Role of the House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has a number of important functions: it determines the government, debates and passes laws, watches over government administration and expenditure, and provides a forum for public debate on issues of national importance.
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Members of Parliament
There are currently 150 members who have been chosen at a general election to represent the interests of the community.
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Powers, practice and Procedure
If you would like to learn more about how the House of Representatives operates, how bills are made, and what happens on a sitting day, there are a number of documents that will help you understand.
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Research and Education
The House has published a number of guides to how the Parliament works. In addition other papers on parliamentary processes are available.
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About the House of Representatives
More information about how the House of Representatives operates, its history, the role of the Speaker, and the ways in which you can become involved in the work of the Parliament.
Work of the House of Representatives
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House of Representatives chamber documents
Every sitting day a number of documents are published to let people know what business will be dealt with, and what decisions have been made by the House.
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Bills in the House
Most draft legislation (bills) are introduced into the House of Representatives. A bill must be agreed to in identical form by both the House and the Senate and assented to by the Governor-General before it becomes law.
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Seating Plan for the House of Representatives
Seating Plan for the House of Representatives - updated 4 February 2013.
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Hansard
Hansard is the name given to the transcripts of what is said in each House of Parliament and at public hearings.
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Daily Program 'the Blue'
This document is available about an hour before the House sits and lists the expected business the House will deal with that day. A full list of all items before the House is available in the Notice Paper.
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Order of Business
Each day the House sits there are set times for various events e.g. question time, government business, presentation of committee reports.
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House of Representatives Committees
The House has a number of parliamentary committees that examine issues on behalf of the House. Only members of Parliament can be members of these committees.
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Parliamentary sitting calendar
The Parliament's 2013 sitting calendar was issued 1 November 2012. Sitting calendars from previous years, back to 1997, are also available.