Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, , 2:42:39 to 2:46:26
DPS explains commercial revenue growth from events and addresses concerns regarding fees for parliamentary training programs run by the House.
Topics: Government spending, Procurement
Speakers: Hon Jane Hume, Speaker 3, Nicola Hinder, Jaala Hinchcliffe, Unknown Speaker, Senator Karen Grogan
>> Thank you, >> Senator Hume. I have um I have some more questions just to follow up on um the uh cyber security the ANAO report but I'll come back to those. Uh I do want to turn to um uh some a line item in your annual report which lists that uh there's 23.1 million that was was received in 2526 financial year from in revenue and that is quite a significant 35% increase from the 17 million in the 2425 year. Is that that's the case?
>> Yes, Senator that is the case.
>> How how's revenue raised? Uh, Senator,
can I express deep appreciation to everybody that's involved in the management of our commercial events that are held here at Australian Parliament House? That revenue is sourced from the commercial events that we undertake. It's also sourced from commercial sales that operate through the Parliament shop and also the residents and tenencies that we manage for commercial businesses here at AP as well as the rents and tenencies that come from the press
>> Okay. So, my understanding is that recently the Department of the House has begun charging for training sessions to teach people how the House of Representatives works. Is that right?
>> Uh, Senator, matter for the House, not a matter for DPS.
>> Right. Okay. I'm just interested because obviously tickets for this are like 350 bucks a session, which sounds like an awful lot, but this information is available for free, isn't it,
>> Senator? It's a matter for the House of Representatives. It's not a matter that DPS is engaged with.
>> Okay. But I suppose the question I want to ask you secretary is that were you or your staff consulted before this program was started?
>> This is not a matter for us and and I wouldn't expect for the house to to raise that with me.
>> Does nobody raise a sort of an ethical concern of profiting from providing information that is freely available or you know accessing staff with specialist knowledge that
>> Senator Hugh
>> could otherwise be used. the department
officials have made it clear it's it's not their piece. Um I would suggest you write to the department of the house of reps and make an inquiry.
>> Well, when would I be able to do that in this forum? >> Well, how would I be able?
>> DPS is not responsible and nor am I. Um you could either write
>> is something that you're comfortable with though, President. Well, I don't
know anything about it, so I'm not going to make a comment, but I suggest you write to the speaker or to the cler of the House of Representatives.
>> Okay. Well, this is the department though that handles bookings, provides catering. That's all DPS responsibilities.
>> Well, no, because um the Senate does provide the Senate does bookings for some of the rooms and DPS does the other bookings. >> Yeah. So I can only comment on the
>> but DPS we're not involved in in training programs that the that the department of the House of Representative might may be running. That's a matter for the House repres Department of House of Representatives.
>> Okay. I find it passing strange that we're now offering ticketed training by a member of the department of house staff >> for something that is a freely available service
>> and and as I suggest right to the speaker or the cler of the house
>> are not responsible so I would suggest another pathway
>> could I ask then if any staff from DPS attend these sessions
>> I don't know senator I can take that on
>> yes if you could I think that would be
that we have
>> all All right. Um, >> and if they did, could you also find out for me whether they paid to attend the session?
>> I would assume that if they attended and it and it costed something that we would have paid, but I will find that out for you, Senator.