Asset Management and Parliamentary Services
Jan Mason
Deputy Secretary
Asset Management and Parliamentary Services manages the Australian Government´s Business and non-Defence property assets, implements and manages the sale or divestment of such assets, handles residual business issues and manages the special claims, insurance and risk management operations within the Finance portfolio.
The Group also supports the efficient functioning of Parliament by providing advice to the Special Minister of State regarding parliamentary entitlements issues and provides support services to Senators, Members and their staff. The Group supports the Australian Political Exchange Council, which provides developmental opportunities for young Australian political leaders.
Deputy Secretary: Jan Mason
Phone: (02) 6215 3504
Government Business, Special Claims and Land Policy Division
First Assistant Secretary : John Edge
Phone:
(02) 6215 3552
Government Businesses Advice Branch
Assistant Secretary: Stacie Hall
Phone: (02) 6215 2727
Government Businesses Advice Branch oversees and manages the Government's shareholding in Government Business Enterprises (GBEs), and advises on the appointment and remuneration of GBE Boards and CEOs.
Insurance and Risk Management Branch (Comcover)
Assistant Secretary: Philip Smith
Phone: (02) 6215 3805
The Insurance and Risk Management Branch administers Comcover, the Australian Government´s self managed insurance fund, and works to promote best practice risk management in Australian Government agencies. The Comcover Fund operates by collecting premiums from participating members to provide training, education, risk management evaluation services, and to meet insurance claims that may arise.
Comcover's operational tasks, including risk management services, underwriting, claims management, actuarial services, and reinsurance are outsourced to the private sector.
Special Claims and Land Policy Branch
Assistant Secretary: Guy Verney
Phone:(02) 6215 2555
The Special Claims and Land Policy Branch provides advice to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation and the Minister for Revenue on requests for act of grace payments and waiver of debts under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 as well as processing requests within departmental delegations. The Branch also assists the Minister with his portfolio responsibilities in relation to the acquisition and disposal of property interests for Commonwealth purposes, (including the Commonwealth Property Disposal Policy and the Lands Acquisition Act 1989) and the management of the Public Works Committee Act 1969.
Special Counsel
Special Counsel: Bruce Brown
Phone: (02) 6215 2170
The Special Counsel provides strategic assistance and legal advice as required to Asset Management and and Parliamentary Services on the management of certain legal matters handled by the Group.
Property and Construction Division
First Assistant Secretary: Rick Scott-Murphy
Phone: (02) 6215 2720
The Property and Construction Division delivers services and provides advice related to the Australian Government's non-Defence property portfolio, including construction and project delivery strategies.
Property Branch
Assistant Secretary: Andrew Smith
Phone: (02) 6215 2682
Property Branch is responsible for the management of the Australian Government's domestic non-Defence property portfolio. The portfolio includes a diverse range of property types including office buildings, law courts and other special purpose properties, public interest properties, heritage buildings, residential properties and vacant land. Day-to-day management of the property portfolio is outsourced.
Project Inception Branch
Assistant Secretary: Owen Hammond
Phone: (02) 6215 2652
The Project Inception Branch is responsible for the inception (planning) phase of domestic non-Defence major capital works projects up to the presentation of the submission to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works.
Project Delivery Branch
Assistant Secretary: Geoff Anderson
Phone: (02) 6215 3840
The Project Delivery Branch is responsible for the construction and delivery of domestic non-Defence major capital works projects following completion of the Public Works Committee processes. Current projects include the refurbishment of the Royal Australian Mint, the fitout of the ANZAC Park West building and planning activities associated with the proposed redevelopment of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.
Section 49 Office Project Branch
Assistant Secretary: Greg Whalen
Phone: (02) 6215 2659
The Section 49 Office Project Branch is responsible for the planning and delivery of the new central office building for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation .
Commonwealth Property Review Branch
Branch Manager: Steve O’Loughlin
Phone: (02) 6215 2757
The Commonwealth Property Review Branch is responsible for the Commonwealth Property Management Framework, to improve the governance, planning and whole of government co-ordination of property management across Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 agencies.
Ministerial and Parliamentary Services (M&PS)
First Assistant Secretary: Kim Clarke
Phone: (02) 6215 3401
Entitlements Management
Assistant Secretary: Greg Miles
Phone: (02) 6215 3403
The Entitlements Management Branch provides the communication link between M&PS and its clients. Our clients include current and former Federal Parliamentarians and their staff.
