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Tuesday 11 September 2018

Making An Act


* Introduction: The bill is first introduced to the House.
* First Reading: Next it has its first reading in Parliament, this is where the MP's debate on whether it should be passed on to a select committee for further consideration or reject it.
* Select Committee: A select committee of MP's carefully consider the bill, read and listen to the view of the public, recommend amendments, and report back to the House - it may take up to 6 months
* Second Reading: The bill is the returned to Parliament for its second reading to announce the recommendations of the select committee and the amendments made - MP's decide if the bill should proceed to the Committee of the whole House
* Committee of the whole House: Members debate the bill part by part in a detailed examination that can take several days - this is the last chance to change the bill
* Third Reading: This is the final reading; MP's look at the bill as a whole and consider what will happen if the bill becomes a law
* Royal Assent: If the bill does reach this final step of the process, it is given to the Governor General for Royal Assent (permission from the Sovereign).