Australia
Openness and transparency
Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.
Parliamentary documents
The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance
The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance.
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance.
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site.
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website.
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site
No
Compare data of this field.
Annual reporting by parliament
Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities
The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public: Only the total amount; A summary of the main elements; The complete budget
The complete budget
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes
Access to parliament
Plenary meetings are open to the public
Notes
Access to the public galleries may be restricted during some occasions, including the opening of Parliament, the presentation of Budget and Budget-in-reply speeches, and speeches by visiting dignitaries, for security reasons or so that seating can be allocated to special guests.
Due to COVID-19, plenary meetings were closed to the public for a period during 2021, but remained accessible online.
Due to COVID-19, plenary meetings were closed to the public for a period during 2021, but remained accessible online.
Committee meetings are open to the public
Notes
Committee meetings are private but committee hearings are open to the public.
Committees may admit visitors during the examination of witnesses, the gathering of information or other proceedings. Visitors must leave if so requested by the Chair or so resolved by the committee, or if the committee’s deliberations or witness hearings are to be conducted in private (Standing Order 240).
Committees may admit visitors during the examination of witnesses, the gathering of information or other proceedings. Visitors must leave if so requested by the Chair or so resolved by the committee, or if the committee’s deliberations or witness hearings are to be conducted in private (Standing Order 240).
There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings
A dedicated channel is one that is mainly about parliament, and is accessible free of charge to the general public. The channel might be owned by Parliament or a public or private company. Dedicated channels may be broadcast by parliament, government, or another broadcaster. They may be carried on television, radio or the Internet (webcasting).
Media used for the dedicated channel
Radio
Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel
Plenary sittings
Committee meetings
Freedom of information
There is a freedom of information law in the country
Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure
Certain categories of information may be exempt from disclosure
Section 46(c) of the FOI Act provides that a document is exempt if its public disclosure would…infringe the privileges of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. This section of the Act is concerned with circumstances where information provided to a House or committee of Parliament has been disclosed without authority, or where disclosure otherwise improperly interferes with a member of Parliament’s free performance of his or her duties as a member. Publication contrary to rules and orders of the Parliament that restrict publication (such as House of Representatives Standing Order 242, or Senate Standing Order 37, or s.13 of the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987) may amount to an infringement of parliamentary privilege. For further reading, see ch.19, House of Representatives Practice.