Parliament (Joint Services) (Staffing) Amendment Bill

Introduction and First Reading

Received from the House of Assembly and read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (17:30): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading explanation inserted in Hansard without my reading it.

Leave granted.

The Parliament (Joint Services) (Staffing) Amendment Bill 2017 will amend the Parliament (Joint Services) Act 1985 to remove the role of the Governor in approving staffing matters for the Joint Parliamentary Service, or JPS.

As Members would know, the JPS is established to provide services to both Houses of Parliament. The JPS is responsible to the Joint Parliamentary Service Committee (JPSC), which is comprised of the Speaker, the President, and two members from each House, one government and one opposition. The JPS currently consists of 64 FTE.

Staffing matters within the JPS are largely a matter for the JPSC, but there are three matters that currently require the approval of the Governor:

creating or abolishing offices within the JPS

determining salary classifications, and

approval special leave of more than 3 days.

The Parliament (Joint Services) Act was enacted following a Joint Select Committee Report on the Administration of Parliament in 1985, but it is not clear from the report or from Hansard why the Governor was given the role of overseeing staffing matters in the JPS. It is possible that this was done to ensure consistency with public sector classifications, or to ensure that Executive Council was kept abreast of Parliament's potential expenditure.

In my view, it is not appropriate that the Governor be required to approve staffing matters for the JPS. Under the current system, the Governor is asked to reclassify, create, and abolish positions at the administrative services level. This is inconsistent with broader public sector practices in which the power to manage staffing matters is delegated to agencies to create a flexible and responsive workforce. To involve the Governor in staffing matters creates unnecessary delays and an unnecessary administrative burden on the Governor and his staff.

The Amendment Bill will transfer to the JPSC the power to create or abolish positions, determine salary classifications, and approve special leave of greater than 3 days' duration. It will also update a number of obsolete references to industrial relations legislation. It does not affect the rights of JPS employees or their ability to access industrial processes under the Return to Work Act 2014 or the Fair Work Act 1994.

In preparing the Bill, I have consulted with the JPS through the Speaker, who is the current chair of the JPS. I have also consulted with the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. No concerns have been raised.

I commend the Bill to Members.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

2—Commencement

3—Amendment provisions

These clauses are formal.

Part 2—Amendment of Parliament (Joint Services) Act 1985

4—Amendment of section 10—Creation and abolition of offices

5—Amendment of section 11—Classification of offices

6—Amendment of section 21—Special leave

These clauses remove the role of the Governor in relation to staffing issues.

7—Amendment of section 24—Application of certain Acts

This clause updates some references to legislation and removes obsolete references.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins.