Public interest articles on the work, people and events of the Senate.
For further information contact the Procedure Office at Research.Sen@aph.gov.au or (02) 6277 3072.
The Australian system of government is notoriously difficult to categorise. Although based upon the Westminster tradition, the unique role of the Australian Senate means that our parliamentary system cannot be described as purely ‘Westminster’.
Posted 03/02/2023
The power to order documents, both in existence and created for the purpose, is one of the most significant methods of parliamentary inquiry and has deep historical roots. See, for example, orders made by the United Kingdom House of Commons in February 1699 requiring the production of lists of persons collecting taxes on salt, beer, ale and other liquors.
The opening of the 47th Parliament on 26 July 2022 saw 11 newly elected senators kickstart their parliamentary careers, and just like any new job, there has been an exciting period of learning and orientation over the past month.
This year marks ten years since the formation of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (PJCHR), making it an opportune time to ask: what is it that the PJCHR does and what impact has it had in the last ten years?
On 26 July 2022, the two Houses of the Parliament met for the opening of the 47th Parliament. This date was set by the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), who, on advice from the government, issued a proclamation calling the parliament to meet for the first time since the federal election.
As part of the opening of the 47th Parliament on 26 July 2022, the Usher of the Black Rod will be directed by the Governor-General to summon members of the House of Representatives to the Senate where the Governor-General will announce the newly elected government’s program.
The upcoming 47th Parliament is set to include 11 Indigenous parliamentarians. This will bring the total number of Indigenous parliamentarians since Federation to 17 and break the record set by the 46th Parliament.
On 21 May 2022, the voting population of Australia headed to polling stations around the country to cast their vote in the federal election. However, there is another way that any member of the public can participate in our democracy and it doesn't require a three year wait.
Welcome to Senate matters — a new collection of short-form public interest articles on the work, people and events of the Senate.
Complex national issues and shared challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic require different levels of government to work together in different ways. This can create challenges for state and federal parliaments and other institutions responsible for holding individual governments to account.
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