1.1
Since the 41st Parliament, the Procedure Committee has resolved in each Parliament to adopt a broad reference into the maintenance of the standing and sessional orders. Such an inquiry enables the committee to fulfil its procedural monitoring role, by identifying issues or irregularities with the standing orders and proposing improvements. It also enables the committee to comment on matters related to the standing orders that the committee has observed over the course of a parliament, even if ultimately the committee does not recommend amendments to those standing orders.
1.2
On 1 August 2019 the Procedure Committee resolved to ‘inquire into and report on the operation of the standing and sessional orders’. As no sessional orders have come into force to date in the 46th Parliament, the inquiry scope is limited to standing orders. The recommendations of this report aim to ensure the standing orders remain current and effective.
1.3
The COVID-19 pandemic has given unique context to the 46th Parliament. The committee inquired separately into the practices and procedures put in place by the House to facilitate its continued operation during the arising public health emergency. The findings from that inquiry are available in its December 2020 report The House must go on. This report does not repeat matters covered in that inquiry, but does provide updates in relation to specific standing order changes.
1.4
The inquiry was conducted between 1 August 2019 and January 2022. The committee consulted with key office holders and with Members, as well as with the House Standing Committee on Petitions on standing orders relating to petitions. Due to the reduced ability for Members to meet in person during the COVID-19 pandemic, inquiry consultation was primarily conducted via email. However, the committee held one private briefing to discuss matters raised and options for proposed amendments.
1.5
Chapter 2 details particular matters of interest arising in the 46th Parliament, and Chapter 3 outlines technical and more straightforward matters raised in the committee’s examination of the standing orders. The committee makes recommendations for amendments to the standing orders, and in some cases provides comment on standing orders and related practice, even if not recommending a change at this time. Several minor technical amendments, identified as appropriate for Clerk’s amendments, are also recommended in Chapter 3.
1.6
Appendix A lists the recommended amendments to the standing orders and Appendix B lists the proposed Clerk’s amendments.