Parliamentary Administration Act 2005

A Department Head, on behalf of the Crown, has all the rights, powers, authorities and duties of an employer in respect of the Department and Parliamentary officers employed in it.

Without limiting subsection (1), the appropriate Department Head—

may employ as many persons as Parliamentary officers as are required for the exercise of the functions of the Department;

may assign work to Parliamentary officers;

may issue lawful instructions that must be observed by Parliamentary officers;

may determine the remuneration (including an increase or reduction in remuneration) and other terms and conditions of employment of any individual Parliamentary officer;

may pay allowances, bonuses or gratuities to Parliamentary officers;

may transfer Parliamentary officers to duties in other Departments or in public service bodies or public entities;

may suspend Parliamentary officers from duty with pay;

may terminate the employment of Parliamentary officers;

may second Parliamentary officers to other bodies or take persons on secondment from other bodies;

may authorise periods of leave of absence for Parliamentary officers or make payments to Parliamentary officers in lieu of leave.

A Department Head, in exercising a right, power, authority or duty referred to in this section, must do so in conformity with—

the values set out in section 5; and

the employment principles set out in section 6; and

any other relevant provisions of this Act or the regulations.

A Parliamentary officer may retire on reaching the age of 55 years.