MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

OVERVIEW

This section provides information on the department's management and corporate governance practices and how it meets its accountability obligations.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The departmental Executive meets weekly, chaired by the Secretary. The Executive also comprises the group managers of the Client Services Group, Technical Services Group, Corporate Support Group, Strategic Development Group, the Executive Coordinator of the Centenary of Parliament and the Chief Finance Officer. The Executive's responsibilities are to monitor delivery of the department's vision, which is:

to give all Australians the opportunity to see, hear and read the work of their National Parliament

and task, which is:

to provide the Australian Parliament with world class, value for money services and support

The Senior Management Team comprises the Executive, all Directors, and the two business managers. There are five departmental management or oversight committees - finance, audit, technical development and implementation, staff development and continuous improvement.

• The Finance Committee meets monthly and comprises the Executive and the two business managers. It is chaired by the Secretary and is responsible for overseeing, monitoring and where necessary approving all aspects of the department's financial operations and responsibilities.
• The Audit Committee meets quarterly and comprises Group Managers, the two business managers, a representative from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (the department's internal auditors), and an external member. It is chaired by the Group Manager Corporate and is responsible for all audit related matters.
• The Technical Development and Implementation Committee meets monthly and comprises Group Managers, the two business managers and the Director, Client Liaison and the Director, Emerging Technology. The Group Manager, Technical Services chairs the committee and its role is to ensure that the department, through the use of agreed strategies and strategic plans, uses appropriate technology to provide its services to the Parliament.
• The Staff Development Committee meets quarterly and comprises Group Managers and the Director, Personnel and the Director, Project Office. The Group Manager, Client Services chairs the committee and its role is to ensure that staff development activities achieve a highly skilled workforce aligned to the department's approach of professionalism, partnerships with clients, continuous improvement and personal respect.
• The Continuous Improvement Committee meets quarterly and is chaired by the Group Manager Corporate. It comprises the Director, Corporate Improvement, the Director, Client Liaison, the Director, Personnel Services and the Director, Project Office. Its role is to ensure that continuous improvement practices are implemented across the department.