Role and functions
The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 provides the legal framework for a non-partisan
parliamentary service to serve the Australian Parliament. The Department of the House
of Representatives is established by and operates under the Act, together with three other
parliamentary departments—the Department of the Senate, the Department of Parliamentary
Services and the Parliamentary Budget Office. The Act provides for the management,
leadership and responsibilities of parliamentary service employees and the functions of the
Parliamentary Budget Officer, Parliamentary Librarian, Parliamentary Service Commissioner and
Parliamentary Service Merit Protection Commissioner. The other parliamentary departments
report separately to the parliament.
During 2014–15, the department continued in its role as a service department for the
parliament, supporting the work of the House of Representatives, including its members in their
parliamentary work, its committees and some joint committees comprising members of both
the House and the Senate. The department also maintained its focus on providing assistance to
the House and the parliament in their relationships within Australia and internationally.