Parliament House is administered by the departments of the Parliament - (see Parliamentary Officers)
the Department of the Legislative Council
the Department of the Legislative Assembly
the Parliamentary Services Department
The operations of Parliament House are managed by a Management Executive Committee (MEC) comprising -
the President of the Legislative Council
the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
the Clerks of both Houses
the Executive Manager, Parliamentary Services.
The building and grounds are bounded by Hay Street, the Mitchell Freeway, Malcolm Street and Harvest Terrace, with the entire area being gazetted as a Parliamentary Reserve with height restrictions to prevent visual obstruction by surrounding buildings.
The present Harvest Terrace frontage and the two Chambers of Parliament House were completed in 1904.
Later additions included the eastern frontage and the members bar (1964), offices on the southern side (1978), the visitors bar (1980), the gymnasium/courtyard (1988) and offices on the northern side (2003).
The facade of the 1904 structure incorporates Rottnest sandstone; later extensions are faced with Donnybrook sandstone. Locally quarried granite was used in the entrance foyer floors and steps, and the internal stairs and wall treatments are Italian Travertine marble. Wood panelling throughout is fluted and polished jarrah.
Because space is limited within Parliament House, other buildings nearby provide additional accommodation -
the Library Annexe located at 1 Harvest Terrace
the Legislative Council Committee Office and committee rooms at 18-32 Parliament Place
the Legislative Assembly Annexe and Select Committee Rooms at 1st floor, 11 Harvest Terrace
the Finance Unit and the Information Technology Unit at 2nd floor, 11 Harvest Terrace
The Department of the Legislative Council (the “department”) consists of the officers and employees appointed to serve in the Legislative Council. The department is neither an agency or instrumentality of the Crown nor a body corporate. Its existence is given statutory recognition, eg, Parliamentary and Electorate Staff (Employment) Act 1992.The department is divided into four administrative units, viz, Office of the President, Office of the Clerk, Procedure Office, and Committee Office.The department provides procedural, administrative and ancillary services to members of the Legislative Council acting in their parliamentary capacities.
advice and research on parliamentary procedure;
administrative and procedural support to committees appointed by the House;
preparation of documents for use in the House;
publication of the records of the House and its committees; and
provision of information on the activities of the House, the Parliament and committees.
The Clerk of the Legislative Council is the House’s principal adviser on parliamentary law, practice and procedure. As “Head of Department” the Clerk is responsible to the President for the proper management and functioning of the department.“Table Officers” or “Clerks at the Table” describe the officers of the House who share the performance of the Clerk’s functions in the House. There are four Table officers in the Council viz, the Clerk, the Deputy Clerk, and two Clerk Assistants.
The Legislative Council Procedure Office provides services intended to assist members in their preparation for, and during, a sitting of the House. These services include -
supply of Bills, Acts, subsidiary legislation (regulations, rules, etc) tabled papers, reports;
supply of Notice Papers, Minutes of Proceedings, Supplementary Notice Papers (amendments to Bills);
processing of petitions; and
the provision of information and documents relating to the business of the House.
The Committee Office provides advisory/research and administrative services to all Council committees. The Office is administered by an Executive Officer. A Clerk Assistant has an overall responsibility for committee services provided by the department.
The principal role of the Department of the Legislative Assembly is to provide procedural, administrative and support services to assist members of the Legislative Assembly in performing their parliamentary duties. Services include -
provision of information on the activities of the House, the Parliament and committees to: Government departments/agencies, community and special interest groups and the general public.
The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly is the principal advisor on parliamentary procedure and privilege to the Speaker and members of the Legislative Assembly. Administratively, the Clerk is the departmental head of the Legislative Assembly.
The Clerk, Deputy Clerk and Clerk Assistants provide advice to members on Legislative Assembly procedure and practice. They also draft motions and minor amendments to Bills.
Parliamentary officers copy and distribute all relevant information for members in the Chamber.
The Legislative Assembly Office provides a range of services to support the operations of the House and assist members in the performance of their parliamentary duties. These services include –
supply of Bills, explanatory memorandums, Acts, tabled papers, reports and regulations;
supply of Notice Papers, Votes and Proceedings, and other documents;
copies of ministers’ second reading speeches;
provision of information on the activities of the House; and
provision of information on parliamentary committees and their membership.
The Legislative Assembly office publishes various papers which provide information on the business and proceedings of the House. Whilst these papers are all available in hard copy many of these documents are available electronically on this site.
The Parliamentary Education Office which administratively is within the Department of the Legislative Assembly, manages and delivers services for promotion, awareness, knowledge and understanding of the history, role and function of the Western Australian Parliament. Education programs and materials are developed and delivered for members, parliamentary staff, dignitaries, professional bodies, school and tertiary groups, community groups and for the general public.
The role of the Parliamentary Services Department is to provide high-quality administrative and business support services and resources to the Presiding Officers, members of Parliament and the Chamber departments in the areas of -
Building Services: looking after accommodation, and repairs to and maintenance of Parliament House and its annex buildings;
Car Parking: providing parking areas for members, staff and visitors;
Catering: providing food and beverage services, including the members dining room and bars; staff canteen; function catering;
Finance: providing financial and management accounting services, including members and staff payroll;
Gardens: caring for the gardens and the grounds of Parliament House;
Reporting Services: providing reporting, editing and publishing services for the Parliament;
Human Resources: providing advice to management and staff in all areas of human resources;
Information Technology: providing information technology support to the Parliament;
Library: providing information resources to the Parliament, staff and members’ research staff;
Security: ensuring the security of members and staff while on parliamentary premises, and of parliamentary buildings, property and assets;
Switchboard: providing telephone switchboard and paging services; and
Televising: televising of proceedings for in-house viewing and for supply to the media.
eBooks
The Executive Manager, Parliamentary Services is the department’s chief executive officer and is responsible for providing overall management and leadership of the Parliamentary Services Department’s diverse range of staff.
Publications