Purpose

The department’s purpose, as set out in its corporate plan, is:

To support the House of Representatives, and the wider Parliament, in the role of a representative and legislative body by providing advice and services of a high standard.

Role and functions

The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 provides the legal framework for a nonpartisan Parliamentary Service to serve the Australian Parliament. The Act establishes this department and the other three parliamentary departments—the Department of the Senate, the Department of Parliamentary Services and the Parliamentary Budget Office. The Act provides for the management, leadership and responsibilities of Parliamentary Service employees as well as the functions of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the Parliamentary Service Commissioner and the Parliamentary Service Merit Protection Commissioner. The other parliamentary departments report separately to the parliament.

During 2013–14, the department continued in its role as a service department for the parliament, supporting the work of the House of Representatives, including its members in their parliamentary work, its committees and some joint committees comprising members of both Houses. The department also maintained its focus on providing assistance to the House and the parliament in their relationships within Australia and internationally.

Organisational structure

The department is managed by its Executive, comprising the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Clerk Assistant  (Table), Clerk Assistant (Committees) and Serjeant-at-Arms. Their work is carried out through eight  offices. Figure 1 shows the department’s organisational structure at 30 June 2014.

Figure 1: Organisational structure at 30 June 2014 [Text-only description]

Outcome and program structure

The department has one outcome:

Advisory and administrative services support the House of Representatives to fulfil its representative and legislative role.

The department has two programs. Program 1: Other departmental contains five components, and Program 2: Administered supports one activity.

Program 1: Other departmental

• Program component 1.1: Chamber and Federation Chamber

Departmental activities:

Resources supporting the effective operation of the Chamber and Federation Chamber of the House of Representatives.

• Program component 1.2: Community relations and awareness

Departmental activities:

Resources supporting the provision of services to increase community understanding of, and interaction with, the work of the House of Representatives and the Australian Parliament.

Revenue from other sources (s. 31).

• Program component 1.3: Committee services

Departmental activities:

Resources supporting the House of Representatives and some joint committees in fulfilling their role in the parliamentary consideration of policy and legislation and the scrutiny of government.

• Program component 1.4: Inter-parliamentary relations

Departmental activities:

Provision of advice and support to facilitate the conduct of the parliament’s international and regional affairs.

Revenue from other sources (s. 31).

• Program component 1.5: Members’ services and corporate support

Departmental activities:

Provision of advice, services and support to members in Parliament House.

Payment of members’ salaries and allowances.

Provision of advice, services and support to the department.

Provision of limited information technology support, financial and human resource management, and office services.

Revenue from other sources (s. 31).

Program 2: Administered

• Program component 2.1: Schools hospitality

Administered activity: 

Resources supporting the provision of hospitality to school groups visiting Parliament House.

Figure 2 shows the outcome and program structure of the department.

Figure 2 Outcome and program structure at 30 June 2014 [Text-only description]

Financial performance

The department ended the 2013–14 financial year reporting a surplus attributable to the Australian Government of $0.152 million. The same amount of surplus was recorded in 2012–13. Due to the dissolution of the Forty-third Parliament and subsequent commencement of the Forty-fourth Parliament in November 2013, this small surplus reflects a reduction in expenses associated with committees, chamber activities and support for members for the first five months of the reporting period.

Through the 2013–14 Budget, the department was able to secure a small amount of additional funding to support two new short-term joint select committees and an extension of funding for support for parliamentary reform. New ongoing administered funding as an expense measure to provide modest hospitality to schools groups visiting Parliament House was also secured.

While this additional funding alleviated the immediate need to find further efficiencies and savings, wage and salary expense trends have remained static. The reduction in the department’s ownsource income is attributable to the conclusion of some funding agreements under the Pacific Parliamentary Partnerships program and the reduction in service provision income associated with the discontinuation of DPS payroll services.

The department’s statement of financial position continues to remain healthy with adequate cash reserves available to fund planned asset replacement. The transfer of the ICT function to DPS is reflected in the statement of changes in equity. Assets totalling $0.596 million were transferred to DPS, and current and prior year appropriation (represented as cash reserves) totalling $1.327 million was returned to the budget and reappropriated to DPS. This resulted in a baseline reduction to the
department’s operating appropriation of $0.779 million and a reduction to the department’s capital budget of $0.407 million.

In the coming financial years, the department will need to closely monitor expense levels. The impact of the increase in the efficiency dividend to 2.5 per cent until 2016–17 has resulted in a significant decline in real terms of the department’s appropriation. Over many years the department has implemented efficiencies and savings measures in order to remain within budget; however, as we approach the middle year of the parliamentary cycle, traditionally the peak for activity levels
and increased expenditure, reductions in services will very likely be needed to maintain financial sustainability.

Figure 3: Financial performance, 2009–10 to 2013–14 [Text-only description]