Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Amending Determination 2020

Administered by Department of Finance

Legislation au F2020N00153 Not in force Notifiable Instrument

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Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Amending Determination 2020

I, Simon Birmingham, Minister for Finance, make this determination under subsection 33(1) of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017.

 

Dated 10 December 2020   

Simon Birmingham

Minister for Finance

 

 

Contents

1 Name

2 Commencement

3 Authority

4 Schedule

1        Name

This determination is the Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Amending Determination 2020.

2        Commencement

This determination commences on the day after it is signed.

3        Authority

This determination is made under subsection 33(1) of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017.

4        Schedule

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Determination (No. 1) 2019

1 Section 12

Repeal section, substitute

12 Provision of office resources at CPOs

(1)        Subject to subsection (2), for a member who is provided with an office in a CPO, the Commonwealth must provide the following resources within that office, or as common facilities at the CPO:

(a)   a conference room;

(b)   a media or press conference room;

(c)   a telepresence room;

(d)   a utilities room;

(e)   a kitchen or tea room;

(f)    a bathroom.

Note: An en suite bathroom will be provided in a permanent office in a CPO, where possible.

(2)        The Commonwealth may meet its obligations under subsection (1) by providing one or more of the listed resources as a multi-use room.

(3)        In a CPO located in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, for a Minister who is provided with an office prescribed by subsection 73(1) of the Regulations in that CPO, the Commonwealth must provide a Cabinet meeting room as a common facility.

Telecommunications and Postage

(4)        For the members specified in subsection (5), the following resources are to be provided in relation to the office provided under this determination:

(a)   telephone connection, call costs and costs associated with managing call services;

(b)   for a member at paragraph 12(5)(a), and at the request of the member at paragraph 12(5)(b), office phone directory listing in a publicly available telephone directory—online, mobile and print editions;

(c)   at the request of the member, a facsimile line and transmission costs.

(5)        The members are:

(a)   a member who is provided with an office under section 6 of this determination (including where paragraph 7(2)(a) or 8(2)(a) also applies), or

(b)   a senior office holder who is a member of the Opposition or the leader of a minority party who is provided with an office under section 8 of this determination.

(6)        At the request of a member representing an electorate which contains multiple call charge areas, the member is to be provided with one low call cost mobile-enabled number for an office provided under section 6 of this determination (including where paragraph 7(2)(a) or 8(2)(a) also applies).

(7)        In relation to mail for a member who is provided with a permanent office at a CPO, the Commonwealth is to provide, as a common facility, mail reception and security screening.

Security and General Services

(8)        For each member who is provided with an office in a CPO, the Commonwealth must provide, at the CPO, the following:

(a)   cleaning services;

(b)   waste collection and disposal services;

(c)   pest control services;

(d)   security services and related security infrastructure;

(e)   facilities management services; and

(f)    administrative support services.

(9)        The security infrastructure in paragraph 12(8)(d) shall include the following resources, installed at the CPO:

(a)   a centralised secure reception counter;

(b)   a standard CCTV monitoring system; and

(c)   duress alarm buttons in each office within the CPO.

(10)    For a member who is provided with an office at a CPO in Melbourne or Sydney the Commonwealth is to provide laundering of relevant resources provided under this determination.

Utilities, Insurance and Training

(11)    Electricity connection and consumption charges are to be paid in relation to an office, including common facilities, provided to a member under this determination.

(12)    Contents insurance is to be provided for the office resources which are provided for a member under this determination.

Note: Members and their staff are personally responsible for insuring their personal effects.

(13)    For a member who is provided with public resources under this determination, the Commonwealth is to provide to the member and relevant staff working in the member’s office with training in relation to the use of the provided resources, on request.

Consumables

(14)    A member who is provided with a temporary office in a CPO is to be provided with:

(a)   reasonable stationery for the conduct of the member’s parliamentary business at the temporary office,

(b)   basic hospitality refreshments.

(15)    For the purposes of paragraph 12(14)(b), basic hospitality refreshments may include tea, coffee, milk, sugar, biscuits and disposable cups.

(16)    For a member who is provided with an office under this determination, the Commonwealth must provide the following resources within that office, or as common facilities at the CPO:

(a)   basic hygiene supplies;

(b)   personal protective equipment;

(c)   dishwashing and basic cleaning supplies.

(17)    For the purposes of paragraph 12(16)(a), basic hygiene supplies may include toilet paper, soap, paper towels, hand sanitiser and tissues.

Relocation expenses

(18)    The following resources are to be provided on request to a member who, after the commencement of this section, is to be provided with a permanent office under this determination:

(a)   office telephone number and mail redirection services for up to three months;

(b)   reasonable resources, such as moving boxes and tape, for the relocation of resources provided to the member under the Act;

(c)   removalist services for resources provided to the member under the Act to the member’s permanent office in the CPO.

(19)    For a member who, after the commencement of this section, is provided with an electorate office under this determination, the Commonwealth is to publish a black and white newspaper advertisement of the location of the new office.

First Aid, Emergency and Fire Safety

(20)    For a member who is provided with an office in a CPO, the Commonwealth must ensure access to:

(a)   first aid equipment

(b)   emergency and fire safety resources.

