VPRS 16152 Bill Files, Alphabetical Order by Subject of Bill

The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (OCPC) drafted all government bills for the Victorian government and may draft or comment on bills to be introduced by private members and/or members of the opposition. OCPC drafts all Parliamentary House amendments (including for the opposition and independents) and was responsible for the preparation of all copies of the bills during the passage through Parliament. Bill files comprised a complete record of the development and progression of a bill, from advice sought on the bill proposal, Approval in Principle (AIP) by Cabinet, instructions and notes from meetings with departments, draft bills (including exposure drafts), Cabinet decisions relating to the bill and documents relating to its passage through Parliament (including House amendments) and proclamation. The class also included bills proceeding which were drafted for the Law Reform Commission and the Parliamentary Counsel Committee. All records associated with each bill were combined into a single bill file. Whilst the originating department may have certain of these records, the OCPC's central role across government and completeness of the record as a single file is unique. Records within this class have been appraised as permanent in accordance with PROS 07/02, Class No.1.1.0 The commencement date (1980) of this series is subject to further research. The previous series VPRS 10265 Parliamentary Counsel Bill Files appears to have ended in 1980.