 Established by Standing Order 18 of the Senate , the privileges committee is responsible for reporting on matters of parliamentary privilege referred to it by the Senate . The protections afforded by parliamentary privilege are essential to parliament and its committees to be able to operate effectively . The bulk of the work of the privileges committee 's work is associated with facilitating a ' right of reply ' for people adversely named in the Senate , as well as involving investigations of unauthorised disclosures of Senate committee proceedings , complaints from witnesses in connection with evidence given to committees , and allegedly misleading evidence given to committees . 
