Legislative Assembly
Parliament of Victoria

Fact Sheet 22

Finding Information about Parliament

Checking the Progress of Legislation

Summary

Lots of information is available about the progress of bills being debated in Parliament.

Legislation

How is a law made? A bill has to be passed by both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to become law. A general information sheet is available which contains a helpful flow chart:

:	How a Law is Made
G	Visit the Procedure Office and ask for the information sheet How a Law is Made

Getting copies of bills. A bill becomes public at the time the second reading is moved. An explanatory memorandum is attached to the bill which helps in its understanding:

:	Bills g Brings up a list of current bills g (choose relevant bill)
G	Visit the Procedure Office and ask for a copy

Checking progress of a bill. Information is updated on the internet during and at the end of each sitting day:

:	Bills Status (this gives an overview of all bills before Parliament during a sitting period)
:	Bills g Brings up a list of current bills g Choose relevant bill g Status report (provides detailed information about the bill’s progress)
G	Visit the Procedure Office and ask for a copy of the bills status list and Fact Sheet 13:Tracking Legislation on the Internet

Second reading speech. The second reading speech is made by the minister responsible for the bill and is a useful overview of its contents. Copies are available:

:	Search Hansard (type in the name of the bill and select the activity ‘second reading’)
G	Visit the Procedure Office to collect a copy of the speech

Getting copies of Acts. We do not have printed copies available to the public but copies can be purchased from Information Victoria, 365 Collins Street, Melbourne, phone 1300 366 356. Copies are, however, available on the internet.

For the original version of an Act:

:	Victorian Statute Book (choose year g choose Act)

For the latest version of an Act which includes all amendments:

:	Victorian Law Today g (choose relevant Act)