The standing committee is one of nine general purpose
investigatory committees established by the House of
Representatives of the Parliament of Australia.
Information on the establishment, role and powers of House of
Representatives committees can be found at the Committee Office home page and in
chapters 16 and
17 of the Standing
Orders (PDF 637KB) of the House of Representatives.
In summary, the role of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Affairs is to carry out inquiries into
matters referred to it by the House of Representatives or a
Minister of the Commonwealth Government. The Committee may also
inquire into matters raised in annual reports of relevant
Commonwealth Government departments and authorities or in reports
of the Commonwealth Auditor General.
From 1973-1992 the Committee's name was Standing Committee on
Aboriginal Affairs. There have also been select committees
conducting inquiries into Aboriginal affairs.