Home >> About the Department >> Department Structure >> Corporate and Parliamentary Services (CAPS)

Corporate and Parliamentary Services (CAPS)

Chief Audit Executive

Chief Audit Executive: David Yarra
Phone: (02) 6215 2130

The Chief Audit Executive provides high level support and advice to the Secretary, Executive Board and the Audit Committee to drive a risk management culture through the internal audit programme, acts as an independent source of advice on business performance, control, corporate priorities and strategies and manages liaison with the ANAO as the external auditors.

Legal Services

Branch Manager: Stephen Taylor
Phone: (02) 6215 3160

Special Counsel: Bruce Brown
Phone: (02) 6215 2170

The Legal Services Branch reports directly to the General Manager and provides the Department of Finance and Deregulation with in-house legal advice and assistance including on:

• commercial and public law matters,
• assistance in the management of litigation,
• drafting commercial and other instruments; and
• co-ordination of FOI and Finance Legislative Instruments.

Also, in consultation with their Business Group clients, they arrange for legal advice and assistance to be provided by Finance's panel of external legal service providers (the Legal Panel).

Legal Expenditure for 2007-2008 [ 34 KB]

Back to top

Corporate Services

Division Manager: John Edge
Phone: (02) 6215 2575

Strategic Partnerships

Branch Manager: Michael Hirschfeld
Phone: (02) 6215 2125

The Strategic Partnerships Branch manages the provision of a number of services required for the successful functioning of the Department. These services are either delivered in-house or through contractual arrangements with outsourced suppliers and include:

• office services
• records management
• property and accommodation
• departmental physical and personnel security arrangements

Parliamentary and Corporate Support

Branch Manager: Duncan McIntyre
Phone: (02) 6215 2849

The Parliamentary and Corporate Support Branch contributes to the achievement of the Department's outcomes by providing a general coordination, liaison and advisory function across the Department and the Portfolio on issues, including:

• legislation bids
• Cabinet scheduling
• general ministerial support
• communications and marketing
• preparation of portfolio budget bids
• media and issues management
• Senate Estimates coordination

In supporting our Ministers, the Branch also provides a central coordinating and policy role for Finance and other agencies in the Portfolio.

Knowledge Management and Information Services

Acting Branch Manager: Emma McDonald
Phone: (02) 6215 3929

The Knowledge Management and Information Services Branch is responsible for initiatives designed to build the expertise and capability of the organisation. This is achieved through developing and implementing the knowledge management and staff development frameworks, improving access to departmental information online and meeting Finance's needs for high quality research. The services provided by the Branch to deliver on these goals include:

• management and development of Finance's intranet and internet sites
• implementation of knowledge management initiatives
• provision of information services and research support
• management and provision of learning and development opportunities

Human Resources Services

Acting Branch Manager: Michael Nelson
Phone: (02) 6215 2021

The Human Resources (HR) Services Branch provides advice on HR issues, manages HR program development and delivery, and manages all HR Services contractual arrangements. Services provided include:

• HR Services contract management, including payroll and administration, workplace health and safety, recruitment, and specialist HR services
• performance management framework
• support for the Department's remuneration processes
• Graduate Recruitment Program
• vacation employment

The team also provides policy advice and support to managers and employees on HR issues, and coordinates all HR policy and program development for the Department.

Back to top

Ministerial and Parliamentary Services (M&PS)

Division Manager: Kim Clarke
Phone: (02) 6215 3401

Entitlements Management

Branch Manager: Greg Miles
Phone: (02) 6215 3403

The Entitlements Management Branch plays a central role in the M&PS Group, providing the communication link between the Group and our 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

Kim Baker (VIC & SA) Ph: (02) 6215 3640

David Wilson (WA, QLD & ACT) Ph: (02) 6215 3426

Debbie Lewis (NSW, NT & TAS) Ph: (02) 6215 3827

Staff Help Desk Ph: (02) 6215 3333

mpshelp@finance.gov.au

Entitlements Management Unit Help Desk Ph: (02) 6215 3542

emb@finance.gov.au

Australian Political Exchange Council Secretariat Ph: (02) 6215 3248

auspol.exchange@finance.gov.au

COMCAR

Branch Manager: Ken Sweeney PSM
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

On 26 June 2003 the Special Minister of State, Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, launched COMCAR's Customer Service Charter. 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
E-mail	COMCAR@finance.gov.au
Reservations (by phone)	13 18 47
Reservations (by fax)	1800 807 921

Entitlements Policy

Branch Manager: Suzanne Pitson
Phone: (02) 6215 3836

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 Employment and Workplace Relations in relation to the development of, and changes to, determinations affecting the entitlements of Senators and Members.

There are approximately 1600 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

Branch Manager: Carolyn Hughes
Phone: (02) 6215 3711

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.

Reports prepared by Client Services, to promote transparency and accountability through accurate and timely reporting on entitlements expenditure, include; the six monthly tabling in Parliament of travel 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; Monthly Management Reports for Senators, Members and former Prime Ministers; and other ad hoc reports on entitlement usage and expenditure.

Client Services negotiates and manages significant contracts including the provision of travel management services to all Parliamentarians, staff and former Parliamentarians; property management services; management of the Communications Allowance; and the provision of flags to Senators and Members under the Constituent Request Program.

---

Contact for information on this page: Finance Web Manager at: feedback@finance.gov.au

---

Back to top