Legislative Council

Text here DEPARTMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Department of the Legislative Council Annual Report 2011–12 1 Text here 2 Department of the Legislative Council Annual Report 2011–12 Professional and Personal APPENDICES Development 28 APPENDIX A 41 Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference 28 Role of the Legislative Council Staff 41 ANZACATT Professional Development Seminar 29 Table of Contents Parliamentary Law Practice and Procedure APPENDIX B 43 Course 29 Staff Employed as at 30 June 2012 43 APPENDIX C 45 CLERK’S OVERVIEW 7 Provision of Information 19 ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING 31 Members of the Legislative Council — 57th DEPARTMENTAL VISION 9 Legislative Council Information Sheets 19 Parliament 45 Register of Members’ Interests 20 Departmental Management and Planning 31 Departmental Goals 9 APPENDIX D 47 Review of House Readers and Auto-text Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 31 Business of the Department 9 Selected statistics relating to sittings of the Database 20 Presiding Officer’s Travel 31 Department of the Legislative Council Organisation Legislative Council, 2007-08 to 2011-12 47 Annual Plan Changes for 2012-13 32 Chart 10 EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY APPENDIX E 48 Contents RELATIONS 21 Parliamentary Committees 32 Contents Statistics relating to Joint Investigatory PROCEDURE AND ADVICE 13 Parliamentary Joint Investigatory Public Awareness and Education 21 Committees administered by the Department Procedural Advice 13 Committee System 32 YMCA Youth Parliament 21 of the Legislative Council 48 Advice to the President and Members 13 Economic Development and Infrastructure Open Day 21 Statistics relating to Legislative Council Standing • Effect of Sub Judice Rule When Sentencing Not Committee 32 Australasian Study of Parliament Group 21 Committees 48 Completed Education and Training Committee 32 Parliamentary Internship Program 22 APPENDIX F 49 • Termination of Committee Inquiries Environment and Natural Resources Committee 33 Legislative Council Expenditure Statements, • Content of Notices of Motion Special Events and Promotional Activities 22 Law Reform Committee 34 2011-12 49 • Constitutional Implications of the Transport Bendigo Regional Sitting 22 Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Legislative Council — Members — Special (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Amendment Hospitality and Visitors 22 Development Committee 34 Appropriations 49 (Fares) Bill 2012 Official Visitors and Delegations 22 Road Safety Committee 35 APPENDIX G 50 Amendments to Bills in Committee of the Whole 14 Sister State delegations 23 Committee Services Office 35 Major Outputs and Performance Measures — Production of Documents 14 Australian Political Exchange Chairs Panel 35 Legislative Council 50 Procedure Committee 15 Council Delegation 23 Dispute Resolution Committee 35 APPENDIX H 51 Procedural Review Meetings 15 Attachment of Officers from the Council Standing Committees 35 National Assembly of Kenya 23 Joint Investigatory Committees Council Sittings and Documentation 15 Standing Committee on Economy and — Expenditure Statements, 2011-12 51 Sitting Day Business Meetings 15 PHYSICAL RESOURCES 25 Infrastructure 35 Sittings of the House 15 Standing Committee on Legal and Social Issues 36 APPENDIX I 52 Workplace Maintenance 25 Parliamentary Publications 15 Standing Committee on Environment and Major Outputs and Performance Measures Council Chamber Lighting Project 25 — Joint Investigatory Committees 52 Sitting Statistics 16 Planning 36 Opposition Advisers’ Box 25 Breakdown of Business 2011–2012 17 APPENDIX J 53 Members’ Office Relocations and Fit Outs 25 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 37 Supplementary Information as at Procedural Research Projects 17 Use of Precincts 25 Finance 37 30 June 2012 53 Procedural Bulletins 17 Council Chamber and Meeting Rooms 25 Departmental Funding 37 External Procedural Publications 17 APPENDIX K 54 Functions 25 Joint Investigatory Committee Budget Rulings from the Chair 1979–2011 17 Non-current physical assets 54 Arrangements 38 Guide to Procedure for Members 17 HUMAN RESOURCES 27 APPENDIX L 55 Public Accounts and Estimate Acting Presidents’ Seminars 18 Human Resources Management 27 Committee Hearing 38 Administration of Acts 55 Legislative Council Practice and Parliamentary Officers (Non Executive Staff – Legislative Council Budget 2012-13 39 Procedure Manual 18 Victoria) Single Enterprise Agreement 27 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 19 Equal Opportunity Officers 27 Fatigue Management 27 Database Management 19 Occupational Health and Safety Committee 28 Questions on Notice Database 19 Review of Attendant Group 28 Tabled Documents Database 19 Communication 28 General Staff Meetings 28 4 Department of the Legislative Council Annual Report 2011–12 Department of the Legislative Council Annual Report 2011–12 5 Clerk’s Overview I have pleasure in presenting my report on the The year was notable for the staging of the Australasian operations of the Department of the Legislative Council Study of Parliament Group Conference in October for 2011-12. 