Private briefings

The Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee may undertake informal private briefings with senior departmental officers to obtain further information about particular bills, Acts of Parliament, or other ongoing issues that raise scrutiny concerns.

While the content of these briefings is private, the committee may ask the relevant minister to formally provide written information to the committee, summarising the general matters discussed during the briefing or to answer questions on notice, for publication on the committee’s website. 

The table below records the private briefings that the committee has conducted to date. Where appropriate, it includes links to relevant documents, including answers to questions on notice.

Issue Scrutiny Principle Date Attendees Relevant Documents
Provisions which exempt delegated legislation made under the Biosecurity Act 2015 from disallowance Scrutiny principle (iv) and (v): Exemption from disallowance 17 November 2021 Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Department of Health

Extract from Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2021 relating to review of exemption from disallowance provisions in the Biosecurity Act 2015 (PDF 853KB)

Ministerial responses to the committee's review in Scrutiny Digest 7 of 2021 (PDF 1MB)

Responses to Questions on Notice from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (PDF 57KB)

Responses to Questions on Notice from the Department of Health (PDF 910KB)