Online availability of memoranda begins in 1980, through the Parliament House bills page (from 1996), ComLaw (from 1996) or AustLII (from 1980 (selected)); in each case, locate the Bill first: the memorandum is associated with the Bill. Note that not all EMs for 1996 or even for years after that are available online.
Most pre-1996 memoranda listed in this index are not available online, but are available in hard (paper) copy. Obtaining paper copies of the memoranda therefore is the only feasible way of getting access to them. Note, however, that many taxation-related memoranda from 1936 onwards have been made available online by the Australian Taxation Office through their Legal Database: see the GovPubs database for further details.
Over 1,500 Explanatory Memoranda (mainly for Bills introduced in the Senate and Supplementary Explanatory Memoranda for Bills introduced and amended in the House of Representatives) are also available in the Senate Tabled Papers database. As the database can be difficult to use, the searching tips should be read first.
To obtain paper copies: from the index, identify the memorandum you want, and note the title, the session, the chamber, and the volume number where applicable.
Senate memoranda from 1901 to date are available from the National Library’s Document Supply Service (1996+ is available online). First, use these details to identify the set of Senate Bills:
Record Id Number: 5374471
Author: Australia. Parliament. Senate.
Title: [Bills] / [The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Senate].
Call Number: Nq 328.94 AUS
Then, supply the details you have noted from the index. Usual charges will apply.
House of Representatives memoranda from 1951 to date are also available from the National Library’s Document Supply Service (1996+ is available online). First, use these details to identify the set of House of Representatives Bills:
Record Id Number: 5374509
Author: Australia. Parliament. House of Representatives.
Title: [Bills] / [The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, House of Representatives].
Call Number: NL 328.94 AUS
Then, supply the details you have noted from the index. Usual charges will apply.
House of Representatives memoranda 1901–1950 are available from the Parliamentary Library’s Interlibrary Loan Service. Libraries may use the Document Delivery service using the details given above, or telephone 02 6277 2535, fax 02 6277 2696, email ill.loans@aph.gov.au. Usual charges will apply.
Some state and territory libraries also hold the sets of Bill volumes: see the GovPubs database for precise details.