Annual Report 2021-22


Introduction

1.1     The Standing Committee on Appropriations, Staffing and Security is appointed under Senate Standing Order 19. The committee inquires into:

  • proposals for the annual estimates and the additional estimates for the Senate;1
  • proposals to vary the staff structure of the Senate, and staffing and recruitment policies;2
  • the administration, operation and funding of security measures affecting the Senate, and advises the President and the Senate as appropriate;3
  • proposed changes in the structure and responsibilities of the parliamentary departments;4
  • the administration and funding of information and communications technology services for the Parliament,5 and
  • other matters as are referred by the Senate.

1.2     The committee makes this annual report to the Senate in accordance with Standing Order 19(3)(c).

1.3     The committee is chaired by the President of the Senate and includes the Deputy President and eight other senators. The Senate Leaders of the Government and the Opposition are ex officio members.6

Committee membership

1.4     During the 2021-22 financial year, the following senators were committee members:

  • President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan (Chair) (to
    13 October 2021)
  • President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Slade Brockman (Chair) (from 18 October 2021)
  • Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Sue Lines
  • Leader of the Government in the Senate (Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham)
  • Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator the Hon. Penny Wong)
  • Senator Raff Ciccone (appointed 2 July 2019)
  • Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam (appointed 2 July 2019)
  • Senator Katy Gallagher (appointed 2 July 2019)
  • Senator the Hon Anne Ruston (appointed 2 July 2019)
  • Senator Dean Smith (appointed 2 July 2019)

Committee activities

1.5     During the reporting period, the committee met on five occasions and tabled two reports:

  • Annual Report 2020-21 (tabled on 30 September 2021); and
  • 64th Report: Estimates for the Department of the Senate 2022-23 (tabled on 30 March 2022).

Estimates for the Senate department

1.6     The committee received and noted quarterly updates on the financial position of the Department of the Senate throughout the year as well as the annual report of the department's Audit Committee.

Security and information technology

1.7     At each meeting of the committee the Chair updated the committee on matters pertaining to security, information technology and building works relevant to the Senate and senators. In particular, the committee reviewed quarterly reports on the use of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system and Electronic Access Control System (EACS) and amendments to associated policies and arrangements. In addition, the committee considered the following:

22 July 2021, the committee:

  • discussed COVID restrictions for the Parliament resuming sitting on 3 August.

14 September 2021, the committee:

  • received an update on cleaning arrangements in electorate offices;
  • discussed the replacement of key locks;
  • discussed proposed security measures following the Foster Review; and
  • approved the draft of the committee's 2020-21 annual report.

9 November 2021, the committee:

  • discussed matters related to the Foster Review; and
  • agreed to create a working group to consider recommendations of the Foster Review.

13 December 2021, the committee:

  • noted progress of the Foster Review working group;
  • noted the proposed WiFi infrastructure upgrade; and
  • noted the Department of the Senate's financial statement for the first quarter of the 2021-22 financial year.

7 March 2022, the committee:

  • discussed and noted the draft implementation plan of Foster Review measures by the Foster Review working group;
  • agreed to a trial of after-hours reporting; and
  • noted the Department of the Senate's financial statement for the second quarter of the 2021-22 financial year.

Senator the Hon Sue Lines
Chair

1 Standing Order (S.O.) 19(2)(a).
2 S.O. 19(2)(b).
3 Journals of the Senate, No 89, 25 March 2015, pp. 2412-13, S.O. 19(3)(d).
4 Journals of the Senate, No 200, 3 June 1987, p. 1951.
5 S.O. 19(3)(e).
6 S.O. 19(4).