Where and how to find Hansard and second reading speeches in WA and the Commonwealth.
Hansard is the name given to transcripts of parliamentary proceedings. It is the official record of Parliamentary Debates. Hansard also provides a record of the progress of a bill through both Houses of Parliament and records the debates on the bill.
The Second Reading Speech is part of Hansard where the Minister introducing the bill to parliament explains its general principles and purpose. Bills are usually introduced into the Lower House of Parliament, and this is where the most useful second reading speeches are recorded. However, you should check Upper House second reading speeches as well.
The history of parliamentary debates is similar to the description given of the history of a newspaper. The first day it is read with eagerness, the next day it is thrown away; after the lapse of some years it is worth its weight in gold. The ancient volumes of Hansard, imperfect as they are, are often intensely interesting reading for the light they throw on dead statesmen, or past conditions of society, legislation and controversies.
Lord Cadogan, Lord Privy Seal, in a draft report submitted to the Joint Committee of the British Parliament on Debates and Proceedings in Parliament. Lords Sessional Papers, XV, 1888.
From: Parliament of Western Australia. About Hansard
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/WebCMS.nsf/content/hansard
Parliament of Western Australia (Hansard) 1870-present
Hansard Search
The Hansard Search facility allows searching of Hansard back to 1870.
Second Reading Speech Search
If you already have the page number of the speech in Hansard, then select the relevant search option and search on the page number.
Alternatively, the Second Reading Speech for a Western Australian Bill is available in the Bills section of the Parliament of Western Australia website.
ParlInfo Search (through the Parliament of Australia website)
Search Hansard using this option by clicking on the ParlInfo Search link in the top right of any page. Select the Advanced Search/Browse tab, and then tick the boxes for Hansard under each House.
Parliament of Australia - Hansard 1901+
Select Hansard from the home page of the Parliament of Australia website. You can also browse by Year, House and Committee.
Second Reading Speech Search
Follow the Guided Search steps in the ParlInfo Search - select the Second Reading Speeches for a Bill search option.
Parliament of Australia - Bills
Second reading speeches are also available on the homepage for each Bill.
Note: Second reading speech or Bill Digest not listed
These are sometimes lost when the name of the Bill changes by year.
For example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Amendment Bill 2005 [2006] ...
If the document is not available, go to Parliament of Australia > Parlinfo Search > Guided Search
Select either Second Reading Speeches for a Bill, or
Documents relating to a Bill (for Bill, Bills Digests & EM)
Hansard may be available in the Legislation Collection of the Beasley Law Library.
CTH - 1977+
WA - 1978+
To locate a second reading speech in this collection:
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