Administrative arrangements
Commissioner's role
The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 (the Parliamentary Service Act) provides for an independent Commissioner appointed by the Presiding Officers. The Commissioner's role is set out in section 40 of the Parliamentary Service Act and includes advising the Presiding Officers on the management policies and practices of the Parliamentary Service; and inquiring into Parliamentary Service matters if requested by the Presiding Officers. The Commissioner is not subject to direction by or on behalf of the executive government in the performance of his 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 the Commissioner before 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 role of the Merit Protection Commissioner includes functions prescribed in determinations made for the purposes of section 33 of the Parliamentary Service Act (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 Commissioner for inclusion in the Commissioner's report under section 42.
The Merit Protection Commissioner's report is included in this report.
Roles and responsibilities of the individual departments
Four parliamentary departments are established under the Parliamentary Service Act.
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 parliamentary committees and to Senators and Members.
The role of the Parliamentary Budget Office is to inform the Parliament by providing independent advice and non-partisan analysis of the budget cycle, fiscal policy and the financial impact of proposals.
The Department of Parliamentary Services provides a range of support services for the Parliament and for Parliament House. Its services include library information and research services to the Parliament, security, facilities, visitor services, building management and maintenance, landscaping, ICT, telecommunications management, broadcasting and records services.
Secretaries
Under the Parliamentary Service Act, the Secretaries of the parliamentary departments have roles and responsibilities similar to those of APS agency heads.
Appointments to statutory offices under the Parliamentary Service Act are made by the Presiding Officers.
The Secretaries of the chamber departments are Dr Rosemary Laing, Clerk of the Senate, and Mr David Elder, Clerk of the House of Representatives. They are appointed for non-renewable terms of ten years. Dr Laing's appointment is from 5 December 2009. Mr Elder was appointed from 1 January 2014 following the retirement of Mr Bernard Wright.
Mr Phil Bowen PSM is the Parliamentary Budget Officer and Secretary of the Parliamentary Budget Office. His appointment is for a term of four years from 23 July 2012.
Ms Carol Mills is Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services. She was appointed for five years from 28 May 2012.
Parliamentary Librarian
Dr Dianne Heriot holds the office of Parliamentary Librarian. Her appointment is for five years from 10 May 2012.
Staffing summary
The following tables present a summary of Parliamentary Service staffing as at 30 June 2014.
Numbers are actual staff numbers at 30 June 2014.
Numbers are actual staff numbers at 30 June 2014.
| Department |
| Category |
Senate
|
House of
Representatives
|
Parliamentary
Budget Office
|
Parliamentary
Services
|
Total
|
Categories of employment
|
Ongoing
|
142
|
125
|
34
|
701
|
1002
|
|
Non-ongoing
|
18
|
29
|
1
|
121
|
169
|
|
Total
|
160
|
154
|
35
|
822
|
1171
|
Full-time and part-time employment (includes casual and sessional)
|
Full-time
|
133
|
132
|
35
|
604
|
904
|
|
Part-time
|
27
|
22
|
-
|
218
|
267
|
|
Total
|
160
|
154
|
35
|
822
|
1171
|
Employment by work group
|
Sec/SES
|
6
|
5
|
7
|
13
|
31
|
|
Executive*
|
50
|
52
|
21
|
175
|
298
|
|
Other
|
104
|
97
|
7
|
634
|
842
|
|
Total
|
160
|
154
|
35
|
822
|
1171
|
* Groups 7 and 8 of the Classification Rules
Staff turnover (ongoing employees)
There were 112 separations of ongoing employees during the year, representing 9.3% of ongoing staff.
Staff numbers by classification and gender at 30 June
|
Year
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
|
No/%
|
No
|
%
|
No
|
%
|
No
|
%
|
No
|
%
|
No
|
%
|
No
|
%
|
|
SES/Secretary –
Male
Female
|
13
11
|
54
46
|
9
10
|
47
53
|
8
14
|
36
64
|
8
14
|
36
64
|
14
16
|
47
53
|
16
15
|
52
48
|
|
Executive –
Male
Female
|
166
138
|
55
45
|
152
128
|
54
46
|
155
124
|
56
44
|
148
127
|
54
46
|
156
133
|
54
46
|
158
140
|
53
47
|
|
Other –
Male
Female
|
511
384
|
57
43
|
498
384
|
56
44
|
502
376
|
57
43
|
516
373
|
58
42
|
510
369
|
58
42
|
486
356
|
58
42
|
|
Total –
Male
Female
|
690
533
|
56
44
|
659
522
|
56
44
|
665
514
|
56
44
|
672
514
|
57
43
|
680
518
|
57
43
|
660
511
|
56
44
|
Workplace Diversity (ongoing employees
|
Department
|
Senate
|
House of Representatives
|
Parliamentary
Budget Office
|
Parliamentary Services
|
Total
|
|
Gender –
Male
Female
|
57
85
|
50
75
|
21
13
|
445
256
|
573
429
|
|
English not first language spoken*
|
3
|
8
|
3
|
71
|
85
|
|
ATSI origin*
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
4
|
|
Staff who have identified a disability*
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
3**
|
8
|
*Information provided on a voluntary basis.
** DPS records show that three employees have disclosed a disability. Disability and disclosure will be a focus of the DPS diversity program actions in 2014-15.
Total staff numbers at 30 June
|
Year
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|
Number
|
1311
|
1286
|
1193
|
1181
|
1256
|
1223
|
1181
|
1179
|
1186
|
1198
|
Ongoing staff—age distribution
|
Age
|
Under 25
|
25–34
|
35–44
|
45–54
|
55 and over
|
|
Number
|
18
|
162
|
291
|
269
|
262
|
|
%
|
2
|
16
|
29
|
27
|
26
|
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