The department's operations for 2023–24 were governed by the Parliamentary Service Act 1999, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, and other Commonwealth legislation and policy.
Corporate plan
The department's 2023–24 Corporate Plan outlines our objectives, role and structure, the environment in which we operate, and our approach to maintaining the capabilities of our key resource – our staff. Work reports provided to the Clerk throughout the reporting period showed continued progress in key areas and work tasks. Planned outcomes are explained in the department's portfolio budget statements and performance results, including our annual performance statements, and are included in this report.
Management and assurance
The department's corporate governance mechanisms include two senior committees: the Program Managers' Group, chaired by the Deputy Clerk, and the Audit Committee, chaired by an independent member from outside the department. These committees provide advice, support and assurance to the Clerk to ensure effective governance and that statutory responsibilities for the management of the department are met. The role, membership and activities of these groups are described in Figure 17. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter can be found on the Department of the Senate website.
The department also participates in a range of interdepartmental committees through which the parliamentary departments coordinate common and joint activities. Chief among these were meetings of the heads of the four parliamentary departments, the Parliamentary Administration Advisory Group, the newly established Human Resources Advisory Panel, the Security Management Board, the Parliamentary ICT Advisory Board (and its subordinate ICT committees), and other bodies managing joint projects. Collaboration with parliamentary colleagues is also supported through informal meetings between parliamentary service officers as required. The leaders of the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service have been folded into a number of these forums.
Fraud and corruption control and risk management
Consistent with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act, the Clerk's Instructions and associated financial management policies promote the proper use of the department's resources. The Clerk's Instructions are reviewed regularly to ensure their applicability and coverage.
The department has in place appropriate fraud prevention, detection, investigation and reporting mechanisms that comply with the Commonwealth Fraud and Corruption Control Framework. No incidents of fraud or corruption were detected in this reporting period.
During 2023–24, risk areas and associated controls and mitigation strategies were routinely considered by senior management and reported to the department's Audit Committee. The framework for managing risk and fraud control is revised regularly and made available to staff on the department's intranet. Risk oversight and management is a standing agenda item for meetings of the program managers.
Significant non-compliance issues with finance law
The department did not identify any instances of significant non-compliance with the finance law during 2023–24. The finance law incorporates the PGPA Act, any rules and instruments created under the PGPA Act, and appropriation and supply Acts.