Ministerial and Parliamentary Services (MaPS) is a division within the Department of Finance. MaPS administers the provision of non-travel related work expenses and services to parliamentarians and their respective employees, as well as providing car-with-driver services via COMCAR to eligible clients. Some services extend to former Prime Ministers and their staff.
MaPS administers and provides advice regarding the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (MOP(S) Act) framework, including pay and conditions and the Enterprise Agreement.
Parliamentarians and MOP(S) Act employees can seek support and guidance in relation to any of these services via the MaPS Help Desk and state and territory managers.
Pay and conditions
administer conditions of employment including processing payment of salary and related allowances to staff
- processing of leave and final entitlements
- maintenance of relevant systems, databases and reporting including office establishments
- advice on conditions of employment, including leave, remuneration, superannuation and final entitlements
- Parliamentary Expense Management System (PEMS) HR support and advice
Office management services
The following office management services are provided to parliamentarians and their staff:
- providing electorate-based facilities and services to parliamentarians, including office accommodation and equipment
- managing the provision of services in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House and the Commonwealth Parliament Offices in state/territory capital cities
- managing the provision of property services across the country
- conducting pre-claim assessments on printing and communications material
- processing office expenses claims.
COMCAR
COMCAR provides high quality, secure and confidential car-with-driver services to a range of eligible clients across Australia including:
- the Governor-General
- the Prime Minister
- Federal Parliamentarians
- Federal Judiciary
- heads of Commonwealth Agencies.
COMCAR also supports the Guests of Australian Government Visits program and major events such as the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Commonwealth Games, Group of Twenty (G20) meetings, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) and other Ministerial forums hosted in Australia.
Policy advice and administration
MaPS provides policy advice to the Government, through our Minister, and other stakeholders in relation to the non-travel expenses under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 and the MOP(S) Act.
Our role extends to policy development and assisting parliamentarians and MOP(S) Act employees to understand their obligations in relation to parliamentarians’ work expenses and the MOP(S) Act employment framework.
MaPS also provides secretariat support for the Australian Political Exchange Council, which provides an international exchange program for young political leaders.
HR services for MOP(S) Act employees
The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) was established on 1 October 2023. It is an independent HR and support service, which offers confidential HR advice and trauma-informed support which is available 24/7 for current or former MOP(S) Act staff and parliamentarians.
Responsibilities of the PWSS include:
- human resources (such as recruitment, performance matters and WHS)
- people support (such as case management and support services)
- complaint resolution
- policy development for the areas above
- education and training
- reviews, and
- monitoring, reviewing, evaluating, and reporting on certain matters relating to diversity, culture, work health and safety, and performance of Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces and other matters relating to its functions.
The PWSS can be contacted on 1800 PH PWSS (1800 747 977), SMS to 0487 112 755 or via the PWSS website.
Travel expenses
The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) was established on 1 July 2017. IPEA administers the travel related work expenses of parliamentarians and their employees. IPEA can be contacted by calling (02) 6215 3000, emailing enquiries@ipea.gov.au or by visiting the IPEA website.