This page summarises the work done in the House of Representatives and its Main Committee. It is updated weekly during sittings. For a full report of the business dealt with including a list of papers presented go to the Votes and Proceedings. To read the debates including question time go to Hansard.

For more information about how the House arranges its business go to the Infosheet titled A typical sitting day.

For statistics on the work of the House go to Statistical Digest.

The House will sit again in the week beginning 3 February 2009.

Legislation

• 19 Bills were introduced

• 12 Bills were debated

Reports from parliamentary committees and delegations

• Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina, September to October 2008

• Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Papua New Guinea and East Timor, October to November 2008

  Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services

• Opportunity not opportunism: Improving conduct in Australian franchising

  Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

• Review of the Defence annual report 2006-07

  Joint Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Innovation

• Building Australia's research capacity

  Joint Standing Committee on Migration

• Immigration detention in Australia: A new beginning-Criteria for release from immigration detention

  Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit

• Report 413—The efficiency dividend and small agencies: Size does matter

  Joint Standing Committee on Public Works

• Referrals tabled June to September 2008 (9th report of 2008)

  Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

• Report 97—Treaties tabled on 16 September 2008

Committees - Appointment of Members

• Mrs Hull was appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Ministerial Statements

• COAG business regulation agreement and small business initiatives — Hon Dr C Emerson MP, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation

• Draft Disability (Access to Premises) Standards — Hon R McClelland MP, Attorney-General

• National security — Hon K Rudd MP, Prime Minister

Matters of Public Importance discussed

• Economic strategy

• Government performance

• Public hospitals

Debate on private Members’ motions

• Citizen Military Forces — Hon B Scott MP (Nats, Maranoa, Qld)

• Murray-Darling Basin management plan — Mr K Hull MP (Nats, Riverina, NSW)

• World AIDS Day — Mr M Danby MP (ALP, Melbourne Ports, Vic)

Other debates and statements

• Australia's response to the global financial crisis — Ministerial Statement by Hon K Rudd MP, Prime Minister

• Condolence motion on the death of Lieutenant Michael Kenneth Housdan Fussell

• Condolence motion on the death of the Honourable Francis (Frank) Daniel Crean

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Public Works referrals and approvals

• Australian SKA Pathfinder radio telescope in Geraldton-Greenough and in Murchison Shire, WA

• Australian War Memorial Eastern Precinct Development and National Service Memorial, Canberra, ACT

• Fit-out for the Australian Federal Police of the Edmund Barton Building, Barton, ACT

• Puckapunyal redevelopment, Victoria