A number of Departments and Agencies are in the process of responding to requests from the Standing Committee upon the Environmental Impact of Capital Works, the Joint Standing Committee upon Road Safety and the Standing Committees of the Legislative Council. As some doubt arose regarding the status of Standing Committees following the prorogation of Parliament, legal advice was obtained on their status.

Advice provided indicates that a Standing Committee cannot function while the House of Parliament which created it, and to which it is accountable, stands prorogued. Further, the Standing Committee upon the Environmental Impact of Capital Works, the Joint Standing Committee upon Road Safety and the Standing Committees of the Legislative Council are not able to exercise their functions after prorogation of the Houses of Parliament.

Accordingly, to protect the interests of the Crown, transfer of any reports, documents or submissions to any Standing Committee should cease immediately.

This advice does not affect Committees established by legislation allowing -them to continue following the prorogation of Parliament. These include:

• Parliamentary Accounts Committee
• Independent Commission Against Corruption Committee
• Ornbudsman's Committee
• Regulation Review Committee
• Joint Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission

C Gellatly
Director-General