Some Committees exist permanently or for long periods. These include:

• Standing Committees, which exist for the term of a parliament, but are usually renewed with each new parliament (for example the Road Safety or Social Issues Committees).

• Statutory Committees, which are established by an act of parliament (for example the Public Accounts or Regulation Review Committees).

• Sessional Committees, which are like standing committees but are concerned with matters internal to the Parliament such as printing, catering or the library.

Other committees are created by one or both of the Houses just to inquire into and report back on a particular matter, after which the Committee is disbanded. These include:

• Select Committees, which are appointed to investigate and report on a particular current issue such as crime or a controversial government project.

• Legislative Committees, which are set up to investigate or help develop a proposed law.

There are usually more Legislative Council than Legislative Assembly committees but each House has its own committees and there are also Joint Committees made up of members from both Houses.