In Australia, there are four parliamentary departments that provide advice and support to both Houses of the Australian Parliament, their members, committees as well as services to Parliament House, including visitors.
The parliamentary departments operate under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 and report only to one or both of the presiding officers of the Australian Parliament — the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives — who in turn are responsible for the departments to their respective house of parliament.
The parliamentary departments are independent of the Australian Government, though the Merit Protection Commissioner provides employment services to both services on an equivalent basis.
The parliamentary departments are:[1] The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) provides advice and various facilities and services for the Australian Parliament and members of parliament, including: The head of the DPS is called Secretary, currently Rob Stefanic, who reports to both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
[3] The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) was formed to "inform the parliament by providing independent and non-partisan analysis of the budget cycle, fiscal policy and the financial implications of proposals".