The Australian Collaboration is a collaboration of peak national community
organisations representing social, cultural and environmental constituencies
and interests.
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In June 2005, the Howard Government gained a one-seat majority in the Senate. In June 2006, the then Government reformed the Senate Committee system,
reducing the number of Committees from 16 to 10 and taking over chairmanship of every committee. Under the Howard Government, restrictions were placed on the amount of time for committees to examine bills and the number of days committees could meet each year. According to the Democratic Audit of Australia, the then Government failed to respond to a single committee report within the required three-month period. The Australian Democrats further pointed out that the Howard Government “… reject(ed) almost all non-government amendments to bills, even when committees that include(d) government Senators unanimously recommend(ed) those changes”. These actions severely curtailed the independence and powers of the Committees. The Committees play a key role in the functioning of the federal parliament, scrutinising bills, exploring administrative misconduct and investigating issues of longer-term significance to Australian society.
The Rudd Government has promised to restore the standing and powers of the Senate and its Committees and to support the extended use of Senate Inquiries.
