Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

Defence and Veteran Suicide

Robodebt Scheme

If I have given evidence to Senate committee inquiries, how does that affect evidence I might give to the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide or the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability?

Royal Commissions have access to all of the published evidence and information received by Senate committee inquiries. However, because of the law of parliamentary privilege, there are some limitations on the use Royal Commissions can make of this evidence. For example, people cannot be directly questioned on their parliamentary evidence but Royal Commissions can use this material to develop lines of inquiry, follow up things and independently pursue inquiries. Nothing prevents you providing a Royal Commission with the same information you gave to a Senate committee.

Royal Commissions cannot access the unpublished or in camera (confidential) material received by Senate committees unless the Senate makes a specific decision to provide this material to a Royal Commission. If you provided a submission to a Senate committee that the committee treated as confidential, you should not provide a Royal Commission with a copy of your actual submission. However, you are free to prepare a new document for a Royal Commission providing the same information you gave to a Senate committee.

If you provided a Senate committee with documents that had a prior existence you can provide those documents to a Royal Commission. For example, if you provided a committee with records of your interactions with government departments and agencies, there is nothing to prevent you giving those documents to the Commission to be used to investigate matters or question witnesses about their contents.

If you require further information please contact the Senate Committee Office on 02 6277 3555 or at seniorclerk.committee.sen@aph.gov.au.

Further information about the Robodebt Scheme Royal Commission is available at: robodebt.royalcommission.gov.au

Further information about the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission is available at: defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au

Further information about the Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability Royal Commission is available at: disability.royalcommission.gov.au