2011. The conference with the theme of “The Executive versus The Parliament: Who Wins?” attracted a record In the year the Council sat on 54 occasions with the number of registrations and presenters and as a result average length of sitting of 8 hours and 58 minutes had to be moved from the Chambers to Queen’s Hall. being a slight drop on the previous year’s average of The conference was largely managed by Legislative 9 hours and 49 minutes per sitting. The sitting year Council staff and I sincerely thank them both as Chair Text here was particularly notable for the number of occasions of the Victorian Chapter and Clerk of the Legislative the sittings were extended and the number of Bills Council for their work. Overview Clerk’s considered in Committee of the whole. On eight occasions the House agreed to motions to extend the Also notable was the staging of the ANZACATT sitting beyond 10.00 pm and on three of those occasions Professional Development Seminar in January the sitting continued after midnight. During the year 97 2012. Under the theme of “Agents for change and bills were considered and of those 57 bills went into custodians of Parliamentary traditions; the role of the Committee of the whole. The number of bills considered Parliamentary Officer past and future”, the seminar in committee continues an increasing trend and reflects was attended by parliamentary officers from all the capacity of the Council to provide sufficient time in its jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand as well as weekly program for more detailed scrutiny of legislation some overseas jurisdictions and the feedback received than is possible in the Legislative Assembly. by the ANZACATT Executive was highly favourable. Arrangements for the seminar were mainly co- 2011-12 also saw the first full year of operation of the ordinated by Legislative Council staff on behalf of the new Council Standing Committee system and the Parliament. I thank them most sincerely for their efforts. committees have effectively utilized the provisions of the Standing Orders which provide for them to meet on 2012-13 will see the fifth regional sitting of the Legislative Wednesday evenings after the Council has adjourned, Council in Bendigo on 6 September 2012. Arrangements usually by 7.00 pm. A reasonable assessment of the for the sitting are well advanced and staff in the new system will conclude that it is not yet operating at department are working closely with those of the City of its maximum capacity, principally because the number Greater Bendigo to ensure the event is a success. The of bills referred to the Legislative Council committees Council is fortunate to be meeting at the Bendigo Town has been relatively low. However, a number of very Hall which is a building of great historical significance and valuable reports have already been tabled, especially in some ways is reminiscent of Parliament House itself. from the references committees. I am sure it will be highly successful and showcase the Legislative Council as a highly effective house of review in The biggest challenge for the department regarding the the Parliament of Victoria. new Council committee system has been to provide adequate resources to run the system if even at a The Parliament Appropriation Bill for 2012-13 has modest level. To this end the Department is grateful to provided for a decrease of 2.48% in the Council’s the Treasurer for approving our application to access output funding budget for that financial year. This our prior years’ surplus and therefore supplement the is consistent with funding outcomes of the other Council’s output funding budget. A further submission output groups within the Parliament and public to again access our prior years’ surplus for this sector agencies generally. It is necessary to note here purpose will be made for 2012-13 once the Council’s that the decrease in funding will cause some cost final budget position for 2011-12 is known. pressures and the Council’s budget will need to be 6 Department of the Legislative Council Annual Report 2011–12 Department of the Legislative Council Annual Report 2011–12 7 carefully managed. The principal cost pressures will arise from staging the regional sitting for which no additional funding has been received, the outcomes of the new Parliamentary Officers Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and the extent to which the Government Departmental Vision will fund these increases, and therefore the resulting shortfall to be met from the Legislative Council output funding, and the ongoing management of

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