Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                             2

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 2

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

3............ Objects of this Act.............................................................................. 2

4............ Simplified outline of this Act.............................................................. 3

5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 4

6............ Meaning of parliamentarian................................................................. 7

6A......... References to the Minister................................................................... 8

7............ Vacancy in the office of a member of the PWSS Advisory Board...... 8

8............ Crown to be bound............................................................................. 8

9............ Extension to external Territories.......................................................... 8

10.......... Extra-territorial operation.................................................................... 8

Part 2--Parliamentary Workplace Support Service                                        9

Division 1--Simplified outline of this Part                                                         9

11.......... Simplified outline of this Part.............................................................. 9

Division 2--Establishment and functions of the PWSS                             10

12.......... Parliamentary Workplace Support Service........................................ 10

13.......... Functions of the PWSS..................................................................... 10

14.......... Human resources functions............................................................... 11

15.......... Support function............................................................................... 12

16.......... Complaint resolution function........................................................... 13

17.......... Policy development function............................................................. 15

18.......... Education and training functions....................................................... 16

19.......... Review function................................................................................ 17

20.......... Independence of the PWSS............................................................... 19

21.......... PWSS has privileges and immunities of the Crown.......................... 20

Division 3--Reports by the PWSS                                                                       21

22.......... Reports by the PWSS....................................................................... 21

Division 4--Taking action against parliamentarians for certain non-compliance          23

23.......... Including details of certain non-compliance by parliamentarians in a public report  23

24.......... Notifying parliamentary Leaders of certain non-compliance............. 24

Part 3--Chief Executive Officer of the PWSS                                                  26

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          26

25.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 26

Division 2--Establishment and functions of the CEO                               27

26.......... Chief Executive Officer..................................................................... 27

27.......... Functions of the CEO....................................................................... 27

28.......... Independence of the CEO................................................................. 27

Division 3--Appointment of the CEO                                                                28

29.......... Appointment of CEO........................................................................ 28

30.......... Appointment of acting CEO.............................................................. 28

Division 4--Terms and conditions for the CEO                                           30

31.......... Remuneration of the CEO................................................................. 30

32.......... Leave of absence of the CEO............................................................ 30

33.......... Other employment of the CEO.......................................................... 30

34.......... Resignation of the CEO.................................................................... 30

35.......... Termination of appointment of the CEO........................................... 31

36.......... Other terms and conditions of the CEO............................................ 32

Part 4--Staff of the PWSS etc.                                                                                    33

37.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 33

38.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 33

39.......... Persons assisting the PWSS............................................................. 33

40.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 34

Part 5--PWSS Advisory Board                                                                                  35

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          35

41.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 35

Division 2--Establishment and functions of the PWSS Advisory Board               36

42.......... Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Advisory Board............. 36

43.......... Functions of the PWSS Advisory Board.......................................... 36

44.......... PWSS Advisory Board must approve or reject certain proposals..... 37

Division 3--Membership of the PWSS Advisory Board                          38

45.......... Membership of the PWSS Advisory Board...................................... 38

46.......... Appointment of members of the PWSS Advisory Board................. 38

47.......... Period of appointment for members of the PWSS Advisory Board.. 39

48.......... Acting members of the PWSS Advisory Board................................ 39

Division 4--Terms and conditions for members of the PWSS Advisory Board                41

49.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 41

50.......... Disclosure of interests....................................................................... 41

51.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 42

52.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 42

53.......... Termination of appointment.............................................................. 42

54.......... Other terms and conditions............................................................... 43

Division 5--PWSS Advisory Board procedures                                          44

55.......... PWSS Advisory Board procedures.................................................. 44

Part 6--PWSS Consultative Committee                                                                45

56.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 45

57.......... Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Consultative Committee. 45

58.......... Functions of the PWSS Consultative Committee.............................. 45

59.......... Membership of the PWSS Consultative Committee etc.................... 46

Part 7--Information sharing                                                                                        49

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                          49

60.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 49

Division 2--Information sharing between the PWSS and other Commonwealth entities etc.   50

61.......... Information sharing between the PWSS and other Commonwealth entities etc.       50

62.......... Giving information to PWSS for certain reports............................... 51

63.......... CEO may make arrangements for sharing information..................... 52

Division 3--Requesting information from parliamentarians and MOPS employees      54

64.......... Requesting information from parliamentarians.................................. 54

65.......... Requesting information from MOPS employees.............................. 55

Part 8--Miscellaneous                                                                                                       56

66.......... Simplified outline of this Part............................................................ 56

67.......... Effect of this Act on parliamentary privileges and immunities.......... 56

68.......... Review of operation of this Act........................................................ 56

69.......... PWSS rules....................................................................................... 56

 

 

 

Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023

No. 70, 2023

 

An Act to establish the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, and for related purposes

[Assented to 20 September 2023]

The Parliament of Australia enacts: