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Section 2: Outcome and planned
performance
2.1 Outcome and performance
information
The relationship between activities of the Department of the
Senate and the planned outcome is described both financially and
non-financially. Financial details for the planned outcome by output groups
appear in Table 2.1 (Total Resources for Outcome 1) while non-financial
information appears in Table 2.2 (Performance Information for Outcome 1).
There has been no change to the department's outcome or
output groups from the 2007-08 PBS.
Output cost attribution
The cost of corporate support and other corporate overheads
is allocated across all output groups on the basis of average staffing levels.
Trends in Resourcing
Figure 4 shows the departmental appropriation at $20.3m in
2008-09 (up from $19.7m in 2007-08), and historical levels of departmental
funding.
Figure 4: Trends in departmental appropriation ($'000)
2.1.1 Outcome 1: Effective provision of services to
support the functioning of the Senate as a House of the Commonwealth Parliament
Outcome 1 Strategy
To achieve this outcome with the funds appropriated by the
Parliament, the department provides the Senate, its committees, the President
of the Senate and senators with a broad range of advisory and support services,
and the public with information about the Senate and its work.
The work of the department is determined almost entirely by
the Senate and its committees. The department is responsible to the Senate and
all senators, and maintains complete impartiality in serving equally senators
from all political parties and independent senators.
The department’s four main areas
of service provision are:
- Senate support
– advice and secretariat support for the functioning of the Senate.
- Committee support – advice and secretariat support for the
operation of Senate and some joint committees.
- Senators’ services – advice and services relating to office
services, information technology, ceremonial, security, and other support
services for senators and Senate office-holders in Parliament House.
- Public education and awareness – promotion of public knowledge and awareness of
the role and activities of the Senate and its committees.
These areas are reflected as
intermediate outcomes in Figure 1 on page 2.
Outcome 1 Resource statement
Table 2.1 shows how the 2008-09 Budget appropriations
translate to total resourcing for outcome 1, including administered expenses,
revenue from government (appropriations), and revenue from other sources.
The total annual appropriation for the department in the 2008-09
Budget is $20.3 million.
Contributions to Outcome 1
The department’s contribution to the achievement of Outcome
1 is assessed using indicators and processes which cover all of the
department’s output groups, as well as using indicators and processes which are
specific to particular output groups. Indicators and assessment processes
covering quality, timeliness, quantity and price are outlined in Table 2.2.
Achievement of planned performance will be reported in the
Department of the Senate’s 2008-09 annual report.
Table 2.2: Performance information
for Outcome 1
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Performance
information across output groups
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For the department’s output
groups, performance is monitored on the basis of:
Quality
- The degree of satisfaction of the President, Deputy President
and senators, as expressed through formal and informal feedback mechanisms,
with the accuracy, quality and timeliness of advice and support and the
achievement of key tasks.
Timeliness
- Advice or material given on request of senator in time to be
used for the purpose for which it was required.
- Key business documents for the Senate and its committees,
including minutes, agendas, messages and schedules of amendments and reports,
produced in accordance with predetermined requirements and the requirements
of the Senate and its committees.
Quantity
- On the basis of recent experience, in 2008-09 the Department
would expect to support the Senate on approximately 65 sitting days and
committees in accordance with their requirements.
Price
- The total resourcing for the department in 2008-09 is estimated
to be $35.0m ($20.5m departmental).
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Performance Information for
Individual Outputs
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In addition to the foregoing performance indicators and
assessments that apply to the department’s output groups, the following
indicators and assessments apply to the individual outputs indicated.
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Output
Group 1: Clerk’s Office
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Output
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Performance Information
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Provision of sound and
timely advice on proceedings of the Senate and its committees and provision
of leadership and strategic direction for the department.
Provision of
secretariat and advisory support to the Procedure Committee, the Committee of
Privileges and the Committee of Senators’ Interests.
Provision of procedural
information and related services to senators and the Senate department.
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Quality:
The degree of satisfaction of the President, Deputy President, committee
members and senators, as expressed through formal and informal feedback
mechanisms, with the quality and timeliness of advice and support and the
achievement of key tasks.
Advice, documentation,
publications and draft reports are accurate and of a high standard.
Timeliness:
Meetings held, documentation provided and reports produced within timeframes
set by the Senate or the committee, as relevant.
Odgers’ Australian
Senate Practice updated each six months; new printed edition produced
regularly.
Procedural
Information Bulletin produced two days after end of sitting fortnights.
Other procedural
resources updated and augmented as required.
Quantity: As
required, on request, or proactively, to facilitate proceedings.
