Why are all debates in the Australian Parliament recorded?
The public galleries in the House of Representatives
Michael Masters/DPS Auspic
The public galleries in the House of Representatives
Michael Masters/DPS Auspic
Description
One of the public galleries overlooking the House of Representatives. The public gallery has 6 rows where members of the public are sitting observing the meeting of the House. Below, members of the House of Representatives are sitting at their desks on the lower floor.
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.
Hi there, Sparkle! Thanks for your question.
All debates in the Australian Parliament are recorded so that everyone can see exactly what their representatives say and do. It helps keep senators and members of the House of Representatives accountable for their decisions. It also helps to prevent misinformation about what has occurred.
Cameras and microphones record the meetings of Parliament which are live streamed on the Australian Parliament House website. Anyone can tune in and follow the discussion.
Hansard editors create a transcript – written record – of what is said in the Australian Parliament. The editors carefully check each transcript to make sure that it is accurate and readable. It is then published on the Australian Parliament House website.
In addition to Hansard, the Parliament keeps official records of its formal decisions. In the Senate this is called the Journals of the Senate, and in the House of Representatives it is called the Votes and Proceedings.
These records provide a permanent history of the Parliament's work.