The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure this week continues its program of public hearings as part of its inquiry into the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House.

Media release issue date: Monday, 27 July 2020

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure this week continues its program of public hearings as part of its inquiry into the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House. Chair of the committee Mr Ross Vasta said the committee will hear from a panel from the parliamentary press gallery and from former Speaker the Hon Peter Slipper. ‘This is an opportunity to explore perceptions of Question Time,’ Mr Vasta said. ‘Hearing different perspectives on Question Time and the role it plays in the parliamentary day will inform our consideration of practices and procedures,’ said Mr Milton Dick, the Deputy Chair of the committee. The committee has so far conducted a public survey, received submissions, held public hearings and consulted with current Members. At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Monday, 27 July 2020 Time: 3pm to 4pm Location: By teleconference Witnesses: Parliamentary Press Gallery Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2020 Time: 2pm to 3pm Location: by teleconference Witness: The Hon Peter Slipper The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live Media inquiries Mr Ross Vasta ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au 07 3893 3488 Mr Milton Dick milton.dick.mp@aph.gov.au 07 3879 6440 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4672 procedure.committee.reps@aph.gov.au

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure will hold further public hearings on 2 and 7 July as part of its inquiry into the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 1 July 2020

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure will hold further public hearings on 2 and 7 July as part of its inquiry into the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House. Chair of the committee Mr Ross Vasta said the committee will hear from two former Members of Parliament, including a former Speaker, via teleconference. ‘Mr Peter Slipper and Ms Cheryl Kernot have both made submissions to our inquiry and we are looking forward to discussing their views in more detail,’ Mr Vasta said. ‘In its hearings, the committee is exploring the valuable feedback it has received from surveys, submissions and witnesses so far,’ said Mr Milton Dick, the Deputy Chair of the committee. At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website. Public hearing details Date: Thursday, 2 July 2020 Time: 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm Location: by teleconference Witness: Mr Peter Slipper Date: Tuesday, 7 July 2020 Time: 11.00 am to 11.45 am Location: by teleconference Witness: Ms Cheryl Kernot The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live Media inquiries Mr Ross Vasta ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au (07) 3893 3488 Mr Milton Dick milton.dick.mp@aph.gov.au (07) 3879 6440 For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4672 procedure.committee.reps@aph.gov.au

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure is holding a public hearing as part of its inquiry examining the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 3 June 2020

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure is holding a public hearing as part of its inquiry examining the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House. Chair of the committee Mr Ross Vasta said the Committee would hold a public hearing by teleconference tomorrow, 4 June. “This is the first of the Committee’s public hearings into this inquiry,” Mr Vasta said. “I’m really looking forward to the feedback and looking into ways we can make it easier for people to engage with question time and be part of the process.” Deputy Chair of the Committee Mr Milton Dicksaid the committee would hear from a range of witnesses about how question time could be improved. The Committee has received more than 40 submissions and has conducted surveys to seek suggestions from the public and from Members on the rules and conventions around question time and opportunities for change. At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.   Public hearing details Date: Thursday, 4 June 2020 Time: 11am to 3.45 pm Location: Teleconference Indicative times: 11am – 12 noon: Mr Harry Jenkins 1pm – 2pm: Ms Anna Burke 2pm –2.45pm: Professor Colleen Lewis 3pm–3.45pm: Accountability Roundtable 3.45pm: Close The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.   Media inquiries Mr Ross Vasta ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au (07) 3893 3488 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4672 procedure.committee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

Time is running out to complete the online survey now open as part of a parliamentary inquiry considering question time in the House of Representatives.

Media release issue date: Friday, 18 October 2019

Time is running out to complete the online survey now open as part of a parliamentary inquiry considering question time in the House of Representatives. Mr Bert van Manen, the chair of the House Procedure Committee, said there had been an excellent response to the survey but there was still time for more people to have their say. ‘More than 1,700 people have responded to the survey so far,’ Mr van Manen said. ‘But we want to hear from as many people as possible before the survey closes on 31 October.’ Through the survey, people can quickly and easily provide their thoughts on question time in the House of Representatives in just a few minutes. The survey is just one way for people to provide feedback. The committee is also accepting submissions until 31 October. To date more than 20 written submissions have been received. Media inquiries Mr Bert van Manen MP bert.vanmanen.mp@aph.gov.au (07) 3807 6340 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4672 procedure.committee.reps@aph.gov.au

An online survey launched today makes it easy for you to have your say about improving question time in the House of Representatives.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 2 October 2019

An online survey launched today makes it easy for you to have your say about improving question time in the House of Representatives. Mr Bert van Manen, the chair of the House Procedure Committee, said the survey is part of a parliamentary inquiry into the way question time is run. ‘The survey lets you quickly and easily provide your thoughts about what we could do differently during question time,’ Mr van Manen said. ‘It takes just a few minutes to do.’ Committee Deputy Chair Milton Dick said it is a great opportunity for everyday Australians to get involved. ‘We’re open to all ideas and this is just one way that people can provide feedback,’ said Mr Dick. ‘People can also provide written submissions until the survey closes on 31 October.’ In its inquiry, the Committee will consider ideas about the format of question time, how questions can be asked and the standing orders that govern question time. The behaviour of individual MPs is not part of the inquiry. The Committee is also consulting MPs and looking at how question time operates in other parliaments. ‘We want to get feedback from a broad range of people,’ Mr van Manen said. ‘I encourage everyone to have their say.’ Media inquiries Mr Bert van Manen MP bert.vanmanen.mp@aph.gov.au (07) 3807 6340 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4672 procedure.committee.reps@aph.gov.au

Can question time in the House of Representatives be improved? What can we learn from other parliaments? These questions and more will be considered by the House Procedure Committee, and the Australian public is being invited to have its say.

Media release issue date: Friday, 2 August 2019

  Can question time in the House of Representatives be improved? What can we learn from other parliaments? These questions and more will be considered by the House Procedure Committee, and the Australian public is being invited to have its say. Chair of the committee Mr Ross Vasta announced today that the committee had agreed to adopt the inquiry, which will examine the practice and procedure relating to question time in the House. ‘Question time is one of the most keenly watched parts of the sitting day,’ Mr Vasta said. ‘The committee will look at how question time runs and how this could be improved.’ Members of the public can make submissions to the inquiry, and a public survey will open later in the year to collect further feedback. The committee is particularly interested in suggestions about the format of question time and also how to make it easier for Australians to engage with question time. ‘We want to hear ideas not just from parliamentarians but also from the public,’ Mr Vasta said. ‘This is a broad‑ranging inquiry that will look at the rules and conventions around question time and consider opportunities for change,’ said Mr Milton Dick, the Deputy Chair of the committee. In addition to public submissions, the inquiry will also seek comments from Members and consider how question time operates in other parliaments. At the conclusion of its inquiry, the Committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry and about making a submission is available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Ross Vasta, Chair, House Procedure Committee (07) 3893 3488 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4672 procedure.committee.reps@aph.gov.au