Victorian Government publications

A guide to Victorian Government publications

Introduction

Victorian Parliamentary documents are separated into two sections.

The Legislative Council is the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament and Legislative Assembly is the Lower House of the Victorian Parliament. Each section records the Minutes of Proceedings, Votes and Proceedings, Notice Papers and Questions and Responses.

Minutes of Proceedings
The official record of proceedings. The Minutes are a summary of all the formal actions and decisions of the House.

Votes and Proceedings
The official record of all that is done in the House.

Notice Papers
The agenda of the House setting out the anticipated order in which business will be transacted. A new Notice Paper is published at the end of each sitting for the next sitting day.

Questions and Responses
An opportunity for members to seek information from other members. Members ask questions on notice, in writing, by having them placed on the question paper published each sitting day. Usually it involves non-government members seeking information from ministers, on matters of government administration. 

Online

House documents (agendas and minutes) from 1996

Searchable database includes Minutes of Proceedings, Votes and Proceedings, Notice Papers and Questions on notice

Votes & proceedings

PDF copies for each parliament from 1851 to current

Print/microfilm–1851 to current

Legislative Council

Minutes of proceedings: (of the Legislative Council), 1851–1890
Use microfilm copies where available.

Minutes of proceedings: (of the Legislative Council), 1891 to current
Use online and microfilm copies where available.

Notice paper: (of the Legislative Council), 1982 to current
It is unclear when this item began in its present form. Earlier issues may be found at the Victorian Parliamentary Library. Use online option where available.

Questions on notice: (of the Legislative Council)
First published in the Notice papers. Any unanswered questions are published in Unanswered questions on notice. Use online option where available.

Legislative Assembly

Votes and proceedings: (of the Legislative Assembly), 1856 to current
Use online and microfilm copies where available.

Notice paper: (of the Legislative Assembly), 1979 to current
Use online option where available.

Notice paper: (of the Legislative Assembly), 1867–1973    
Holdings are not complete. National Library of Australia has issues for 1976–1978. A complete set may be found at the Victorian Parliamentary Library. 

Questions on notice: (of the Legislative Assembly), 1867 to current
Included in Notice paper above.