Skip to section navigationSkip to content Commonwealth of Australia Coat of Arms Parliament of Australia - House of RepresentativesPhoto of the House of Representatives Chamber
HomeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLive BroadcastingThis Week in Parliament FindFrequently asked questionsContact

Introduction
Members
The House at Work
Committees
Bills
Legislative Instruments
Publications
House News - Information about the work of the House
Administration


Seminar Program 2009

About Committees

Dates:Codes:
Wednesday 8 July AC

Parliamentary committees regularly inquire into and report on issues of importance to all Australians. Our About Committees seminar provides detailed information on all aspects of committee work, including the types of committees and how they conduct their investigations.

If you want to know how you can contribute a submission to a committee's inquiry, give evidence before a committee, or you need to brief others on these processes, or simply follow the progress of an inquiry, this seminar will interest you.

Outcomes

You will understand:
  • the committee system operating in the parliament, particularly the House of Representatives

  • the way a committee investigation is conducted – from the referral of an inquiry topic through to the tabling of the government's response to the report and any follow-up action by the committee

  • how to make effective contributions to committee inquiries

  • parliamentary privilege, and the rights and obligations of contributors to committee inquiries

  • what the members of a committee see as important in the inquiry process

  • how to follow a committee investigation on-line

Seminar Outline

1. The operation of parliamentary committees

  • the system of committees in the parliament

  • the role and focus of House committees

  • differences between House and Senate committees

  • parliamentary privilege as it applies to committees

2. The inquiry process

  • the origins of inquiries

  • the inquiry process

  • what happens after a report is tabled

  • the importance of the government's response

3. Contributing to an inquiry

  • the accountability of public servants to committees

  • the obligations and rights of contributors

  • making a submission

  • appearing as a witness

  • following an inquiry on-line

4. Members' experience on committees

If a member is available to make a presentation on this seminar, we invite them to:

  • Discuss his/her involvement in the work of committees

< < Back to 2009 Seminars home page About Parliamentary Consideration of the Budget Seminar information > >

top