Portfolio: Parliamentary Departments (not a portfolio)
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Department_of_the_Senate
$29M
2026-27 Budget (Budget Paper No. 4)8 tagged
Reform proposals on YourGov that name this department as a delivery partner — drawn from citizen voice, government strategy, research, international examples and gap analysis.
STRATEGY SUMMARY
The Senate department is the secretariat to the Australian Senate. Our key functions derive from this purpose and our work is substantially driven by the requirements of the Senate and senators. We provide the secretariat to the Senate – enabling its legislative and accountability activities – and to dozens of parliamentary committees, whose work encompasses the Senate's scrutiny functions and its exercise of Parliament's broad investigative powers.
PURPOSE
The Senate department is the secretariat to the Australian Senate. Our key functions derive from this purpose and our work is substantially driven by the requirements of the Senate and senators. We provide the secretariat to the Senate – enabling its legislative and accountability activities – and to dozens of parliamentary committees, whose work encompasses the Senate's scrutiny functions and its exercise of Parliament's broad investigative powers.
Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.5Outcomes
· 1
Outcome 1: Advisory and administrative support services to enable the Senate and senators to fulfil their representative duties and exercise the legislative power of the Commonwealth
The department's outcome is delivered under a single program, comprising key activities in the following areas: Advice about Senate and committee proceedings; Secretariat support for the Senate; Secretariat support for committees; Administrative advice and support for senators; Public information and parliamentary education; Sustaining capability, governance and accountability.
KEY ACTIVITIES
Values
· 3
Impartiality
Accuracy
Professionalism
Source documents
· 10
2024-25
Department of the Senate Annual report 2024-25 (PDF 2.5MB)
Open
2023-24
Annual report 2023-24 (PDF 728KB)
Open
2023
Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce 2023 Annual Report (PDF, 665 KB)
Open
2022-23
Annual report 2022-23 (PDF 728KB)
Open
2022
Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce 2022 Annual Report (PDF, 586 KB)
Open
2025-26
Download the Corporate plan 2025-26 (PDF 316KB)
Open
2024-25
Download the Corporate plan 2024-25 (PDF 249KB)
Open
2023-24
Corporate plan 2023-24 (PDF 346KB)
Open
2022-23
Corporate plan 2022-23 (PDF 313KB)
Open
2021-22
Corporate plan 2021-22 (PDF 852KB)
Open
Ideas distilled from this entity's strategy & evidence
· 8
Streamline Senate Briefing Process
Redesign the briefing process to ensure timely, concise, and accurate information delivery to senators.
2024-25.pdf
Enhance Parliamentary Education Program
Upgrade the parliamentary education program with interactive online modules and real-time Q&A sessions.
2024-25.pdf
Adopt Global Transparency Tools
Implement global best-practice transparency tools to enhance accountability and public trust.
association-worldbank.org-governance.txt
Improve Senate Committee Reports
Enhance the quality and accessibility of Senate committee reports with clearer summaries and data visualization.
2024-25.pdf
Optimize Senate Secretariat Support
Streamline administrative support processes to reduce workload and increase efficiency.
2024-25.pdf
Implement Feedback Loop
Establish a structured feedback loop to gather and act on public input regarding parliamentary services.
2024-25.pdf
Adopt Agile Methodology
Transition to an agile project management methodology to improve responsiveness and flexibility.
consulting-deloitte.com-government-public.txt
Enhance Data Transparency
Improve transparency of departmental data by making it more accessible and understandable.
2024-25.pdf
Streamline Senate Briefing Process
Redesign the briefing process to ensure timely, concise, and accurate information delivery to senators.
2024-25.pdf
Enhance Parliamentary Education Program
Upgrade the parliamentary education program with interactive online modules and real-time Q&A sessions.
2024-25.pdf
Adopt Global Transparency Tools
Implement global best-practice transparency tools to enhance accountability and public trust.
association-worldbank.org-governance.txt
Improve Senate Committee Reports
Enhance the quality and accessibility of Senate committee reports with clearer summaries and data visualization.
2024-25.pdf
Optimize Senate Secretariat Support
Streamline administrative support processes to reduce workload and increase efficiency.
2024-25.pdf
Implement Feedback Loop
Establish a structured feedback loop to gather and act on public input regarding parliamentary services.
2024-25.pdf
Adopt Agile Methodology
Transition to an agile project management methodology to improve responsiveness and flexibility.
consulting-deloitte.com-government-public.txt
Enhance Data Transparency
Improve transparency of departmental data by making it more accessible and understandable.
2024-25.pdf
Legislation administered
· 2
1999
Parliamentary Service Act 1999
The entity is one of four departments of the parliamentary service established under this Act.
2013
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
The entity adheres to the public governance and accountability arrangements set out in this Act.
Source library
· 15
2.6MB
2024-25.pdf
1.1MB
2023-24.pdf
673KB
2023.pdf
749KB
2022-23.pdf
600KB
2022.pdf
323KB
2025-26.pdf
250KB
2024-25.pdf
354KB
2023-24.pdf
311KB
2022-23.pdf
852KB
2021-22.pdf
307KB
Shadow_Ministry.pdf
165KB
Chair_summary_-_Progress_update_February_2024.pdf