Is there a time frame in which the government must enact recommendations contained in committee reports? If not are they required to provide an explanation as to why those recommendations have not been enacted?

The purpose of committees is to investigate bills and other matters on behalf of the Parliament. Committees help to provide information for the Parliament's consideration when the members of parliament are making decisions, and can scrutinise the activities of the government. When a committee completes an inquiry it will publish a report which can contain recommendations for the Government or others to take action.

Committees do not have the power to make the government or anyone else follow these recommendations, nor is there any other law, parliamentary process or authority to direct ministers to act on those recommendations. 

It is important to note that the committee inquiry process, including written submissions, hearings and reports are all available to the public. This means that any members of the public, the parliament or the media can see what a committee has recommended. If anyone feel that the government should be following those recommendations they have a range of options available to them, including:

• Members of the public may choose to publicly express their views, contact the relevant minister or urge other members of parliament to take action.
• Members of parliament may make speeches and ask questions on the matter in the Parliament, or may speak to the media.
• The media may raise public awareness of the situation and ask questions of the Minister.