Mr ABBOTT (Warringah—Leader of the House) (11.34 a.m.)—I move:

That, unless otherwise ordered, the following amendment to the standing orders be made:

Omit Standing order 215 and substitute the following standing order

215 General purpose standing committees

(a) The following general purpose standing committees shall be appointed:

(i) Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs;

(ii) Standing Committee on Health and Ageing;

(iii) Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry;

(iv) Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts;

(v) Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration;

(vi) Standing Committee on Education and Vocational Training;

(vii) Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation;

(viii) Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage;

(ix) Standing Committee on Family and Human Services;

(x) Standing Committee on Industry and Resources;

(xi) Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs;

(xii) Standing Committee on Science and Innovation; and

(xiii) Standing Committee on Transport and Regional Services.

(b) A committee appointed under paragraph (a) may inquire into and report on any matter referred to it by either the House or a Minister, including any pre-legislation proposal, bill, motion, petition, vote or expenditure, other financial matter, report or paper.

(c) A committee may make any inquiry it wishes to make into annual reports of government departments and authorities and reports of the Auditor-General tabled in the House. The following qualifications shall apply to these inquiries:

(i) Reports shall stand referred to committees under a schedule tabled by the Speaker to record the areas of responsibility of each committee.

(ii) The Speaker shall determine any question about responsibility for a report or part of a report.

(iii) The period during which an inquiry into an annual report may be started by a committee shall end on the day the next annual report of the department or authority is presented to the House.

(iv) If a committee intends to inquire into all or part of a report of the Auditor-General, the committee must notify the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit of its intention, in writing.

(d) Each committee appointed under paragraph (a) shall consist of 10 members: six government and four non-government Members. Each committee may supplement its membership by up to two members for a particular inquiry, with a maximum of one extra government and one extra non-government Member.

Question agreed to.