Chapter 16 - Committees
House Committee
Like the Library Committee, the House
Committee, established under standing order 21, usually sits as
a joint committee with the House of Representatives House Committee. The
committee’s terms of reference are “any matter relating to the provision of
facilities in Parliament House referred to it by the Senate or the President”.
Its membership and powers are comparable to those of the Library Committee and
similar arrangements exist for the rotation of the chair between the President
and the Speaker. The committee does not possess inquiry powers.
In 1981 the Senate House Committee conducted an inquiry into the
organisation, operation, functions and financial administration of the Joint
House Department. A resolution conferred powers to summon witnesses and require
the production of documents for the purposes of the inquiry. After presentation
of the committee’s report (PP 163/1982) on 26 August 1982 (J.1030), a
follow-up inquiry was referred to the committee which was again given inquiry
powers for the purpose (22/9/1982, J.1093). The reference having been renewed, the
committee presented an interim report in May 1983 (17/5/1983, J.93).
In 1994, the committee received a reference from the Senate to inquire
into the future treatment and use of old Parliament House (19/10/1994, J.2323). A
subsequent resolution authorised the committee to summon witnesses and require
the production of documents (19/10/1994, J.2328).
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