
transcript by an appropriate resolution.
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