 Committees are designed to assist the Senate as a whole . Thus the main formal structure of their work is that the Senate refers something to a committee for examination , and the committee reports back to the Senate on that matter . These reports are tabled during parliamentary sittings , but can also be presented when the Senate is not in session . Committees can gather evidence and will often hold public hearings to assist this process . To gather their evidence committees can ( with exceptions ) travel from place to place to hear evidence . Committees are able to order the production of documents and the appearance of witnesses ( powers that are in practice used very sparingly ) . Most evidence taken by committees ( both written submissions and transcripts of public hearings ) is published , however committees have the power to take evidence confidentially ( in camera ) , and regularly do so . Committees hold both public hearings and conduct business at private meetings . The minutes of private meetings are confidential ( in contrast , for example , to those of New South Wales parliamentary committees ) . 
