About the House News

The Parliament’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Both Houses of the Parliament sat from 10 to 18 June 2020 in what was the first full sitting fortnight since the beginning of March. In the first week, the Houses sat on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (the first sitting Friday since 2008).

Resignation of Member and valedictory remarks

Friday, 29 May 2020

When a Member resigns his or her seat in the House, he or she must do so by writing to the Speaker (or to the Governor-General if the Speaker is absent). The resignation takes effect and the Member’s seat becomes vacant from the time the letter of resignation is received by the Speaker or the Governor-General.

Chamber General interest Procedural

House Review: 8 April 2020

Wednesday, 15 April 2020

On 8 April, the focus of the House was on four bills to implement further elements of the Government’s economic response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chamber Procedural

COVID-19: Statement by the Presiding Officers regarding temporary and precautionary changes to Parliament House operations

Monday, 16 March 2020

Following implementation of pandemic planning measures, ongoing consultations between the Presiding Officers, Parliamentary Departments and relevant Commonwealth officers and agencies including the Chief Medical Officer, temporary and precautionary changes have been made regarding the operations of Parliament House.

General interest Chamber Committee

Last chance to have your say on regional Australia

Thursday, 27 February 2020

Time is running out to have your say on life in regional Australia.

Committee General interest

House Review: 4 - 13 February 2020

Tuesday, 18 February 2020

The first sitting fortnight of the year featured a condolence motion by the Prime Minister on the Australian bushfires; an address by the President of Indonesia; the election of a new Deputy Speaker; and presentation of the Closing the Gap Report 2020.

Procedural Chamber

Mr Llew O’Brien elected Deputy Speaker

Tuesday, 11 February 2020

Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has been elected the 44th Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Chamber General interest Procedural

Indonesian President Joko Widodo addresses the House

Tuesday, 11 February 2020

On Monday, 10 February 2020, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Mr Joko Widodo, delivered an address in the House of Representatives.

Chamber General interest

International parliamentarians gather in Canberra

Monday, 13 January 2020

Canberra is hosting to a meeting of parliamentarians from around the world, with the 28th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum opened today.

General interest

Questions on Notice: We’ll join our Houses

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

The House and the Senate have the power to investigate matters by using Committees - but what happens if BOTH Houses want to look into an issue?

Committee General interest

Questions on Notice: Mace head revisited

Wednesday, 13 November 2019

Having seen an image of the Mace online, a writer asked the Serjeant if they could see some higher-quality images of the Mace, and about what happened when our current Mace replaced the House’s previous Mace in 1951.

General interest Chamber

House Review: 14 - 24 October

Monday, 28 October 2019

This sitting fortnight featured a commemoration of the first anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse; a Ministerial Statement on veterans and their families; and the passage of a number of bills.

Procedural

Young speakers visit makes an impression

Friday, 18 October 2019

The House of Representatives played host to powerful young voices this week, with the winners of the 2019 My First Speech competition delivering their speeches in Parliament House.

General interest

Replay the 2019 Speaker's Lecture

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Read or watch Troy Bramston's 2019 Speaker's Lecture on the life and politics of Sir Robert Menzies.

General interest

Questions on Notice: Budget, interrupted

Thursday, 19 September 2019

What happens when an election is called before the Parliament can agree to the Federal Budget?

Procedural General interest

CSIRO to appear before COVID-19 inquiry

Monday, 3 August 2020

Witnesses from CSIRO will give evidence at a public hearing on the organisation’s work in vaccine research, data services and advanced manufacturing capabilities in response to the pandemic.

APRA & ASIC to appear before House Economics Committee: Wednesday, 5 August 2020

Monday, 3 August 2020

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) will appear before the House Economics Committee at a public hearing on Wednesday, 5 August 2020 as part of the committee’s reviews of the 2019 APRA Annual Report and 2019 ASIC Annual Report.

Second Interim Report - Focus Areas Determined

Monday, 3 August 2020

The Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme has agreed to the next stage of its ongoing inquiry and second interim report.

COVID-19 inquiry to examine ports and shipping

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

A parliamentary inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s defence, trade and international relations will turn its attention to the pandemic’s impact on Australia’s freight and shipping industries at its next public hearing.