Title page
Contents
Foreword 5
Abbreviations 7
Membership of Committee 8
Terms of Reference 10
List of Recommendations 11
1. Introduction 12
Approach to the inquiry 13
Sittings during the period 13
Structure of this report 15
2. Procedural and practical changes 16
Introduction 16
Change to standing orders 16
Pairs 17
Division procedures 19
Practical operation of the chamber 20
Contingency measures 26
Resolution of the House 27
Use of video facility 27
Federation Chamber 30
3. Reflections on a time of change 32
Representation 32
Voting 33
Scrutiny 35
Attendance and participation 36
Opportunities for Members 37
Public access 38
Measured flexibility and contingency planning 40
A multi-jurisdictional environment 44
Concluding remarks 45
Appendix A. Examples of seating plans 50
Figure 2.1. Sitting of 23 March 2020 21
Figure 2.2. Seating arrangements in the chamber, 18 June 2020 22
Figure 2.3. Arrangements in the chamber, fortnight beginning 24 August 24
Figure 2.4. Arrangements in the chamber, 8 April 2020 25
Figure 2.5. Video facility screen 29
Figure 2.6. Use of video facility, 25 August 2020 30
Figure 3.1. View of the chamber and galleries, 23 March 2020 40
Figure 3.2. Sitting of 1 September 2020 43
Figure 3.3. The difference a year makes - Question Time in August 2019 and March 2020 47
Figure A.1. House of Representatives seating plan, February 2020 51
Figure A.2. House of Representatives seating locations, 8 April 2020 52
Figure A.3. House of Representatives seating locations, 24 August 2020 53