The department’s purpose as set out in its Corporate Plan 2019–20 is:

• to support the House of Representatives, and the wider parliament, in the role of a representative and legislative body primarily by providing advice and services, and through engaging with the community and other parliaments.

Role and functions

The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 provides for a non-partisan parliamentary service to serve the Australian Parliament. The Department of the House of Representatives is established by and operates under the Act, together with three other parliamentary departments: the Department of the Senate, DPS, and the Parliamentary Budget Office.

During 2019–20, the department continued in its role as a service department for the parliament, supporting the work of the House of Representatives, its members and committees, and some joint committees (comprising members of the House and the Senate).

The department continued to provide services to increase public knowledge and awareness of the work of the House and the Australian Parliament, and to encourage interaction. The department also assisted the House and the parliament in maintaining institutional relationships with their state, territory and international counterparts.

Departmental structure

The department is managed by its Executive: the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Clerk Assistant (Table), Clerk Assistant (Procedure), Clerk Assistant (Committees) and Serjeant-at-Arms.

While no changes were made to the department’s structure during the year, a new Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and Clerk Assistant (Procedure) were appointed. Ms Claressa Surtees became Clerk of the House in August 2019. Ms Catherine Cornish was appointed Deputy Clerk in September 2019. Mr Jerome Brown became Clerk Assistant (Procedure) in November 2019.

Figure 1 shows the departmental structure at 30 June 2020.

Figure 1: Departmental structure at 30 June 2020

Clerk

The Clerk is the most senior official of the department and a steward of the parliamentary institutions. The Clerk is the principal adviser to the Speaker, and is responsible for leading approximately 178 departmental staff members who provide administrative and procedural advice and services to the House and parliamentary committees, and support the parliament’s international and domestic engagement. With the heads of the other three parliamentary departments, the Clerk provides leadership of the parliamentary service.

Deputy Clerk

The Deputy Clerk is the second most senior official of the department. The Deputy Clerk is responsible for advising and assisting members, their staff and departmental staff on matters of parliamentary practice and law, and for overseeing the drafting of private members’ bills and amendments. The Deputy Clerk assists the Clerk in managing the department, and during the Clerk’s absence performs the duties of Clerk.

Clerk Assistant (Table)

The Clerk Assistant (Table) is responsible for the areas of the department that provide programming, procedural and legislative support to the Chamber and Federation Chamber of the House. The Clerk Assistant (Table) is also responsible for the areas of the department that support the parliament’s program of international delegations and parliamentary strengthening.

Clerk Assistant (Procedure)

The Clerk Assistant (Procedure) is responsible for the Procedure Office, which provides procedural research, publications and services explaining the work of the House and its institutional role. The Clerk Assistant (Procedure) also contributes to the House’s parliamentary strengthening activities related to parliamentary procedure.

Clerk Assistant (Committees)

The Clerk Assistant (Committees) is responsible for the Committee Office, which provides a range of support services — including procedural, research, analytical, drafting and administrative support — to House committees and to some joint committees.

Serjeant-at-Arms

The Serjeant-at-Arms is responsible for the corporate areas of the department, which provide support and a range of services for members and for departmental staff. The Serjeant-at-Arms has a key role in managing ceremonial, access and security matters relating to the House.

Outcome and program structure

The department’s outcome and program structure for the year is set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2019–20.

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: Departmental — supports five activities
• Program 2: Administered — supports one activity.

Figure 2 shows the department’s outcome and program structure, and the activities under each program.