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The purpose of parliamentary committees is mainly to conduct inquiries
into specified matters which includes taking submissions, hearing witnesses,
sifting evidence, discussing matters in detail and formulating reasoned
conclusions. Committees are a convenient vehicle for this activity and
by concentrating on specific tasks or subjects, also offer the benefits
of specialisation.
An important function of committees is to scrutinise government activity
including legislation, the conduct of public administration and policy
issues. Committees may oversee the expenditure of public money and they
may call the Government or the public service to account for their actions
and ask them to explain or justify administrative decisions.
A parliamentary committee consists of a group of Members or Senators
(or both in the case of joint committees) appointed by one or both Houses
of Parliament. Through its committees the Parliament obtains information
from Government agencies and peak bodies and advice from experts on the
matters under investigation.
Public input is also important. Through its committees Parliament
is able to be better informed of community problems and attitudes. Committees
provide a public forum for the presentation of the various views of individual
citizens and interest groups.
