Joint House Department
1901 – 1 February 2004
Parliamentary department serving both Houses that maintained and managed the Parliament House building, including its grounds, gardens, catering, security and visitor services.
How it came into existence
Created in 1901 to manage the accommodation and services shared by the Senate and the House of Representatives, which then sat in the Victorian Parliament House in Melbourne. It had no Commonwealth predecessor.
Legislation: Parliamentary Service Act 1999 (from 1999)
Changes during its life
- 9 May 1927Took charge of the provisional Parliament House in Canberra when the Parliament moved from Melbourne.
- 1988Took over the management of the new Parliament House on Capital Hill, built by the Parliament House Construction Authority, when the Parliament moved in.
- 5 December 1999The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 commenced, making the department's staff parliamentary service employees rather than officers employed under the Public Service Act.
How it ended
Merged with the Department of the Parliamentary Library and the Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff on 1 February 2004 to form the Department of Parliamentary Services, which took over building management, security and visitor services.
- Building management of Parliament House
- Security
- Catering and visitor services
Main functions
- Building maintenance and management
- Catering and parliamentary refreshment rooms
- Gardens and grounds
- Parliament House security
- Visitor and guide services
Lineage
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Sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.