The Parliamentary Library of Australia publishes research briefs and background papers for Parliamentarians. Publications include overviews of policy areas and chronologies of key social welfare provisions. Both are useful for locating background information on a policy area or understanding how policy has changed over a period of time. Parliamentary sources provide a record both of the debates that surround policy and documents that related directly to policy change.
Locating Annual Reports from Goverment Departments and Agencies.
Tabled papers include documents and artefacts presented to Parliament in the course of its proceedings. The term ‘tabled’ literally means that a document has been laid on the Table in either or both chambers. The tabling of a document effects the publication of that document and the protection of parliamentary privilege. Documents tabled in Parliament include reports from parliamentary committees, annual reports of departments and agencies, reports from the Auditor-General and legislative instruments.
The Library holds many annual reports from government departments and agencies. They are available as part of the Parliamentary Paper series for both the Federal and State governments. These collections are located in print in the Law Library Compactus at G. AUS P and G. NSW P.
You can also locate reports in the Library catalogue see exmples below
The Capital Monitor database publishes two newsletters which monitor policy changes in the Federal and the New South Wales State Government. Both are accessed via the side menu bar on the Capital monitor homepage or at the link below.
Canberra Newsletter Includes information on Parliamentary sittings, policy changes, proclamations, regulations, ATO rulings and determinations and forthcoming legislation. The section on policy changes is organised by government department.
NSW Newsletter Includes information on Parliamentary sittings, major press statements, reports new regulations, assents, proclamations, orders, rules etc, new bills.
Both the Federal and State Parliamentary Libraries publish many useful resources that can be used to trace the history of some policy areas. Publications include chronologies, background papers and notes, issues briefs and research papers.
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