Download Word

House of Representatives                                Ch 18                                                 p 622

Parliamentary committees

Committees appointed by the House, or by both Houses, can be categorised as follows (a particular committee may fall into more than one category):

Standing committees are committees created for the life of a Parliament and are usually re-established in successive Parliaments. They have a continuing role.

General purpose standing committees are a specific type of standing committee. They are investigatory or scrutiny committees, established by the House at the commencement of each Parliament to inquire into and report upon any matters referred to them, including legislation. These committees specialise by subject area, between them covering most government activity ( see p. 623).

Select committees are created as the need arises, for a specific purpose, and thus have a more limited life which is normally specified in the resolution of appointment. Once a select committee has carried out its investigation and presented its final report, it ceases to exist.

Joint committees draw their membership from, and report to, both Houses of Parliament, enabling Members and Senators to work together ( see p. 627).

Statutory committees are those established by Act of Parliament, that is, by statute. All existing statutory committees are joint committees ( see p. 628).

Domestic or internal committees are those whose functions are concerned with the powers and procedures of the House or the administration of Parliament ( see p. 624).

The Main Committee is a body established to be an alternative venue to the Chamber for debate of a restricted range of business—i.e. the second reading and consideration in detail stages of bills, and resumption of debate on motions moved in the House (generally relating to committee and delegation reports and documents). It is not an investigatory committee and cannot hear witnesses or take evidence. ( See Chapters on ‘Motions’ and ‘Legislation’ for more detail on Main Committee procedures.)