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Administrative arrangements
Commissioner's role
The Parliamentary Service Act provides for an independent Parliamentary Service Commissioner appointed by the Presiding Officers. The Commissioner's role is to give advice to the Presiding Officers on the management policies and practices of the Parliamentary Service and, if requested by the Presiding Officers, to inquire into and report on Parliamentary Service matters. The Commissioner is not subiect to direction by or on behalf of the Executive Government in the performance of her functions.
The Parliamentary Service Act empowers the Presiding Officers to make determinations on a range of matters affecting the Parliamentary Service. The Parliamentary Service Act also requires the Presiding Officers to consult with the Parliamentary Service Commissioner prior to making these determinations.
Section 42 of the Parliamentary Service Act requires the Commissioner to give a report to the Presiding Officers for presentation to the Parliament on the activities of the Commissioner during the year.
Merit Protection Commissioner's role
The Parliamentary Service Merit Protection Commissioner's role includes inquiring into whistleblowers' reports and alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct, functions prescribed in determinations in relation to the review of actions, and inquiring into actions at the request of the Presiding Officers.
Section 49 of the Parliamentary Service Act requires the Merit Protection Commissioner to give a report to the Parliamentary Service Commissioner for inclusion in the Parliamentary Service Commissioner's report under section 42.
The Merit Protection Commissioner's report is at Appendix B.
Roles and responsibilities of the individual departments
The Department of the Senate and the Department of the House of Representatives provide advice and support to the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and to committees, Senators and Members.
The Department of Parliamentary Services is responsible for.
- information, analysis and advice to the Parliament
- maintaining and facilitating access to the Parliamentary Library's electronic and print information resources
- information technology, broadcasting and Hansard services
- technical support for the Parliament's information and communications and broadcasting systems
- asset and environmental management services for Parliament House
- security and emergency services, facilities management, information and promotional services and a variety of occupant services including health and wellbeing and the storage and movement of goods.
Under the Parliamentary Service Act, the Secretaries of the parliamentary departments have roles and responsibilities similar to those of APS agency heads. As mentioned above, Ms Hilary Penfold QC is Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services. The Secretaries of the Chamber departments are Mr Harry Evans, Clerk of the Senate, and Mr Ian Harris, Clerk of the House of Representatives.
