Standing Committee on Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Committee establishment, role and history
The standing committee is one of nine general purpose investigatory
committees established by the House of Representatives of the Parliament
of Australia.
Information on the establishment, role and powers of House of Representatives
committees can be found at the Committee
Office home page and in chapters 16 and 17 of the Standing Orders (PDF 637KB) of the House of Representatives.
In summary, the role of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Affairs is to carry out inquiries into matters referred
to it by the House of Representatives or a Minister of the Commonwealth
Government. The Committee may also inquire into matters raised in annual
reports of relevant Commonwealth Government departments and authorities or in reports
of the Commonwealth Auditor General.
From 1973-1992 the Committee's name was Standing Committee on Aboriginal
Affairs. There have also been select committees conducting inquiries into
Aboriginal affairs.
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