LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
WORK OF COMMITTEES
Parliamentary
committees
undertake
functions
of
the
parliament
that
can
more
conveniently be performed by a
small group of Members.
This
commonly includes inquiring and
reporting on matters of public
importance, such as the scrutiny of
government activities, addressing a
difficult issue of public policy, or
evaluating the merits of a proposed
law.
Committees comprise a
number of parliamentarians from
both
government
and
nongovernment parties.
They are
extensions of the parliament and
operate according to the authority
delegated to them.
‘standing’, ‘select’ and ‘sessional’.
These terms refer to the duration of
the life of a committee.
What do committees do?
Standing Orders Committee
Inquiries are conducted by obtaining
information
from
individuals,
organisations,
government
departments and experts on the
matters
under
investigation.
Committees examine evidence,
draw reasoned conclusions and
make recommendations to the
Assembly and the government.
Committees provide a mechanism to
enhance public accountability of
government, and contribute to a
better
informed
government
administration and the development
of public policy.
The Standing Orders Committee
inquires into, reports on and reviews
possible amendments and additions
to Standing Orders to facilitate the
efficient and effective operation of
the Assembly. It also acts as the
Committee of Members’ Interests
which is responsible for defining
what
interests
Members
are
required to register, maintaining the
register
and
determining
the
conditions and details for inspection
of the register.
The work of committees provides
opportunities for Members of the
Legislative Assembly and of the
public to be in personal contact as
they take part in committee activities
such as hearings, visits and
inspections.
This can promote
public awareness and debate of the
issues
being
considered
by
parliament and allows more direct
public input into parliamentary and
policy processes. It also provides
Members with the opportunity to
exchange views across party lines
and reach bipartisan conclusions
and recommendations on matters of
public interest.
The
Committee
of
Privileges
inquires into and reports on
complaints
of
a
breach
of
parliamentary privilege, that is, any
action which contravenes the rules
of the parliament or interferes with
the working of the parliament.
The Legislative Assembly of the
Northern Territory currently has
three
types
of
committees:
Examines
legislative
Standing Committees
Standing Committees are appointed
to investigate and report on specific
subject areas for the life of an
Assembly. Some are required by
the Standing Orders of the
Legislative Assembly and are
appointed at the commencement of
each
Assembly.
Standing
committees may also be established
by resolution of the Assembly. The
Assembly maintains six standing
committees:
Committee of Privileges
The House Committee advises the
Speaker on matters relating to the
operation of Parliament House and
precincts, and services to Members.
and
and reports on all
or
administrative
Information Bulletin 14
Committees
examine
evidence,
draw
reasoned
conclusions
and
make
recommendations
to
the
Assembly
and
the
government.
Standing Committees are
appointed to investigate and
report on specific subject
areas for the life of an
Assembly.
Sessional Committees are
appointed for the duration of
the current session of the
Assembly.
Select
Committees
are
established by a resolution of
the Assembly to investigate
and report on specific matters.
instruments which are required by
statute to be tabled in the Assembly.
Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts Committee
examines the accounts, receipts and
expenditure
of
the
Northern
Territory, statements and reports
that must be tabled in the Assembly
pursuant
to
the
Financial
Management Act and the Audit Act,
and reports of the Auditor-General.
In March 2014, Standing Orders
were amended to allow the Public
Accounts Committee to examine
anything within the administration of
the Northern Territory.
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Committee
House Committee
Subordinate
Legislation
Publications Committee
SUMMARY
The Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Committee inquires into, reports on
and makes recommendations upon
constitutional and legal matters.
This may include law reform,
parliamentary reform, administrative
law,
legislative
review,
intergovernmental relations and the legal
or
constitutional
relationship
between the Northern Territory and
the Commonwealth.
WORK OF COMMITTEES
Sessional Committees
Sessional committees are appointed
for the duration of the current
session of the Assembly. A session
refers to the series of sittings from
the calling together of the Assembly
after a general election until the
Assembly is prorogued, or from the
calling together of the Assembly
after a prorogation until the
Assembly is next prorogued.
be varied. For example, in the 11th
and 12th Assemblies the Standing
Orders
and
Public
Accounts
committees had six Members: three
Government
Members,
two
Opposition Members and one
Independent Member.
Sources
Depending on their terms of
reference, parliamentary committees
can receive references for inquiries
from a variety of sources including:
Sessional committees are generally
appointed and given terms of
reference by way of resolution of the
Assembly. Terms of reference for
sessional committees tend to be
reasonably broad and no specific
time frame is set for reporting. A
sessional committee of the 12th
Assembly is the Committee on the
Northern Territory’s Energy Future.

