Parliament House : News from the Hill

The Speaker, Mr Harry Jenkins, has announced his intention to issue a writ on Monday, 4 August 2008 for the election of a Member to serve for the Electoral Division of Lyne and Member to serve for the Electoral Division of Mayo to fill the vacancies caused by the resignations of the Hon mark Vaile and the Hon Alexander Downer.

This week in the House - a summary of expected business in the House of Representatives for the week beginning 16 June 2008 - is now available from our website.

The House Economics Committee announced the next public hearing with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia will be in Melbourne on Monday 8 September during the release of its report into the previous hearing.

The Speaker, Mr Harry Jenkins, has announced his intention to issue a writ on Monday, 19 May 2008 for the election of a Member to serve for the Electoral Division of Gippsland to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Hon Peter McGauran. The by-election will be held on Saturday, 28 June 2008.

The House of Representatives Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts Committee is to conduct an inquiry into climate change and environmental impacts on Australian coastal communities.

The House Health Committee is to conduct a new inquiry into obesity in Australia.

In September 1987 the House of Representatives established a system of general purpose standing committees to inquire and report upon activity undertaken by the Commonwealth Government. Together with the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, the committee system provided the House with the ability to scrutinise the entire range of government activity. On 15 February 2008 the Speaker of the House hosted a seminar to mark twenty years of operation of the House committee system.