(1) That a Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing be appointed to inquire into:

(a) proposals for the annual estimates and the additional estimates for the House of Representatives;

(b) proposals to vary the staff structure of the House of Representatives, and staffing and recruitment policies; and

(c) such other matters as are referred to it by the House;

(2) That the committee shall:

(a) in relation to estimates—

(b) in relation to staffing—

(3) That the committee consist of the Speaker and 11 other members, 6 members to be nominated by the Chief Government Whip or Whips and 5 members to be nominated by the Chief Opposition Whip or Whips or any independent Member;

(4) That the committee elect a Government member as its chair;

(5) That the committee elect a deputy chairman who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee, and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chairman at that meeting;

(6) That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine;

(7) That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only, and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting;

(8) That the quorum of a subcommittee be a majority of the members of that subcommittee;

(9) That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the public proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum;

(10) That the committee or any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records;

(11) That the committee or any subcommittee have power to move from place to place;

(12) That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any sittings or adjournment of the House;

(13) That the committee have leave to report from time to time; and

(14) That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders. (Notice given 9 October 2000.)

(1) That standing order 28B be amended by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (b):

(ba) annual and additional estimates contained in the appropriation bills presented to the House shall stand referred for consideration by Members of the relevant committee (as determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) for the consideration of annual reports), and, for the purposes of this consideration:

(i) six Members of each committee, determined by the committee in each case, shall consider the estimates;

(ii) the Members of the committee selected to consider the estimates shall meet with Members of the relevant Senate legislation committee so that the Members and Senators may meet together for the purposes of considering the estimates;

(iii) members of the relevant House and Senate committees, when meeting together to consider estimates, shall choose a Member or a Senator to chair the joint meetings;

(iv) the provisions of Senate standing order 26 shall, to the extent that they are applicable, apply to the consideration of estimates under this paragraph, and

(v) that, upon the completion of joint meetings at which evidence is received or written answers or additional information considered, it shall then be a matter for the Members of the relevant committee to consider the terms of any report to the House on the estimates.

(2) That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly. (Notice given 9 October 2000.)