Procedure and practice

Constitution

The AGPS edition of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, as amended, contains the Proclamation Declaring the Establishment of the Commonwealth; the Letters Patent Relating to the Office of the Governor General; the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942; the Australia Act 1986; and an overview, notes and index. Chapter two prescribes the membership and powers of the Senate.

Odgers' Australian Senate Practice

Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice (OASP) is a detailed reference work on all aspects of the Senate's powers, procedures and practices. Matters covered range from broad constitutional principles to the fine details of the rules of debate and procedure. The work has for its base the Constitution, the standing orders, rulings of successive presidents, practice and precedent.

Standing Orders and other orders of the Senate

Section 50 of the Constitution empowers the Senate to make rules and orders with respect to the manner in which its powers, privileges, and immunities may be exercised and upheld, and the order and conduct of its business and proceedings either separately or jointly with the House of Representatives.

Brief Guides to Senate Procedure

This series is aimed at those who require a practical understanding of the main procedures used in the Senate.

Procedural Information Bulletin

Issued at the end of each block of sitting weeks the Bulletin provides a summary of major legislative highlights and committee reports tabled; and commentary on procedural matters arising in the period under review.

Privileges Commmittee, 125th report - Parliamentary privilege: Precedents, procedures and practice in the Australian Senate 1966-2005

This report is a comprehensive guide to the history, practice and procedures of the Senate Committee of Privileges. It contains a history and analysis of Senate privilege matters from 1901 to 2005, a summary and index of Privileges Committee reports from its establishment in 1966, statistics on the Committee's work and lists of members, chairs and deputy chairs.

Chamber

Order of Business—Senate "Red"

The Senate Order of Business is issued each sitting day before the Senate meets as a guide to the matters proposed to be dealt with that day, and includes a list of Government documents to be tabled. It is referred to as the Senate "Red" because of the distinctive red stripe along its top and side. The Red contains the most up-to-date information available at the time it is printed. The program in the Senate, however, is subject to change, so the details in the Red are updated throughout the day online in the Dynamic Red.

Dynamic Red

The Dynamic Red provides information on the proceedings of the Senate which is updated during the course of the sitting day. It shows the progress of legislation and the results of motions moved and other business conducted in the Senate. Where possible, it also contains links to source documents such as those relating to committee memberships, tabled documents and amendments to legislation.

Notice Paper

The Notice Paper is the official list of all business before the Senate—a list so long that it could not possibly be dealt with in one day. It lists business in the following order: Matters of Privilege, Business of the Senate, Government Business, General Business, Orders of the Day Relating to Committee Reports and Government Responses, Orders of the Day Relating to Government Documents, Business for a Future Day, and Questions on Notice.

Journals of the Senate

The Journals of the Senate are the official record (minutes) of the proceedings of the Senate and the most authoritative source of information about Senate activities and decisions. They record motions, resolutions, progress of legislation, references to committees, presentation of documents, and all actions taken by the Senate in the course of its proceedings.

Senate Daily Summary

The Senate Daily Summary is a convenient summary of each day’s proceedings in the Senate. Most of the items in the Summary have direct links to the relevant section of the Journals and other Senate documents.

Hansard

Hansard is the official record of what is said in Parliament and is published in proof (daily) and official (weekly) versions and in bound volumes covering each sitting period. The Proof Hansard and the Official Weekly Hansard for the Senate also contain tables of contents, the Hansard Internet address, a calendar showing the days on which the Senate is scheduled to sit during the current year and the radio frequencies for parliamentary broadcasts.

Legislation

Senate Daily Bills Update

Bills List

Issued fortnightly in sitting periods, this publication lists, in alphabetical order, all the bills currently before the Parliament. The title of the bill is followed by a brief description of its purpose and the dates of introduction into the Senate and the House of Representatives, if applicable. There are also details of the Selection of Bills Committee recommendations, the number of amendments proposed and adopted and in the case of non-Government bills the name of the Senator or Member who introduced the bill. On sitting days an abbreviated and updated version of the Bills List is produced under the title Senate Daily Bills Update (PDF format 64kb). The emphasis in this daily list is on the stage the bill has reached in the legislative process.

Tabled Papers

This database provides a search facility to enable access to digitised images of Senate Tabled Papers.

Delegated Legislation Monitor

This publication lists disallowable instruments of delegated legislation tabled in the Senate in the preceding week. Published each week when the Senate is sitting, the Monitor briefly summarises the effect of the delegated legislation, cites the parent Act from which it derives its authority, and notes the date it was made and the date it was tabled.

Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest and
Scrutiny of Bills Committee Report

Issued each week when the Senate is sitting, the Alert Digest summarises the bills considered by the Scrutiny of Bills Committee that week and sets out the Committee's views on any clauses which it considers contravenes the principles contained in its terms of reference. The Committee examines all bills and reports to the Senate on whether they trespass unduly on personal rights or liberties, whether they provide for adequate review of administrative decisions, whether they inappropriately delegate legislative power or provide insufficient opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny of the exercise of legislative power. The responses made by Ministers and others to the issues raised in the Alert Digest are published in one of the Committee's subsequent reports to the Senate.

Committees

Committees—Public Hearings/Meetings List

Contains date, time, venue and purpose of forthcoming committee meetings and hearings both at Parliament House and elsewhere. Lists the name and phone number of the secretary of each committee scheduled to meet.

Business of Committees

Also known as the "Committee Red", this document is issued the day before committees are scheduled to hold public hearings in Parliament House. It lists the time, place and business of forthcoming committee meetings and hearings, the names of committee chairs and secretaries, and a list of persons scheduled to appear as witnesses (when known).

Bills to Committees Update

Notes to assist in the preparation of submissions to Senate committee inquiries

This leaflet contains general advice to those wishing to make written submissions to committees.

Guidelines for Official Witnesses Before Parliamentary Committees and Related Matters

These are guidelines on the procedures to be adopted by government officers when requested to assist parliamentary committees. The guidelines are the government's views and have not been endorsed by either House of Parliament. Matters covered include: preparation for, and conduct during, committee hearings, claims of public interest immunity, parliamentary privilege and guidance as to which matters may be dealt with by officers and which must be referred to ministers.

Information for witnesses before Senate committees

This leaflet describes the procedures relating to the appearance of witnesses at committee hearings and contains advice to those appearing as witnesses.

Protection of Witnesses Before Senate Committees

This leaflet outlines the rights and obligations of witnesses before Senate committees.

Committee Reports

Register of Senate Committee Reports

The Register of Senate Committee Reports and subsequent annual supplements list reports tabled since 1970 by committees administered by the Senate Committee Office and bills referred to committees. Reports are listed in chronological order and chronologically by subject matter and committee. A consolidated register is published at the end of each Parliament.

Work of Committees

Issued twice yearly, Work of Committees provides an overview of committee activities for the period under review and contains: statistical data, committee membership, public hearings, report and government response summaries, current inquiries and reports tabled, details of debate on Senate committee reports, extensions of time to report, bills referred to committees, details of hearings on estimates, volumes of additional information tabled by legislation committees.

Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees—The First 20 Years, 1970-1990

Outlines the work of each of the Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees during the period 1970-1990. Lists the members, chairmen, secretaries and reports of each committee, and highlights significant achievements and developments. The dates of Government responses to reports are also listed. An introductory section outlines the origins of the standing committee system.

Hansard

Hansard is the official record of what is said in Parliament and is published in proof (daily) and official (weekly) versions and in bound volumes covering each sitting period. The Proof Hansard and the Official Weekly Hansard for the Senate also contain tables of contents, the Hansard Internet address, a calendar showing the days on which the Senate is scheduled to sit during the current year and the radio frequencies for parliamentary broadcasts.

Research and education

Senate Briefs

This series aims to give a basic introduction to the Senate and its work.

StatsNET

Business of the Senate

Papers on Parliament

Volumes in this series of papers include the texts of Senate Occasional Lectures and other papers.

Platypus and Parliament - The Australian Senate in Theory and Practice by Stanley Bach

David Hamer, Can Responsible Government Survive In Australia?

Parliamentary Education Office

The Parliamentary Education Office (PEO) provides parliamentary education services to schools, teachers and students by teaching how parliament works through experiential learning programs, producing resources and publications and running an interactive and informative website with resources for all ages and levels of knowledge.

Department of the Senate

List of Senators

Lists Senators (and Senators-elect) by name, State/Territory and Party, together with their State or Territory telephone and fax numbers and mailing addresses; identifies Party Leaders, Ministers, Whips and other office holders; includes a table showing dates of expiry of Senators' terms of service, information relating to the filling of casual vacancies and appointments, a summary of party representation, and a list of senior officers of the Senate and other parliamentary departments.

Annual Report, Department of the Senate