Do members of parliament get a copy of the bill before it is first read by the Clerk?

Thanks for your question.

Until a bill – proposed law – is introduced in Parliament, it is confidential. Once it is introduced, copies of the bill are given to members of parliament but debate on the bill is usually scheduled for a later date. This gives members and senators a chance to study the bill before speaking and voting on it. It also allows time for public discussion and response.

Sometimes, copies are available before the bill is introduced so debate on the bill can began immediately.

Most bills considered by the Parliament are government bills. Before a government minister introduces a bill, it is discussed and approved by Cabinet– the Prime Minister and senior ministers. The government sometimes releases a draft of the bill for public consultation before deciding on the final version of the bill.

Individual members of parliament can also introduce their own bills, which are called private members’ or private senators’ bills. They usually discuss the bill with their team or other supportive members of parliament before presenting it to Parliament.

Once introduced, a bill becomes a public document and can be viewed on the Australian Parliament website. Each bill has an explanatory memorandum – a document explaining the idea, purpose and impact of the bill.