I am pleased to present this year’s Secretary’s Review.

2017–18 saw a significant volume of construction activity at Parliament House, as DPS continued to deliver on a number of major, multi-year projects to upgrade security and refurbish ageing infrastructure. In addition to effective project management this work was achieved thanks to internal collaboration and continued engagement with our colleagues in the other parliamentary departments. By working together we have been able to minimise disruptions to building occupants and our visitors as we progress the perimeter security works, the expansion of the public entrance, the refurbishment of skylights, the upgrading of ageing internal infrastructure such as lifts and chillers, and pursue technological innovation in building security systems and ICT. A complex scheduling regime enabled us to simultaneously undertake unrelated projects in proximity. For example, we took advantage of the skylight project scaffolding in Members Hall to undertake painting in hard-to-reach areas. The carpark lifts were refurbished at the same time as work occurred on the new Senate and House of Representatives entrances. This planning enabled us to closely contain disruption to the work of Parliament and the experience of our visitors.

Innovation in technology allowed us to provide more client-focused services to parliamentarians and their offices, other building occupants and the public. WiFi infrastructure throughout Parliament House was upgraded and expanded in 2017–18, our progressive roll-out of captioning to all parliamentary and committee proceedings was fully implemented, and 45.5 per cent of the Parliamentary Library’s titles (books and serials) are available online in full text to parliamentarians and their staff in their offices or on the road.

The year was also one of celebration and reflection as we marked the 30th anniversary of the opening of Australian Parliament House, in May. The year-long commemorations will reach a high point with an Open Day on 6 October 2018, for which extensive planning was undertaken in 2017–18.

Significant progress was made on the development of the Central Reference Document—a record of the original architect’s intent for Parliament House—with publication of 20 draft chapters in 2017–18. Once completed, this document will be a single source of truth for the design integrity of Parliament House. This will be an enduring resource for current and future custodians over the building’s planned 200-year life.

In collaboration with the other parliamentary departments, we supported the arrival of 13 new parliamentarians and their staff throughout the financial year, with advice and services ranging from ‘anywhere any time’ ICT options, to artworks for suites. A particular challenge was an unprecedented refit of one Senator's suite and changes to the Senate Chamber made to improve accessibility for a new Senator were also undertaken.

I thank the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Tony Smith MP, and the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan, for their continuing support of me and of the department in 2017–18. I also thank my fellow heads of the parliamentary departments—the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr David Elder, the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Richard Pye, and the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Ms Jenny Wilkinson, for their good will and collegiality as we work to better serve the Parliament of Australia.