Accountable Authority

The accountable authority of DPS (a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the PGPA Act) is the Secretary of the department who has responsibility for, and control over, the entity’s operations.

Activities

The actions/functions performed by agencies to deliver government policies.

Administered items

Expenses, revenues, assets or liabilities managed by agencies on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia. Agencies do not control administered items. In many cases, administered expenses fund the delivery of third party outputs.

Appropriation

An amount of public money Parliament authorises for spending with funds to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Parliament makes laws for appropriating money under the Annual Appropriation Acts and under Special Appropriations, with spending restricted to the purposes specified in the Appropriation Acts.

Agency

A Department of State, Department of Parliament and prescribed agency under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act).

Annual Performance Statements

A document prepared by entities to report to what extent they have fulfilled their purpose(s) as articulated at the beginning of a reporting year in their Corporate Plan and Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS).

Art Advisory Committee

This body assists the Presiding Officers in selecting artworks for the Parliament House Art Collections.

AUSPIC

Provides photographic services under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 and to other government entities on a fee-for-service basis.

Bills Digest

A guide written to assist members of Parliament when they consider a Bill.

Budget

The Australian Government Budget sets out the fiscal and economic outlook for Australia, and includes expenditure and revenue estimates for the current financial year, the budget year and the three forward financial years.

Building fabric

The basic elements making up a building; the structure without finishing or decoration.

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (CCSF)

The Framework provides minimum standards for Commonwealth entities to protect children.It encompasses policies, compliance activities and strategies to embed a child safe culture.

Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs)

The core procurement policy framework that articulates the Government’s expectations for all agencies subject to the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and their officials, when performing duties in relation to procurement. These are published by the Department of Finance.

Corporate Governance

The process by which agencies are directed and controlled.

It is generally understood to encompass authority, accountability, stewardship, leadership, direction and control. These processes are issued by the Department of Finance.

Corporate Plan

A planning document for entities to set out their purpose(s), what they will do to achieve the purpose(s) and how they will know they have achieved the purpose(s).

Departmental item

Resources (assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses) that agency accountable authorities control directly. This includes outsourced activities funded and controlled by the agency. Examples of departmental items include agency running costs, accrued employee entitlements and net appropriations. A departmental item is a component of a departmental program.

Enterprise Agreement

An agreement between DPS and its employees about terms and conditions of employment.

Financial Results

The results shown in the financial statements of an agency.

Hansard

Hard copy and electronic reports of proceedings in the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Main Committee of the House of Representatives and transcripts of parliamentary committees and some ministerial or parliament-related conferences.

Historic Memorials Collection

This Historic Memorials Collection was founded by Prime Minister the Right Hon Andrew Fisher in 1911 and is Australia's longest-running official portraits commissioning collection. It is guided by the bi-partisan Historic Memorials Committee which is chaired by the Prime Minister of the day..

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

KPIs are used to assess and monitor the department’s performance and to provide a record of our progress towards supporting the department’s objectives, how ‘relevant money’ was spent and whether planned achievements were on track.

Operations

Functions, services and processes performed in pursuing the objectives or discharging the functions of an agency.

Outcomes

The intended results, impacts or consequences of actions by the Government on the Australian community. They are listed in agencies’ Portfolio Budget Statements.

Parliament House Art Collections

Comprises a number of stand-alone collections (the Rotational Collection, the Architectural Commissions, the Architectural Design of the Building, the Historic Memorials Collection, the Gift Collection, the Constitutional Documents and the Archive).

Parliamentary precincts

The parliamentary precincts are defined in the Parliamentary Precincts Act 1988. In general terms they consist of the area within the inner kerb of Capital Circle, and all buildings, structures and works, and parts of buildings, structures and works, on, above or under that land.

Parliamentary ICT Advisory Board (PICTAB)

A body established to oversee progress of the Parliamentary ICT Strategic Plan and to provide guidance to DPS on strategic objectives and outcomes.

ParlInfo Search

An online tool which enables the searching and downloading of parliamentary information including transcripts, Bills, Senate journals, votes and proceedings, notice papers, committee reports, the Parliamentary Handbook, newspaper clippings, media and publications.

ParlView

An online broadcast service which enables the viewing, searching and downloading of parliamentary broadcasts, special parliamentary events and press conferences as well as some historical records.

ParlTV

Parliament House internal television and digital radio service.

Performance information

Evidence about performance that is collected and used systematically, which may relate to appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency and the extent to which an outcome can be attributed to an intervention. While performance information may be quantitative (numerical) or qualitative (descriptive), it should be verifiable.

PSL Employee

A Parliamentary Service Level employee is a person engaged under section 22, or a person who was engaged as a PSL employee under section 72, of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.

Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS)

Budget-related papers detailing budget initiatives and explanations of appropriations specified by outcome and program by each agency within a portfolio.

Presiding Officers

Two members of Parliament elected to preside over, or be in charge of, the business, proceedings and administration of a House of Parliament. In the Senate the Presiding Officer is the President, and in the House of Representatives, the Speaker.

Purpose

Includes the objectives, functions or role of the entity.

Revenue

The total value of resources earned or received to cover the production of goods and services.

Security Management Board

This body is established by the Parliamentary Service Act 1999, and provides advice as required to the Presiding Officers on security policy, and the management of security measures, for Parliament House. The board has four members who may, with the Presiding Officers’ permission, invite others to attend their meetings.