 The Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committees ( often referred to simply as ' standing committees ' ) are established by Standing Order 25 . The standing committees are actually made up of pairs of committees – a legislation committee and a references committee . The legislation committees are responsible for scrutinising bills referred to them by the chamber ; examining the government 's budget and activities ( in what is called the budget estimates process ) ; and for examining departmental annual reports and activities . The references committees are responsible for conducting inquiries into topics referred to them by the chamber . 
