Committees administered by the Senate Committee Office


Committees administered by the Senate Committee Office

Introduction

During the reporting period, the Senate Committee Office provided staffing and resources for the following committees:

  • Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees;
  • Specific Joint Statutory Committees; and
  • Senate Select Committees and one Joint Select Committee

Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees

Following an order of the Senate on 13 May 2009, the Senate's eight legislative and general purpose standing committees each now comprise a pair of committees: A Legislation Committee whose purpose is to deal with bills referred by the Senate, the Estimates process and oversee the performance of departments, including their annual reports, and a References Committee whose purpose is to deal with all other matters referred by the Senate.

This reverts to a system that was in place between 1994 and 2006 when the eight legislative and general purpose standing committees of the Senate each had a legislation and a references committee. The committees will be governed by Senate Standing Order 25 which can be accessed at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/standing_orders/index.htm

The Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees and the relevant portfolio/subject areas allocated to them are as follows:

Community Affairs

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
  • Health and Ageing
  • Human Services

Economics

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
  • Resources, Energy and Tourism
  • Treasury

Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Environment and Communications

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
  • Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
  • Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

Finance and Public Administration

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Parliament
  • Prime Minister and Cabinet (including Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government)
  • Finance and Deregulation

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Defence (including Veterans' Affairs)
  • Foreign Affairs and Trade

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Attorney-General
  • Immigration and Citizenship

Rural Affairs and Transport

  • Legislation
  • References
  • Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
  • Infrastructure and Transport

Joint Statutory Committees

During the reporting period, the Senate Committee Office also administered three Joint Statutory Committees comprising members of the House of Representatives and Senators. These are:

  • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity
  • Corporations and Financial Services, and
  • Law Enforcement

Senate Select Committees

During the reporting period, the Senate Committee Office provided staffing and resources for the following Senate Select Committees:

  • Agricultural and Related Industries (appointed 14 February 2008)
  • Fuel and Energy (appointed 25 June 2008)
  • Reform of the Australian Federation (agreed to 17 March 2010, commenced 17 June 2010, reappointed)
  • Scrutiny of New Taxes (appointed 30 September 2010), and

Joint Select Committee

  • Gambling Reform (appointed 30 September 2010)

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