Services to Senators, Members and their Staff
Transparency
During the year, the government agreed to (and Finance implemented) a number of measures to increase transparency by publishing additional information about the services the department provides to Senators, Members and their staff.
On 23 December 2008, the then Special Minister of State tabled the Members of Parliament (Staff) [MOP(S)] Act 1984 Annual Report 2007-08 in the Parliament. This first annual report represents a significant improvement in transparency and accountability by making details available to the public about aspects of the employment of MOP(S) Act employees. The report includes an outline of the employment framework for MOP(S) Act employees, a staffing overview including position allocations, an outline of employee numbers and types, and information about salary ranges and non-salary benefits. The report also includes other staffing-related information, such as determinations made under the MOP(S) Act during the year, Occupational Health and Safety issues and information about the professional development of MOP(S) Act staff.
The accessibility of information tabled in the Parliament relating to the travel of Parliamentarians and former Parliamentarians was also improved in 2008-09. On 25 June 2009, the government tabled three documents:
- Travel and Travelling Allowance and Expenses for Senators and Members in the six-month period from 1 July to 31 December 2008;
- Travel expenses for former Parliamentarians for the same period; and
- Parliamentarians’ overseas study travel reports for this period.
These documents were made available on Finance’s internet site for the first time. The government plans to publish these documents on the site every six months when they are tabled, increasing their accessibility to the media and the public.
Also for the first time, the first two documents included estimates of the airline loyalty points accrued and used by Parliamentarians and former Parliamentarians, increasing the transparency of these entitlements and their use.
ANAO Audit of Parliamentarians' Entitlements
In May 2008, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) began a performance audit of the administration of parliamentary entitlements as part of its 2007-08 Planned Audit Program. On 8 September 2009, the ANAO tabled its report, Administration of Parliamentarians' Entitlements by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. In response, the government announced a range of reforms to improve the way entitlements are managed and reported, and also established a fundamental review of the parliamentary entitlements framework. During 2008-09, Finance provided extensive reporting, advice and support to both the ANAO and to the government in preparing the audit report and reforms.
Telepresence
On 27 February 2009, the Minister for Finance and Deregulation announced the government would establish a national inter-governmental telepresence system. The system will provide high quality, secure video conferencing facilities connecting federal, state and territory governments, and will be used in inter-jurisdictional meetings, including Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and Ministerial Council meetings. It is expected to reduce travel costs and associated carbon emissions, and improve productivity.
In May 2009, Finance successfully tested a pilot system of four telepresence facilities, including systems located in Parliament House in Canberra, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Melbourne and the department’s network monitoring centre in Hume. By 30 June 2010, the department will have installed 20 telepresence facilities at various locations throughout Australia.
Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program
On 1 July 2009, administration of the Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program transferred from Finance to the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid). Finance is no longer responsible for the program’s administration but is assisting AusAid with the transition.