Lifecycle of Parliamentary Documents: Australia
The Digital Business Services Branch "delivers and operates business applications and capabilities that support effective administration of parliamentary departments, effective running of Parliament and its committees, and engagement with the public through technology." The Digital Recording Services Branch "records, broadcasts and archives the audio and audio-visual record of chamber and committee proceedings and produces the official written record of parliamentary debates and committee hearings (Hansard)."[1]
Information about the Parliamentary Library is provided in Section IIL below.
b. Department of the House of Representatives
The Department of the House of Representatives includes a Table Office, Procedure Office, Committee Office, and the office of the Serjeant-at-Arms.[2] The Department maintains the House internet site (part of the Parliament website, aph.gov.au) and can assist the public with various information about the work of the House, including how to access documents tabled in the Parliament.[3] It also "engages with the Australian community through information resources published on the parliament's website, various social media platforms and educational seminars on topics including legislation, the Commonwealth budget process and the work of parliamentary committees."[4]
In terms of parliamentary documents and other information, the Department's role includes
- processing of all bills
- drafting of private members' bills
- creating documents to support members in the Chamber and Federation Chamber [the second debating chamber of the House of Representatives]
- creating and processing the records and documents of the Chamber and Federation Chamber
- collecting, analysing and publishing procedural and statistical information
- advising and supporting the Speaker and members in relation to legislative, procedural and administrative matters.[5]
c. Department of the Senate
The Department of the Senate consists of a Clerk's Office, Table Office, Procedure Office, Committee Office, and the office of the Usher of the Black Rod. It also encompasses the Senate
- ↑ Department of Parliamentary Services Annual Report 2020-21 (DPS AR 2020-21), at 12 Dept. 2021), https://perma.cc/7GUJ-JTLB.
- ↑ Department of the House of Representatives Organisational Chart, Parliament of Australia, https://perma.cc/W XB4-R2EW. See also The Clerk and Other Officials (House of Representatives Infosheet 21), Parliament of Australia, https://perma.cc/TDZ4-W4N6.
- ↑ Department of the House of Representatives Service Charter Parliament of Australia (Jan. 2014), https://perma.cc/A9VY-YU5P.
- ↑ Department of the House of Representatives Corporate Plan 2021-22, at 10 (2021), https://perma.cc/J3BN-PYYM
- ↑ Id. at 14.
