Role of the committee

Section 17 of the standing orders provides -

1. A Procedure Committee, consisting of the President, the Deputy President, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 6 senators, shall be appointed at the commencement of each Parliament, with power to act during recess and to confer with a similar committee of the House of Representatives.
2. If the Leader of the Government in the Senate or the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is unable to attend a meeting of the committee, that senator may appoint a senator to act as a member of the committee at that meeting.
3. The committee may consider any matter relating to the procedures of the Senate referred to it by the Senate or by the President.
4. The Deputy President shall be the chair of the committee.