Australian House of Representatives committees

Parliamentary committees of the Australian House of Representatives are groups of Members of Parliament, appointed by the House of Representatives, to undertake certain specified tasks. They comprise government and non-government Members and have considerable powers to undertake work on behalf of the Parliament.[1]

Federation Chamber

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The Federation Chamber, formerly the Main Committee, provides an additional forum for the second reading and consideration in detail stages of bills and debate of committee reports and papers presented to the House. All Members of the House are automatically members of the Federation Chamber and eligible to participate in its meetings.[2]

Standing committees

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Under the Standing Orders of the House, standing committees are appointed for the life of the Parliament and they are usually re-established in some form in successive Parliaments (that is, after each election).

The House has two types of standing committees:

  • general purpose committees – established to inquire into and report upon any matters referred to them, including legislation. These committees specialise by subject area, between them covering most areas of policy and government administration.
  • domestic or internal committees – concerned with the powers and procedures of the House or the administration of Parliament.

Select committees

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Select committees are appointed as the need arises for a specific purpose, and have a limited life.

Joint committees

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Joint committees are established by both Houses of the Australian parliament and include both Members and Senators. An example of this is the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, appointed by resolution by the House of Representatives on 4 July 2019 and the Senate on 22 July 2019.[3] The Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000-year-old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia was referred to this Committee in June 2020.[4]

Pay and Benefits

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Members receive no additional pay for their service as ordinary members on committees. Committee Chairs and Deputy Chairs receive additional pay depending on the committee on which they serve, which is specified as a percentage of the base pay of an MP and Senator ($225,750 as of October 2023). Additional pay for committee chairs is 11-16% of the base pay ($24,832.5- $36,120). Deputy Chairs receive 5.5-8% ($12,416.25-$18,060).[5]

List of House and Joint committees

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House of Representatives committee room, Parliament House, Canberra
A short video on Australian Parliamentary Committees
Committee Chair Deputy Chair
House General Purpose Standing Committees[6][7]
Agriculture Meryl Swanson Rick Wilson
Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water Tony Zappia David Gillespie
Communications and the Arts Brian Mitchell Bridget Archer
Economics Daniel Mulino Garth Hamilton
Employment, Education and Training Lisa Chesters Terry Young
Health, Aged Care and Sport Mike Freelander Melissa McIntosh
Industry, Science and Resources Rob Mitchell Michelle Landry
Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport Luke Gosling Tony Pasin
Social Policy and Legal Affairs Susan Templeman Pat Conaghan
House Domestic Committees[6]
Appropriations and Administration Milton Dick Mark Coulton
Petitions Susan Templeman Ross Vasta
Privileges and Members' Interests Rob Mitchell James Stevens
Procedure Shayne Neumann Ross Vasta
Publications Fiona Phillips Ross Vasta
Selection Milton Dick Sharon Claydon
House Select committees
Workforce Australia Employment Services Julian Hill Russell Broadbent
Joint Statutory Committees
Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings Milton Dick MP Senator Sue Lines
Corporations and Financial Services Senator Deborah O'Neill Alex Hawke MP
Intelligence and Security Peter Khalil MP Andrew Wallace MP
Law Enforcement Senator Helen Polley Llew O'Brien MP
Human Rights Josh Burns MP Henry Pike MP
Public Accounts and Audit Julian Hill MP Senator Linda Reynolds
Public Works Graham Perrett MP Keith Pitt MP
Joint Standing Committees
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Senator Jana Stewart Melissa Price MP
Electoral Matters Kate Thwaites MP Senator James McGrath
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Shayne Neumann MP Senator David Fawcett
Implementation of the National Redress Scheme Senator Catryna Bilyk Senator Dean Smith
Migration Maria Vamvakinou MP Anne Webster MP
National Anti-Corruption Commission Senator Karen Grogan Helen Haines MP
National Capital and External Territories Alicia Payne MP Nola Marino MP
National Disability Insurance Scheme Libby Coker MP Senator Hollie Hughes
Northern Australia Marion Scrymgour MP Warren Entsch MP
Parliamentary Library Anne Stanley MP (Joint Chair)
Senator Slade Brockman (Joint Chair)
Publications Fiona Phillips MP Senator Fatima Payman
Trade and Investment Growth Steve Georganas MP Scott Buchholz MP
Treaties Josh Wilson MP Phillip Thompson MP

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Infosheet – Committees – Parliament of Australia".
  2. ^ "Infosheet – The Federation Chamber – Parliament of Australia".
  3. ^ "Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia". Parliament of Australia. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia". Parliament of Australia. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  5. ^ https://www.remtribunal.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/MP%202023%20-%20Compilation%20No.%203.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ a b "Standing Orders of the House of Representatives Chapter 16". Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ "House Votes and Proceedings No.1 26 July 2022". Retrieved 12 March 2024.
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