DPS is established as a department under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 (PS Act). The Australian Parliamentary Service serves the Parliament by providing professional support, advice and facilities to each House of the Parliament, the parliamentary committees and to parliamentarians, independently of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth.

DPS is responsible to both houses of Parliament through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Tony Smith MP, and the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan.

The Secretary is the administrative head of the Department and accountable authority. The Parliamentary Librarian (who is the head of a statutory office) reports directly to the Presiding Officers—and to the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library—in respect of her statutory functions.

In March 2019, the Secretary established the position of Deputy Secretary for a period of 12 months, with a view to evaluating the merits of a permanent role. The Deputy Secretary reports directly to the Secretary, is the Secretary’s delegate when required and has operational oversight of the Chief Operating Officer and the Building and Security Divisions. The Chief Information Officer reports directly to the Secretary. The Parliamentary Librarian manages the Design Integrity and Archives Unit on behalf of the Secretary as approved additional duties.

The DPS structure is organised into four divisions, the Parliamentary Library, the Information Services Division, the Building and Security Division and the Chief Operating Officer Division. Each uses the strategic themes, high-level activities and intended results to drive business performance which supports the successful function of our role and achievement of our purpose.

The DPS Executive Committee is the Department’s primary governance body and comprises the Secretary (Chair), Deputy Secretary, Parliamentary Librarian, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Information Officer, First Assistant Secretary for Building and Security Division and Chief Finance Officer.

Figure 2: DPS Organisation Chart (as at 30 June 2019)