Acts of Parliament

Standing Orders

Sessional Orders

resolutions of the Assembly

Ministers, the Speaker, or the
Administrator
Select Committees
Inquiries
Select committees are established
by a resolution of the Assembly to
investigate and report on specific
matters. Their terms of reference
are generally quite narrow and
usually incorporate a set date for
reporting. Select committees cease
to exist following the tabling of their
final report to the Assembly. A
sessional committee of the 12th
Assembly is the Select Committee
on Action to Prevent Foetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder
The Assembly has a wide range of
responsibilities to consider proposed
laws,
examine
government
expenditure and administration, and
provide an effective forum for the
detailed examination of public policy
issues.
One of the ways the
Assembly
can
meet
these
responsibilities and ensure it is fully
informed when making decisions is
by delegating a range of tasks to
committees.
Parliamentary inquiries produce
reports
and
associated
recommendations
to
address
specific issues of public concern or
interest within the Assembly’s
jurisdiction.
When committees
undertake inquiries there is an
expectation on the part of the
Assembly and the public that all
relevant interests will be canvassed
and the inquiry process will fairly
address all viewpoints on the matter.

Research
Following receipt of an inquiry
referral or a committee resolution to
undertake an inquiry, the first step is
the conduct of background research.
Background research is undertaken
by the Committee Office to:

identify the key issues as they
relate to the committee’s terms
of reference

identify key stakeholders and
those with particular expertise of
the issues under inquiry

ascertain options for obtaining
evidence

inform the development of an
inquiry work program.
Membership
Membership of committees is
established by resolution of the
Assembly. The usual number of
Members on a committee is five
(three Government Members and
two Opposition Members), this can
self-referral
Information Bulletin 14
Submissions
The second step in the usual inquiry
process involves calling for or
inviting
written
submissions.
Committees may elect to use a
number of methods when calling for
submissions including print and
radio
advertisements,
media
releases, direct and targeted contact
through letters and e-mails, and via
the committee’s website. Whichever
method is used, it is important to
ensure that potential submitters
obtain a copy of the committee’s
terms of reference and guidelines
for the preparation of submissions
prior to making a submission.
Hearings,
visits
inspections
and
site
In addition to private or deliberative
meetings
where
committee
Members
discuss
‘domestic’
matters, deliberate on evidence,
receive briefings or consider draft
reports, the
Standing Orders
empower committees to conduct
proceedings ’using any means
approved by the Assembly’.
Public hearings may take the form of
a round table hearing as a means of
bringing together persons who may
wish to contribute to an inquiry. One
of the main benefits of round table
hearings is they can facilitate an
interchange of views amongst
witnesses as well as committee
members. They are also a less
formidable format for young people
or others who are not accustomed to
providing evidence to parliamentary
committees.
Reports
Committees report to the Assembly
on the outcome of their inquiries.
These reports may take a variety of
forms. The most common is a final
report of an inquiry. However, for a
complex
or long
inquiry, a
committee may submit one or more
interim reports. Such reports may
deal with the committee’s method of
inquiry, report on the progress of the
inquiry as a whole or provide the
committee’s recommendations on
particular aspects of the inquiry.