Hearings are meetings where committees can find out more about the inquiry’s topic. People who have written a submission may be invited to talk with the committee about it at a hearing as a witness. This lets the committee ask questions to learn more about what you’ve shared with them
Most hearings are public. They are broadcasted live, recorded, and a transcript of what is said is published on the Assembly website.
If you need to share sensitive or confidential information, talk to the committee or the secretary beforehand. The committee might be able to talk to you in a private hearing (in camera).
Anything you say while talking to the committee is legally protected by ‘parliamentary privilege’. This means you cannot be sued for what you say. But you must not intentionally defame someone or lie to the committee or be misleading.
What will happen if I get invited to participate?
Before the hearing
We will contact you with the time and place of the hearing and how long you will have to talk with the committee. Most hearings are held at the Assembly building on Civic Square in the Prince Edward Island room. We will also send you a witness details form to fill out and send back to us before the hearing. This form is required by our Hansard and broadcasting teams.
Please contact the committee secretariat if you need any help, especially if there are any accessibility concerns you may have.
How should I prepare?
- Reread your submission – you might get asked about it.
- If you’re a group or organisation, decide who will do the talking.
- Send any extra documents you want to share with the committee to us before the hearing.
- Let us know if you need any special arrangements like an interpreter or hearing loop.
- Think about what you want to say.
- Read the privilege statement and let us know if you have any questions about it.
- If you are unfamiliar with participating in a public hearing, you may wish to look at some of our videos from past committee hearings.
When you arrive at the Assembly building
You’ll need to go through security when you arrive. Once you get to the committee room, take a seat in the chairs at the back of the room or in the waiting area near the meeting room. Other people may already be talking with the committee.
If you are appearing by video conference, we ask that you join ten minutes prior to make sure that any issues with the video link can be resolved before your session commences.
What to expect in the room
Committee members and the secretary will be seated at the table. Members of the public and journalists may be sitting watching. An audio-visual technician sits behind the black glass window and manages the hearing’s broadcast and recording.
When it’s your turn to talk
You will sit across the table from the committee. The chair will remind you of the privilege statement and that you must tell the truth.
You will then be asked to say your name and whether you are talking to them as an individual or on behalf of a group.
Giving your evidence
You may be invited to make a short opening statement. This is often just for a couple of minutes. You don’t have to make one if you don’t want to. Often the committee will say they do not wish to have opening statements due to time constraints.
The committee will ask you questions about your submission or statement to find out more or understand something better.
If there’s a question you can’t answer on the spot, you can give an answer in writing later by taking it on notice.
At the end, the committee will thank you for your time. You can choose to leave or take a seat again in the gallery to listen to other people.
In camera hearing
In some circumstances, you may wish to talk to the committee in private (or in camera) rather than in a public hearing, or the committee may choose to hear from you in private. If you wish to appear in private, please advise the secretary prior to the hearing and explain why so that the committee can consider your request. Committees only agree to in camera hearings in limited circumstances.
While an in camera hearing is still recorded and a transcript is prepared, it is not published unless the committee decides to do so in the future.
After the hearing
What is said at a public hearing is recorded word-for-word and written as a Hansard transcript. You will be emailed a proof copy to review. The transcript will be published on the Assembly website. If there are any questions that were taken on notice the Secretariat will contact you. You have five business days to respond to a question taken on notice.
Do you have questions about appearing at a committee hearing? Contact the Committee Support Office:
- (02) 6205 0445
- committees@parliament.act.gov.au