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Briefing Book for the 42nd Parliament

Lapsed Bills and Inquiries

The 41st Parliament was prorogued on 15 October 2007. The House of Representatives was dissolved on 17 October for the general election on 24 November 2007. At the time of prorogation, all 28 Bills before the Parliament lapsed, including:

  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Advertising and Other Matters) Bill 2007
  • Communications Legislation Amendment (Crime or Terrorism Related Internet Content) Bill 2007
  • Customs Legislation Amendment (Modernising Import Controls and Other Measures) Bill 2006 [2007]
  • Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2007
  • Lands Acquisition Legislation Amendment Bill 2007
  • Migration Amendment (Visa Integrity) Bill 2006 [2007]
  • Murray-Darling Basin Amendment Bill 2006, and the
  • Trade Practices Amendment (Small Business Protection) Bill 2007.

At prorogation, 84 private senators’ and seven private members’ Bills lapsed.

All House of Representatives committees and all joint committees ceased to exist on the dissolution of the House. However, Senate committees remain in existence. Continuing Senate inquiries include:

  • The Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport inquiry into the available scientific evidence on the likely future climate of Australia’s key agricultural production zones. The reporting date is 30 June 2008.
  • The Standing Committee on Community Affairs inquiries into: the cost of living pressures on older Australians, due to report in March 2008; and the ongoing efforts towards improving mental health services in Australia, due to report by 30 June 2008.
  • The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into the changing nature of Australia’s involvement in peacekeeping operations. The committee has produced an interim report and will report early in the 42nd Parliament.

A Commission of Inquiry into the equine influenza outbreak is being conducted by retired High Court judge, Ian Callinan AC. The report is due before 25 April 2008.

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Last reviewed 7 January, 2008 by the Parliamentary Library Web Manager
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