Australia
Oversight
Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities
Oversight tools
Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
House of Representatives standing order 249; House of Representatives Practice, Sixth Edn, p. 680.
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
House of Representatives Standing Order 254.
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, Section 67; Auditor General Act 1997; Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
0
Number of written questions asked, per year
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
Notes
2013-2017 totals combine written questions answered for both chambers of parliament
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
37 (2020)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
Totals represent inquiries referred by the House of Representatives
Head of State and/or Government
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Impeachment and confidence motions
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No