Contents

Foreword

1. What is Parliamentary Workflow?

• 1.1 Parliamentary workflow: agencies supporting ministers in their roles
• 1.2 This Guide—an update
• 1.3 Legislation shaping parliamentary workflow
• 1.4 Government policies regulate some parliamentary workflow
• 1.5 Structure of this Guide
• 1.6 Acknowledgements
• 1.7 Further references
• Checklist: What is Parliamentary Workflow?

2. Leadership and Planning

• 2.1 Importance of effective executive agency leadership
• 2.2 Planning is a foundation for parliamentary workflow
• 2.3 Planning for ongoing review
• 2.4 Planning use of information and communications technology
• 2.5 Structures and control systems to coordinate parliamentary workflow
• 2.6 Resource allocation varies between agencies
• 2.7 Further references
• Checklist: Leadership and Planning

3. Managing Relationships

• 3.1 Good working relationships are useful in managing parliamentary workflow
• 3.2 Agency relationships with the minister and the minister’s office
• 3.3 Internal relationships among coordinators
• 3.4 Relationships among agencies within portfolios
• 3.5 Relationship between legislative support areas and parliamentary services units
• 3.6 Relationship between an agency and electorate offices of members of parliament
• 3.7 Networking among parliamentary workflow practitioners
• 3.8 Further references
• Checklist: Managing Relationships

4. Parliamentary Workflow Tasks

• 4.1 There are many parliamentary workflow activities
• 4.2 Handling ministerial briefs and submissions
• 4.3 Dealing with ministerial correspondence
• 4.4 Question Time briefings
• 4.5 Initiation and development of legislation
• 4.6 Working with Cabinet documentation
• 4.7 Tabling of documents in the Parliament
• 4.8 Understanding and working with parliamentary committees
• 4.9 Maintaining knowledge about developments in the Parliament
• 4.10 Providing information to the Parliamentary Library
• 4.11 Other administrative issues
• 4.12 Further references
• Checklist: Parliamentary Workflow Tasks

5. Information and Communications Technology

• 5.1 Using information and communications technology for parliamentary workflow
• 5.2 Information and communications technology can automate parliamentary workflow
• 5.3 Planning is important before choosing a system
• 5.4 Functionality for information and communications technology systems
• 5.5 Identity verification: a contemporary issue
• 5.6 Training staff to use information and communications technology
• 5.7 Government-wide communications and connectivity
• 5.8 Further references
• Checklist: Information and Communications Technology

6.Training and Guidance

• 6.1 Training is an important base for parliamentary workflow
• 6.2 Internal training is a building block for parliamentary workflow
• 6.3 Specialist training is useful for staff with specialist functions
• 6.4 Other external training
• 6.5 Further references
• Checklist: Training and Guidance

7. Managing and Reporting Organisational Performance

• 7.1 Performance management ensures high quality service
• 7.2 Tools for managing organisational performance
• 7.3 Reporting performance information
• 7.4 Reviewing processes for improvement
• 7.5 Further references
• Checklist: Managing and Reporting Organisational Performance

Appendices

• Appendix 1: Individuals and organisations consulted
• Appendix 2: Reporting parliamentary workflow

Abbreviations

Glossary