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Annual Report 2001–02Performance ReviewOutput Group 1 Chamber and Main Committee
DescriptionThis output group supports the departmental outcome that the Chamber and Main Committee operate effectively. The Table Office and the departmental Executive are the primary contributors to this output group, supported by the Chamber Research Office, the Serjeant-at-Arms Office and, when required, staff from other departmental offices. Staff supporting the output group assist the House of Representatives Chamber and Main Committee to operate effectively by providing procedural and programming advice; supporting the legislative process; undertaking research; producing documents of record and documents for members; and managing and providing general secretariat support for the Chamber and Main Committee and Chamber related committees. The actual expenses for the provision of those services by this output were $3.09 million, while the budget allocated was $3.69 million. A summary of the financial resources for the output group is provided at Table 1 and staff levels, by location, are shown in Appendix 10.
PerformanceOverall, there was a continuing high level of client satisfaction with the quality and timeliness of services provided through the output group. The Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker, members of the Speakers Panel, ministers and members frequently expressed their thanks for the high-quality advice and procedural documents provided to them, both directly by Clerks-at-the-Table and elsewhere. Similarly, many members and their staff personally gave very positive feedback to staff at the Table Office inquiry counter during the year in regard to the timely provision of information and House documents. Staff in the Chamber Research Office, providing statistical and other advice, also received very positive feedback from clients. The standards for services in the Chamber and Main Committee set out in the departmental service charters were met consistently during the year. To a large extent, the quantitative aspects of performance relating to this output group are determined by the frequency and number of hours of the sittings of the Chamber and Main Committee, and the number of bills and amendments proposed. In 200102, most of the demand factors were smaller than in the previous year for example, the number of sitting days was 18 fewer than in 200001 as a result of the November 2001 federal election. Table 2, Appendix 1, Appendix 2 and the departments publication Work of the Session provide more detailed quantitative information. Table 2 Performance summary, Output Group 1
(a) Excludes suspensions.
Improving performanceStaff supporting the output have adopted a number of strategies to improve performance, including planning, monitoring and reviewing all processes to ensure client needs are identified and addressed effectively in the short and longer terms. Other strategies have included making the best use of technology, and developing staff skills. Building on work commenced in 200102, information technology initiatives to improve performance during the coming year are expected to include the further development of captioning and the Votes Managers minutes systems to progressively provide enhanced information about the completed and forthcoming business of the House and Main Committee on each sitting day. The implementation of document-comparison software to assist in the processing of proposed legislation is also expected to improve performance. The department will continue to develop the chamber support skills and knowledge of staff in the coming year by the use of shadowing, parliamentary briefings and debriefings and, to a limited and appropriate extent, staff rotation. In order to minimise costs and improve information delivery the department will continue to monitor the number of documents produced in hard copy form, the number of documents required by the House for tabling purposes, and the number of stock copies it holds.
OutlookGiven that 200203 will be the middle year of the parliamentary cycle, increased levels of activity are anticipated in all areas covered by this output group. Emphasis will continue to be given to providing high-quality procedural, research and administrative support to the House and Main Committee in as cost-effective a manner as possible. Given the Houses high dependence on information technology, the departments transition to a new computing platform will be a critical issue in 200203. In particular, this output will make every effort to ensure the seamless transition of the specialised databases and Chamber based applications that support the Houses operations. To this end, staff supporting the output group will work closely with internal and external information technology specialists; and will strategically commence transition of the specialised applications during the latter phase of the changeover, in order to benefit from any knowledge gained during the transition experiences of other parts of the Parliament.
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