House of Representatives Practice, 6th edition – HTML version

The comprehensive and authoritative text on the procedure and practice of the House of Representatives. This 6th Edition was published in September 2012.

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(PDF 674KB)

Chapter 1- The Parliament and the role of the House

(PDF 815KB)

Chapter 2- House, Government and Opposition

(PDF 607KB)

Chapter 3- Elections and the electoral system

(PDF 838KB)

Chapter 4- Parliament House and access to proceedings

(PDF 601KB)

Chapter 5- Members

(PDF 862KB)

Chapter 6- The Speaker, Deputy Speakers and officers

(PDF 968KB)

Chapter 7- The Parliamentary Calendar

(PDF 1117KB)

Chapter 8- Order of business and the sitting day

(PDF 923KB)

Chapter 9- Motions

(PDF 1068KB)

Chapter 10- Legislation

(PDF 565KB)

Chapter 11- Financial legislation

(PDF 507KB)

Chapter 12- Senate amendments and requests

(PDF 521KB)

Chapter 13- Disagreements between the Houses

(PDF 755KB)

Chapter 14- Control and conduct of debate

(PDF 535KB)

Chapter 15- Questions

(PDF 632KB)

Chapter 16- Non-government business

(PDF 835KB)

Chapter 17- Documents

(PDF 1195KB)

Chapter 18- Parliamentary committees

(PDF 750KB)

Chapter 19- Parliamentary privilege



(PDF 19KB)

Appendix 1- Governors-General

(PDF 57KB)

Appendix 2- Speakers of the House of Representatives

(PDF 23KB)

Appendix 3- Deputy Speakers

(PDF 25KB)

Appendix 4- Leaders of the Opposition

(PDF 16KB)

Appendix 5- Clerks of the House of Representatives

(PDF 22KB)

Appendix 6- Prime Ministers

(PDF 24KB)

Appendix 7- Chronological list of Ministries

(PDF 21KB)

Appendix 8- Leaders of the House

(PDF 192KB)

Appendix 9- Number of Ministers—statutory variations

(PDF 45KB)

Appendix 10- Party affiliations in the House of Representatives

(PDF 34KB)

Appendix 11- Electoral divisions—number at general elections

(PDF 34KB)

Appendix 12- General Elections – Significant dates from 19th to 43rd Parliaments

(PDF 252KB)

Appendix 13- Election Petitions—House of Representatives

(PDF 293KB)

Appendix 14- Referendums to alter the Constitution

(PDF 71KB)

Appendix 15- Chronology of Parliaments

(PDF 52KB)

Appendix 16- Sittings of the House

(PDF 60KB)

Appendix 17- Consideration of Legislation by the House

(PDF 245KB)

Appendix 18- Senate requests for amendments to bills

(PDF 224KB)

Appendix 19- Bills reserved for the sovereign’s assent and bills returned by the governor-general with recommended amendments

(PDF 55KB)

Appendix 20- Statistics on selected house proceedings

(PDF 22KB)

Appendix 21- Questions

(PDF 52KB)

Appendix 22- Proportion of house time by category of business – recent parliaments

(PDF 22KB)

Appendix 23- Percentage of House time spent on Government and Private Members’ Business —recent Parliaments

(PDF 57KB)

Appendix 24- Committees of the House of Representatives and Joint Committees

(PDF 372KB)

Appendix 25- Matters raised as matters of privilege in the House