Part B – Departmental Overview

OVERVIEW

DPRS is one of five departments which directly support the Parliament. The department reports to the Presiding Officers of the Parliament (the President of the Senate, Senator the Honourable Paul Calvert and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honourable Neil Andrew, MP).

The department's vision is:

To give all Australians the opportunity to see, hear and read the work of their national Parliament.

The department's task is:

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

DEPARTMENTAL OUTCOME STATEMENT

The Presiding Officers have approved the following outcome statement:

The Commonwealth Parliament to have international standard broadcasting, transcription and information technology services and the Australian community to be able to see, hear and read the work of the Parliament.

DEPARTMENTAL AIMS

To supply competitive, world class services;
To make our services easy to find and easy to use;
To constantly look for better ways of providing our services;
To use all our resources economically and effectively;
To share knowledge and ideas; and
To value all staff and their contributions.

DEPARTMENTAL SERVICES

The department provides a range of complex and integrated reporting, information technology, broadcasting and communications services to Senators, Members, Ministers, parliamentary committees, the Parliamentary Service and external users such as educational institutions, libraries, commercial and professional organisations and the media.

Broadcasting Services

Sound reinforcement for chambers and committee rooms
Audio and television recording and broadcast of chamber and parliamentary committee proceedings in Parliament House
Audio recording of parliamentary committees meeting interstate
Audio and television recording and broadcast of parliamentary conferences and associated events held at Parliament House
Pieces to camera, television 'two-ways', and audio pieces
Press conference support
Audiovisual support for functions, meetings, seminars and special events held within Parliament House
Video, audio and multimedia post-production and copying services
Television replays of chamber and committee proceedings
Loan of television, VCR, radio and presentation equipment
Production of video material to promote the Parliament
Broadcasting services for external organisations, including government departments

Communications Services

Division lights and bells
Support for emergency warning intercom systems (EWIS)
Telephones (fixed)
Mobile phones
Voicemail
Facsimile transmission
Pager system
Public address system
Clocks
E-mail services
Videoconferencing and teleconferencing services
Directory services

Computing Services

Desktop networked PCs
Standard Operating Environment for parliamentary computing equipment
Access to networked software applications
Software integration services
User account creation and maintenance
Data availability and integrity
File and print services
Internet access
Web publishing infrastructure
Security of the Parliamentary Computing Network
Corporate information services
Office computing equipment maintenance
Bureau services
Training and documentation of supported computing products
Advisory and consultancy services
Remote and Mobile Computing

Transcription Services

Hansard reports of proceedings of the Senate, House of Representatives and Main Committee of the House of Representatives
Hansard transcripts of hearings of parliamentary committees
Transcripts of conferences and events

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENTARY ADMINISTRATION

In April 2002 the then President and the Speaker asked the Parliamentary Service Commissioner, Mr Andrew Podger, to review aspects of the parliamentary administration, principally security arrangements, management and corporate functions, centralisation of purchasing and other organisational issues identified by Mr Podger during the review.

Mr Podgerçs report was tabled on 23 October 2002. The recommendation which most affects DPRS is that the three service departments (Joint House Department, Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff and Department of the Parliamentary Library) be amalgamated. The President and Speaker are still considering the recommendations. The Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing is also examining the report.

DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE

CLIENT SERVICES

Client Liaison
Hansard
Broadcasting

TECHNICAL SERVICES

Projects
Infrastructure Facilities
Standards and Security

CORPORATE & STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

Financial Services
Personnel Services
Strategic Development