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News

Winners of the 2026 My First Speech visit the House of Representatives

Sep 22, 2026 160

ON SEPTEMBER 14, the winners of the My First Speech competition visited Parliament House and delivered their speeches to Members and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The competition asks students to imagine themselves as a newly elected Member of the House of Representatives and write a 500-word speech about an issue they are passionate about.

This year’s winning speeches were…

Gain a better understanding of the House of Representatives in engaging half-day seminar

Sep 22, 2026 161

HOW DOES the House of Representatives work? How are laws made? Who are the Members? What is the House committee system?

If you’ve asked yourself these questions or have wanted to gain a better understanding of the House of Representatives, you are invited to attend the How the House Works seminar on Thursday, November 12. 

This half-day seminar is presented by senior officers from the…

Hearings for local government funding inquiry conclude

Sep 17, 2026 445

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport’s inquiry into local government funding and fiscal sustainability has concluded public hearings for the inquiry.

Twenty-six public hearings have been held between February 5 and September 17 this year, where the committee heard from 390 witnesses across Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Wodonga,…

Local government funding inquiry hears from the Department of Social Services and the Department of…

Sep 16, 2026 629

THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will finalise its public hearing program when the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (DITRDCSA) attend its inquiry into local government funding.

The committee wants to learn more about how…

JCPAA tables reports on Commonwealth Financial Statements and committee activities

Sep 16, 2026 569

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has today tabled its report for the inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements 2023-24 and 2024-25, together with its Annual Report for 2025-26.

Commonwealth Financial Statements 2023-24 and 2024-25: The committee's report examines the findings from the Australian National Audit Office's audits of the Commonwealth Financial Statements for…

Public Works Committee to examine proposed works by the Australian Taxation Office and the…

Sep 15, 2026 740

THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works has recently commenced two new inquiries into proposed works by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Public Works Committee Act 1969.

The ATO is proposing to fit-out approximately 22,000 square metres of office accommodation at its existing premises at 747 Collins Street,…

Inquiry to examine use of technology to boost Australian productivity

Sep 14, 2026 768

FOLLOWING a referral by Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers MP, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics will open an inquiry into the use of technology to assist in improving Australian productivity.

Like many advanced economies, Australia has sought for decades to find the best way to boost productivity.

The development and application of new technology is often offered up as a…