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Output
Group 2: Table Office
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Output
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Performance Information
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Provision of
programming and procedural support to the Senate.
Processing of
legislation.
Processing of tabled
documents and maintenance of safe custody of Senate records, and provision of
a document distribution and inquiries service.
Preparation of records
of Senate business and proceedings.
Dissemination of
information on the work of the Senate.
Provision of
secretariat support to the Appropriations and Staffing, Selection of Bills
and Publications Committees.
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Quality: The degree of satisfaction of the President,
Deputy President, committee members and senators, as expressed through formal
and informal feedback mechanisms, with the quality and timeliness of advice
and support and the achievement of key tasks.
Key business documents are accurate and of a high standard.
Timeliness: Order of Business finalised and
distributed prior to sittings and advice prepared proactively or as required.
Journals of the Senate for the previous day and
Notice Paper for the current day available prior to sittings; statistical
and other documentation available as required or in accordance with
predetermined requirements.
Running sheets available as soon as practicable; proposed
amendments distributed in accordance with requirements; schedules of
amendments and prints of bills available in accordance with predetermined
requirements.
All inquiries answered and documents stored or distributed
on a timely basis.
Meetings held, documentation provided and reports produced
within timeframes set by the Senate or the committee, as relevant.
Quantity: As required to facilitate proceedings;
quantities meet predetermined distribution requirements or are accessible
electronically or both.
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Output
Group 3: Procedure Office
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Output
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Performance Information
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Provision of advisory
and drafting services to non government senators.
Provision of procedural
advice and training to senators, staff, public servants and officials from
other parliaments both within Australia and overseas.
Provision of
secretariat support to the Regulations and Ordinances Committee and Scrutiny
of Bills Committee.
Provision
of parliamentary information services to the community.
Provision of
parliamentary education services to schools, teachers and students.
Provision of policy
advice and secretariat support for the maintenance and development of
interparliamentary relations including the Inter-Parliamentary Union,
overseas conferences and delegations program for senators.
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Quality:
The degree of satisfaction of the President, Deputy President, committee
members and senators, as expressed through formal and informal feedback
mechanisms, with the quality and timeliness of advice and support and the
achievement of key tasks.
Procedural
advice is accurate and covers all foreseeable eventualities.
Amendments
and bills are accurate and legally sound.
Public
information and parliamentary research is accurate, comprehensive and
targeted for particular needs.
Education
Centre Teaching and other PEO projects accurately reflect the Parliament and
its work.
Timeliness:
Procedural advice is timely.
Scrutiny
committee meetings held, documentation provided and reports produced within
timeframes set by the Senate or the committees, as relevant.
During
sitting periods, amendments drafted as soon as possible after receipt of
instructions.
Seminars
and lectures held on time and in accordance with advertised schedule; public
information projects delivered according to programmed schedule.
PEO
teaching programs held on time and in accordance with booking schedule.
PEO
projects delivered according to programmed schedule.
Information available
on the internet and in publications is up to date and available as soon as
practicable.
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Output
Group 4: Committee Office
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Output
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Performance Information
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Provision of
secretariat support to the Senate legislative and general purpose standing
committees, select committees and certain joint committees.
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Quality: The
degree of satisfaction of the President, Deputy President, committee members
and senators, as expressed through formal and informal feedback mechanisms,
with the quality and timeliness of advice and support and the achievement of
key tasks.
Advice, documentation,
publications and draft reports are accurate and of a high standard.
Timeliness:
Meetings held, documentation provided and reports produced within timeframes
set by the Senate or the committee, as relevant.
Tabling deadlines met
in all but extraordinary circumstances.
Quantity:
Documentation is sufficient for committee purposes and material available to
the public is available promptly, electronically or in hard copy.
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Output Group 5: Black Rod’s
Office
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Output
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Performance Information
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Senators’ Services
Provision of office,
chamber and committee room support; information technology and ceremonial
services; and security advice for senators and Senate office-holders in
Parliament House.
Provision of support
services, in conjunction with the House of Representatives, to the Former
Members’ Association.
Administered items:
Payment of
parliamentary salaries and allowances to senators and office-holders of the
Senate.
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Quality: The
degree of satisfaction of the President, Deputy President, committee members
and senators, as expressed through formal and informal feedback mechanisms,
with the quality and timeliness of advice and support and the achievement of
key tasks.
Advice, documentation
and publications are accurate and of a high standard.
Timeliness: All
support services delivered in a timely manner.
Quantity: All
support services and supplies delivered in accordance with entitlements on
request.
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