Parliamentary committees welcome submissions to their inquiries into bills and other matters. Submissions add to a committee’s knowledge and understanding of issues relevant to the committee’s inquiry and may influence a committee’s recommendations to the Parliament.

As part of their inquiry work committees often hold public hearings to build on the information provided to them in written submissions. These hearings provide the opportunity to those witnesses invited by committees to appear, to explain further or add to information included in their submissions. Hearings also give submitters an opportunity to respond to issues or arguments put forward in other written or oral (spoken) submissions.