The Department of the House of Representatives undertakes six distinct activities to achieve the purpose set out in this plan. The activities are summarised in Figure 2 and explained in detail below.

Figure 2 - The department's purpose and activities

Activity 1 – Chamber and Federation Chamber

In the period covered by this plan, the department’s Executive, Table Office and Chamber Research Office will:

• Provide advice and services to enable the House and Federation Chamber to meet and address business as scheduled. This includes processing of all bills, drafting of private members’ bills, creating documents to support Members in the House, creating and processing the records and documents of the House and the collection, analysis and publication of procedural and statistical information

• Advise and support the Speaker, Members and others in relation to legislation and administrative matters

The department will have succeeded in undertaking this activity if:

• Advice and services meet the needs of Members in relation to procedural information and availability of statistical data

• Advice is timely, accurate, and comprehensive and is based on an impartial and thorough understanding of issues

• Proposed legislation (Bills) and other Government business is processed within deadlines and in accordance with the Standing Orders and House of Representatives Practice

Activity 2 – Community awareness

In the period covered by this plan, the department’s Parliamentary and Business Information Services Office will provide services to increase public knowledge and awareness of and interaction with, the work of the House of Representatives and the Australian Parliament through a wide range of media resources and other activities. The department will continue to support the Parliamentary Education Office, which is jointly funded by the department and the Department of the Senate.

The department will have succeeded in undertaking this activity if access to the work of the House and Australian Parliament is widely available to the public with participation rates continuing to increase over time.

Activity 3 – Committee support

In the period covered by this plan, the department’s Committee Office will provide procedural, research, analytical, drafting and administrative support to:

• Enable House of Representatives and some joint committees to conduct and report on inquiries

• Support other activities of those committees

The department will have succeeded in undertaking this activity if:

• Advice and services provided meet the needs of Committee Members for thorough, accurate and timely support that facilitates the work of committees

• Committee reports are prepared to a standard that meets Members’ requirements

Activity 4 – Inter-parliamentary relations and capacity building

In the period covered by this plan, the department’s International and Parliamentary Relations Office and Parliamentary Skills Centre will provide advice and services to:

• Facilitate and maintain national, international and regional relationships with other Parliaments, parliamentary bodies and organisations

• Assist developing Parliaments primarily within the Asia/Pacific region. Partnering in these activities with state and territory Parliaments and other organisations and through the education trust fund will continue

The department will have succeeded in undertaking this activity if:

• Arrangements for incoming and outgoing delegations are undertaken in a manner that meets the expectations of the Presiding Officers, delegates and diplomatic representatives

• Parliaments in the Pacific and other regions are provided with capacity building activities and support that meet their identified needs and increase their capabilities

Activity 5 – Members’ services and corporate

In the period covered by this plan, the Serjeant-at-Arms’ Office, People Strategies Office and Finance Office will:

• Provide advice and services to Members relating to accommodation in Parliament House, salaries and allowances and certain other entitlements

• Deliver high quality and valued corporate advice and services to the Department and Members

• Monitor developments in best practice parliamentary and public administration and continue applying them as appropriate

• Prioritise key risks to work, health and safety to maximise the wellbeing of staff and Members

• Assist in setting and delivering the corporate strategic direction

• Seek to obtain the resources needed to meet the requirements of the House, committees and the wider department into the future

The department will have succeeded in undertaking this activity if:

• Working through various forums across the parliamentary departments, common policies and frameworks are effectively aligned and assessed to achieve the right outcomes

• Financial and staff resources are managed efficiently and effectively, and expenditure levels are constrained within budgetary allocations

• Evaluations show a high degree of satisfaction with the provision of accommodation and office support services and to manage risks to the health and safety of Members, their staff and departmental staff

Activity 6 – Schools hospitality

In the period covered by this plan, the Serjeant-at-Arms’ Office will:

• Arrange hospitality at the time of confirmation of booking of school visits

• Obtain feedback from visiting school groups on the provision of, and level of satisfaction with, hospitality they received during their visit

The department will have succeeded in undertaking this activity if:

• Hospitality is arranged at the time of confirmation of booking of school visits

• Visiting school groups are satisfied with the hospitality provided