The parliamentary law-making process

What is an original bill?

A bill that proposes a brand new law.

What is an amending bill?

A bill that changes an existing piece of legislation, often with "‘amendment’ in its title.

What is a repealing bill?

A bill that removes and/or replaces an existing law.

What is a consolidating bill?

A bill that joins many pieces of legislation together into one Act, often with ‘consolidating’ in its name.

What is a constitutional alteration bill? (referendum bill)

A bill that proposes a change to the wording of the Australian constitution.

What is a supply/money bill? (appropriation bill)

Authorises government spending and taxation collection; they can only be introduced in the lower house and cannot be amended by the upper house.

What are the three general stages of the law-making process?

1. The Pre-Parliamentary stage

2. The Parliamentary stage

3. The Post-Parliamentary stage

What occurs during the Pre-Parliamentary stage?

The Stage where, a bill is developed by a political party, drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and approved by Cabinet before introduction.

What is the first step in the Parliamentary stage?

The step of ‘giving notice,’ where a member informs the clerk of the house of their intention to introduce a bill, which is then placed on the Notice paper.

What occurs during the first reading of a bill?

The clerk announces the notice, the minster reads the bill’s short title, hands over the bill and explanatory memo, and the Clerk reads the long title.

What is the Second Reading speech and debate?

The reading is given to encourage the minsters colleagues to pass the bill.

• followed by an adjournment
  The debate is where the most comprehensive discussion occurs.

What happens after the second Reading Debate?

A vote is taken to see if the house has agreed to the bill in principle.

What is voting ‘along party lines’?

When a political member votes as their party leader has instructed.

What is the purpose of the ‘consideration in detail’ stage?

The purpose is to examine each clause of the bill individually, allowing members to suggest changes and amendments.

What occurs during the third reading stage of the bill?

A formality where the Clerk reads the long title of the bill and the house votes ‘on the voices.’

What happens after a bill passes the first house?

The bill is sent to the second house for review, accompanied by a message from the Speaker asking the senate to consider it.

What is the proclamation stage?

Occurs after assent, where the relevant Minster advises the Governor-General when to proclaim the Act in the Government Gazette, officially notifying the public of the law change.

How can Act come into force at the Commonwealth level?

An Act can come into force by its date of assent, a prescribed date written into the act or a date of proclamation set by the Governor-General.