Entitlements Management Branch's key responsibilities include:
- providing advice to our portfolio Ministers regarding Senators and Members' access to entitlements – particularly the Special Minister of State;
- advising Senators, Members and their staff on entitlement issues; providing staff help-desk services for the staff of Members of Parliament;
- managing the provision of services in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House and the Commonwealth Parliament Offices in state/territory capital cities; and
- providing secretariat support for the Australian Political Exchange Council, which provides an international exchange program for young political leaders.
Entitlements Managers
Andrew House (VIC, TAS & NT) Ph: (02) 6215 3640
James Catchpole (NSW, WA & ACT) Ph: (02) 6215 3426
Deb Lewis (QLD & SA) Ph: (02) 6215 3827
Staff Help Desk Ph: (02) 6215 3333
Entitlements Management Unit Help Desk Ph: (02) 6215 3542
Australian Political Exchange Council Secretariat Ph: (02) 6215 3248
auspol.exchange@finance.gov.au
COMCAR
National Manager: Maree Faulkner
Phone: (02) 6280 1001
COMCAR assists in delivering an efficiently functioning Parliament through the provision of high quality car-with-driver services to a broad range of entitled clients, including the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, other Office Holders, Members of the Judiciary and Senators and Members.
Another of COMCAR's key activities is the provision of transport and associated services to visiting Guests of Government such as Royalty, Heads of State and other foreign dignitaries. COMCAR has assisted clients with transport requirements at special events such as the Sydney Olympics, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and Ministerial forums.
COMCAR can provide, or arrange, services in all metropolitan and most country areas. Reservations for COMCAR services can be made by calling 13 18 47 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Alternatively, reservations can be made via facsimile to 1800 807 921 using a standard form available from COMCAR.
Customer Service Charter
The COMCAR Customer Service Charter was launched on 26 June 2003. A copy of the Charter was sent to all COMCAR clients and is also available in every vehicle in the COMCAR fleet.
The development of the Service Charter was an important step in enhancing the quality of the existing service provided to all clients. The Service Charter allows COMCAR to clearly define expectation and service levels – against which clients can provide meaningful feedback.
Client Liaison Manager |
02 6280 1014 |
|---|---|
Reservations (by phone) |
13 18 47 |
Reservations (by fax) |
1800 807 921 |
Entitlements Policy
Assistant Secretary: Suzanne Pitson
Phone: (02) 6215 2935
Entitlements Policy Branch is responsible for policy development and advice in relation to Senators and Members' entitlements, and the employment framework for their staff.
The Branch provides advice to the Special Minister of State and other stakeholders in Ministerial and Parliamentary Services on policy matters relating to the various pieces of legislation administered by the Department. It also liaises with the Remuneration Tribunal Secretariat in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations in relation to the development of, and changes to, determinations affecting the entitlements of Senators and Members.
There are approximately 1700 staff of Senators and Members throughout Australia and the Branch is responsible for developing and delivering their employment framework, in consultation with other relevant agencies and the staff themselves. In addition, the Branch organises the Special Minister of State's professional development program and other HR services for this workforce.
The Branch works closely with all other areas of Ministerial and Parliamentary Services in developing and advising on policy matters.
Client Services
Acting Assistant Secretary: Kim Baker
Phone: (02) 6215 1372
Client Services provides a range of claims processing and reporting services to Senators, Members, their staff and former Parliamentarians. Client Services also administers the salary, employment conditions and travel payments to staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984.
Client Services Branch also negotiates and manages significant contracts for the supply of goods and services to Senators, Members, their staff and former Parliamentarians.
Accountability and Reporting
Acting Assistant Secretary: Yvette Sims
Phone: (02) 6215 2970
Accountability and Reporting Branch performs a number of functions associated with the control framework for the administration of Parliamentarians’ entitlements including the design and implementation of an enhanced audit and checking function and providing secretariat support to the Parliamentary Entitlements Advisory Committee. The Branch also promotes transparency and accountability through providing accurate and timely reporting on entitlements expenditure including the six monthly tabling in Parliament of entitlements expenditure paid by the Department on behalf of Senators and Members, and the associated tabling document for former Prime Ministers, former Parliamentarians' and Widows of Life Gold Pass holders.
Contact for information on this page: Finance Web Manager at: feedback@finance.gov.au