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Interim Report: Monitoring and review of procedural changes implemented in the 43rd Parliament

April 2011

View the report as a single document - (PDF 3.2MB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Preliminary pages	(PDF 276KB)
Foreword Membership of the Committee Committee Secretariat Terms of reference List of abbreviations List of recommendations

Chapter 1 Introduction	(PDF 232KB)
Environment for parliamentary reform Scope of the inquiry Conduct of the inquiry Structure of the report

Chapter 2 The reforms—an overview	(PDF 291KB)
Preamble to the Agreement Role of the Speaker Selection Committee Questions without notice Private Members’ business and other opportunities for private Members Voting on private Members’ bills Other opportunities for private Members The House committee system Consideration of bills Questions during second reading debate Other procedural reforms Recommittal of votes Non-procedural reforms Resources of the parliament House Committee on Appropriations and Administration Parliamentary Budget Office Codifying and enhancing parliamentary standards

Chapter 3 Strengthening the parliament: increased participation by all Members	(PDF 281KB)
More opportunities for contributions by private Members Allocated time for private Members’ business The Selection Committee and private Members’ business Private Members’ motions and bills Committee comment Other opportunities for private Members Adjournment debates Members’ 90 second statements and three minute constituency statements Matters of Public Importance The balance between private Members’ business and government business and the nature of legislative debate Committee comment

Chapter 4 Changes to Question Time and committees	(PDF 478KB)
Reforms to Question Time Committee comment Changes to the system of House committees Committee comment

Chapter 5 Current and emerging issues	(PDF 432KB)
Changes to weekly sitting hours The impact of longer sitting hours Adapting to additional sitting hours Committee comment Refinements to improve the efficiency of proceedings Presentation of private Members’ bills Private Members’ items in the Main Committee Speaking time limits Other issues Listing of private Members’ business items to be voted on in the Notice Paper Selection Committee Appointment of supplementary members to House committees Naming of the Main Committee Committee comment Concluding statement

Appendix A – Agreement for a Better Parliament: Parliamentary Reform	(PDF 149KB)

Appendix B – Overview of procedural changes	(PDF 385KB)

Appendix C – List of submissions and exhibits	(PDF 72KB)

Appendix D – Selection Committee Principles	(PDF 98KB)

Appendix E – Submission from the Clerk of the House of Representatives	(PDF 528KB)