Peggy Danaee is the Serjeant-at-Arms in the Department of the House of Representatives, and is responsible for providing advice, services and support for the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives. The main Chamber responsibilities of the Serjeant during the sittings of the House relate to assisting the Speaker to maintain order. The Serjeant-at-Arms is also the chief operating officer for the Department, and is responsible for the financial management and human resources offices of the Department.
For International Women's Day, we asked Peggy about her time as Serjeant-at-Arms and her reflections on the role.
What does a day in the life of the Serjeant-at-Arms look like?
No two days are the same! The role of Serjeant-at-Arms is dynamic and varied, and can look quite different depending on whether the House of Representatives is sitting.
On sitting days, I work closely with my team to provide support and services to the Speaker and Members, manage the smooth functioning of the Chambers and public viewing galleries, and provide ceremonial support to the House. I advise the Speaker on security matters, and I work with security agencies to maintain security and order. It’s an honour to be the custodian of the Mace, the symbol of the authority of the House and the Speaker. This is not lost on me when, carrying the Mace, I escort the Speaker at the beginning and end of a sitting day.
Together with my team, I engage with Members of Parliament to understand their needs, and work with service provision areas to ensure that Members are well supported when working in Parliament House. As a Clerk-at-the-Table I also support Chairs to ensure that the rules and conventions of the House are followed. Each sitting day brings new challenges and opportunities to support the democratic process and uphold the traditions of the Parliament.
When the House isn’t sitting, in my role as the department’s Chief Operating Officer, I work closely with corporate areas. The enabling services provided by the human resources, finance and governance teams facilitate the effective running of the department, and support other areas of the department in providing services directly to Members and the House. I work extensively with colleagues in other agencies on security policies, procedures and issues across the Parliament, and represent the interests of the Speaker and Members in a range of forums.
What does it mean to you to hold the position and to be one of only a few women to do so?
It is an honour to be one of only 26 people to serve as Serjeant-at-Arms in the Australian House of Representatives since Federation. My predecessors had distinguished careers, serving the Parliament with dedication. It is a humbling and empowering reminder to take the opportunities each day to contribute to the stewardship of this key institution of our democracy.
The role of Serjeant-at-Arms may have traditionally been considered the domain of men, particularly during its origins in medieval times. It was only after I took on the role that I learned that, approximately 40 years ago, Lyn Simons became the first woman appointed to this position in an Australian Parliament, or any Westminster Parliament. Since then, the majority of Serjeants-at-Arms in the Australian Parliament have been women. I am grateful for the strong and capable women who have paved the way.
What was your career path to get to the position of Serjeant-at-Arms?
I have worked in a range of roles across the breadth of the operations of the Department of the House of Representatives. This has included procedurally-focussed roles in the Table Office and Procedure Office, secretariat and research support to parliamentary committees, coordinating corporate and reporting processes, providing drafting support for Members, and assisting with the Parliament’s international engagement work. I have really valued the opportunity to act as clerk and deputy clerk in the Chamber and Federation Chamber over many years, directly supporting the work of the House.
Support and guidance from colleagues has been invaluable, as has their generosity in sharing their knowledge and experiences. I am also lucky that my department encourages staff to learn new skills and move across business areas. Despite being a relatively small department, there are always new and interesting opportunities to learn and grow.
Did you always have an interest in Parliament?
Before working in Parliament, I had experience in secretariat roles, which provided me with knowledge of meeting procedures and good governance principles. However, I had limited understanding of Parliament at that time. From my first role in the Department of the House of Representatives, which was a short term placement as part of a Commonwealth department graduate program, I was fascinated by legislative and parliamentary processes. I took every opportunity to learn more about how the House of Representatives functions, and how it serves the Australian people. With my department’s support, I have continually strengthened my parliamentary knowledge, including through a course on parliamentary law, practice and procedure, and a Master of Public Policy. I love that, 20 years later, I am still learning new things every day.
What do you enjoy about working in the Department of the House of Representatives?
Working in the Department of the House of Representatives is incredibly rewarding. It has always struck me as a non-hierarchical organisation, where the skills, knowledge, experiences and attributes of all staff are genuinely valued. The dynamic and varied nature of the work is engaging, and it is so interesting to have front row seats to some important and historic events. I enjoy the collaborative and friendly environment and the opportunity to work with dedicated professionals who are committed to serving the Parliament – and, through it, the Australian public. Providing non-partisan support for the House of Representatives in its legislative and representative duties is a source of great pride and satisfaction. Contributing in a small way to this key democratic institution is meaningful work I feel fortunate to do.