Parliament of Australia
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia (formally named the Parliament of the Commonwealth) is made up of a total of 226 people popularly elected to the Senate and House of Representatives to represent the interests of Australians and to 'make laws for the peace, order and good government of the nation' (section 51 Australian Constitution).
Parliament of Australia
Bills and legislation
A bill is a proposal for a law or a change to an existing law. A bill becomes law (an Act) when agreed to in identical form by both houses of Parliament and assented to by the Governor-General.
Links to current and previous bills and other resources.
Parliament of Australia
Committees
Parliamentary committees investigate specific matters of policy or government administration or performance.
Links to current Senate, House and Joint Parliamentary Committees.
Parliament of Australia
Department of Parliamentary Services
The Department of Parliamentary Services provides a wide range of diverse services and facilities to ensure that the Parliament functions effectively. These include research, library services, television and radio broadcasting, Hansard transcripts, ICT and all aspects of the maintenance and security of the building and precincts.
Parliament of Australia
Department of the House of Representatives
The Department of the House of Representatives provides services to support the efficient conduct of the House of Representatives, its committees and certain joint committees as well as a range of services and facilities for Members in Parliament House.
Department of the House of Representatives
Department of the Senate
The Department of the Senate provides the Senate, its committees, the President of the Senate and senators with a broad range of advisory and support services related to the exercise of the legislative power of the Commonwealth.
Department of the Senate
Explanatory memoranda index
Explanatory memorandum accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the first reading of a bill. A bill is a proposal for a law or a change to an existing law. A bill becomes law (an Act) when agreed to in identical form by both houses of Parliament and assented to by the Governor-General.
Parliament of Australia
Frequently asked questions about parliament
Gives answers to frequently asked questions about Parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Parliament of Australia
Government ministry
Lists the current Australian Government Ministers and their portfolios. Also has links to previous ministries.
Parliament of Australia
Hansard
Hansard is the name given to the edited transcripts of debates in the Senate, House of Representatives, Main Committee and parliamentary committees. They are published shortly after the chamber or committee proceedings have concluded.
Parliament of Australia
M&PS Intranet
This site provides information for parliamentarians and their electorate and personal staff. Includes entitlements handbooks.
Department of Finance and Deregulation
News and events
News and events of the House of Representatives and its committees, the Senate, Parliamentary Library and calendar showing the sitting dates. Includes the Webcast Schedule.
Parliament of Australia
Parliament and government
Gives a descriptive overview of the Australian Parliament. It discusses the Parliamentary system, the separation of powers, Commonwealth Parliament, executive government and the federal judicature as well as providing links to further information.
Parliament of Australia
ParlInfo Search
ParlInfo Search provides access to the Parliamentary Document Repository. You can perform a search or explore the collections by browsing. The guided search provides a step by step process to search for Speeches by a Senator or Member, Bills, documents, Senate Estimate Hearings, Second Reading Speeches for a Bill, and Biographies of a Senator or Member.
Parliament of Australia
Political parties and organisations
Key internet links to Australian political parties and organisations as well as to political parties in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.
Parliament of Australia
Senate estimates
Estimates of government expenditure are referred to Senate committees as part of the annual budget cycle. This opportunity to examine the operations of government plays a key role in the parliamentary scrutiny of the executive.
Senate estimates hearings are broadcast live over the internet.
Parliament of Australia
Shadow Ministry
Lists the current Shadow Ministers and their portfolios. Also has links to previous ministries.
Parliament of Australia
Sitting calendar
Scheduled Sitting Days of the Parliament of Australia for 2012. Links to printable and text only versions of this calendar are available from this page. Previous year's sitting calendars are also viewable.
Parliament of Australia
Watch parliament
Live webcasting of the proceedings of Senate, House of Representatives, House of Representatives main committees and parliamentary committees.
Parliament of Australia