Under the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (the Act), the committee is required to examine bills, Acts and legislative instruments for compatibility with human rights, and report its findings to both Houses of the Parliament. The committee may also inquire into and report on any human rights matters referred to it by the Attorney-General...

On 15 September 2016 the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 8 November 2016: the nature and scope of the consultations prior to the making of the Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016, with particular reference to: (a) the...

On 25 November 2015 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 24 August 2016: (a) the role of gender inequality in all spheres of life in contributing to the prevalence of domestic violence; (b) the role of gender stereotypes in...

This report recommends that the Criminal Code Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2016 be passed, but with several amendments. The bill will allow for continuing detention orders (CDO's) to keep convicted terrorists detained once their sentences have been served, if they are deemed to pose an unacceptible risk.

In supporting the work of the Australian Parliament, the Australian Parliamentary Service strives to uphold the principles of Australian democracy and the aspirations of a nation. These aspirations for our nation include reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. The Parliamentary Service is uniquely situated to take both a symbolic and...