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Purpose

The department’s purpose, as set out in its corporate plan, is:

To support the House of Representatives, and the wider Parliament, in the role of a representative and legislative body by providing advice and services of a high standard.

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.

Organisational structure

The department is managed by its Executive, comprising the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Clerk Assistant (Table), Clerk Assistant (Committees) and Serjeant-at-Arms. Their work is carried out through eight offices.

Several changes were made to the department’s organisational structure during the year. The International and Community Relations Office was disbanded and the International and Parliamentary Relations Office was established in July 2014. The new office is responsible for managing the parliament’s incoming and outgoing delegation programs, membership of inter-parliamentary organisations, and the international interests and travel of members and senators. The Parliamentary Skills Centre assumed responsibility for parliamentary strengthening and capacity-building initiatives. In June 2015, the Knowledge Management and Publishing Office was renamed the Parliamentary and Business Information Services Office.

Figure 1: Organisational structure at 30 June 2015 [Text-only description]

 

Outcome and program structure

The department’s outcome and program structure for the reporting year is set out in its 2014–15 Portfolio Budget Statements.

The department has one outcome:

• Advisory and administrative services support the House of Representatives to fulfil its representative and legislative role.

The department has two programs:

• Program 1: Other departmental, which has five components

• Program 2: Administered, which supports one activity.

Figure 2 shows the department’s outcome and program structure and the activities under each program component.

Figure 2 Outcome and program structure at 30 June 2015 [Text-only description]