(21)    For the purposes of paragraph 12(20)(a), first aid equipment may include a first aid kit, a defibrillator, and other first aid equipment or resources which are required in the circumstances.

(22)    For the purposes of paragraph 12(20)(b), emergency and fire safety resources may include hard hats, high visibility safety vests, a fire extinguisher, a fire blanket, and other emergency and fire safety equipment or resources which are required in the circumstances.

 

2 Section 13

Repeal section, substitute

13 Provision of existing resources for offices

(1)        For an office provided to a member under sections 6, 7, 8 or 9 of this determination, the Commonwealth must provide to the member, as public resources prescribed by subsection 74(1) of the Regulations, the goods, services, premises, equipment and other facilities that were provided in the CPO (in connection with the office) immediately before the commencement of this determination.

(2)        Where, after the commencement of this section:

(a)   a member (the new occupant) is provided with a permanent office in a CPO under this determination; and

(b)   prior to being provided to the new occupant, the office was provided to another person (the former occupant) as a permanent office (whether under this determination or another determination under subsection 33(1) or under section 16 of the Act)

the Commonwealth must provide to the new occupant as public resources prescribed by subsection 74(1) of the Regulations, the goods, services, premises, equipment and other facilities that were provided to the former occupant (in connection with the office) immediately before the former occupant ceased to be provided with the office.

(3)        Subject to subsection (4), for the resources provided to a member under section 12 of this determination, the Commonwealth must provide the goods, services, premises, equipment and other facilities that were provided in the CPO immediately before the commencement of this determination to the member.

(4)        Subsection (3) does not apply to resources provided for under another appropriation.

(5)        This section applies to public resources that are not otherwise dealt with in this determination.

Overview

The Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Amending Determination 2020I, enacted by Simon Birmingham, the Minister for Finance, amends the Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Determination (No. 1) 2019. This determination aims to adjust and update the resources provided to members and their offices in Commonwealth Parliament Offices (CPOs). The determination was made under subsection 33(1) of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 and outlines the resources and services to be provided by the Commonwealth to members and their offices, including office facilities, utilities, telecommunications, security services, and general office consumables. The overarching policy objective is to ensure that members are adequately supported in their parliamentary duties by providing necessary office resources and services. This amending determination is a response to the need to update and refine the resources and services provided to members in CPOs, ensuring they are equipped to perform their roles effectively. By specifying the resources and services to be provided, the determination ensures consistency and clarity in the support offered to members, facilitating their parliamentary activities.

Scope and Application

The Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Amending Determination 2020, made under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 by the Minister for Finance, outlines amendments to the resources and facilities provided to members of the Commonwealth Parliament in Commonwealth Parliament Offices (CPO). These offices are situated in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The determination applies to members who are provided with an office in a CPO, including ministers, senior office holders, and members of the Opposition or the leader of a minority party. The amendments specify the provision of various office resources such as conference rooms, utilities, and security services, along with telecommunication and mail services, consumables, and training. Additionally, the determination mandates the provision of existing resources for offices and ensures continuity of services for new occupants of permanent offices. The determination does not apply to resources provided under another appropriation, and it is subject to the broader provisions of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017. The scope of this determination is confined to the offices provided to members within the specified CPOs, and it does not extend to other entities or industries outside the scope of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017. The determination came into effect the day after it was signed, on 11 December 2020. The application of this determination is further detailed and amended through the schedule, which specifies the particular instruments amended or repealed, ensuring that the obligations and provisions are clearly defined and implemented within the legislative framework.

Key Provisions

The Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Amending Determination 2020I, under subsection 33(1) of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017, amends the Parliamentary Business Resources (Commonwealth Parliament Offices) Determination (No. 1) 2019. The amendments focus on the resources and facilities that the Commonwealth must provide to members and their staff in Commonwealth Parliament Offices (CPOs). Section 12 of the amended determination outlines the specific resources that must be provided within or as common facilities at the CPO. This includes essential office spaces such as conference rooms, media or press conference rooms, telepresence rooms, utilities rooms, kitchens or tea rooms, and bathrooms. Additionally, certain members, such as Ministers and senior office holders, are entitled to specific telecommunications and postage services. The Commonwealth is also required to provide essential services such as cleaning, waste collection, pest control, security, and facilities management. Other provisions include utilities, insurance, training, consumables, relocation expenses, and first aid, emergency, and fire safety equipment. The amended determination imposes various obligations on the Commonwealth to ensure the provision of specified resources and services to members and their staff in CPOs. These obligations include the provision of office spaces and equipment, telecommunications and postage services, security and general services, utilities, insurance, training, consumables, relocation expenses, and first aid, emergency, and fire safety equipment. The Commonwealth must also ensure that existing resources are provided to new occupants of permanent offices. The determination clarifies the resources that must be provided by the Commonwealth in relation to offices provided under sections 6, 7, 8, or 9 of the determination. The amended determination does not explicitly outline offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches. However, the failure to comply with the provisions of the determination could potentially lead to legal actions for non-compliance, depending on the specific circumstances and any applicable legislation. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 are not detailed in the amended determination. Legal actions for non-compliance could result in various civil or criminal consequences, depending on the nature and severity of the breach.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.