Role of the Clerk

The Clerk of the House of Representatives is an independent statutory officer, appointed by warrant by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Speaker, after consultation with the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and such other members as the Speaker considers desirable. A Deputy Clerk is appointed in the same way and can exercise all the powers and functions of the Clerk.

After a general election the Clerk, under a commission from the Governor-General, administers the oath or affirmation of allegiance required of members. The Clerk also presides over the election of the Speaker.

The present Clerk of the House of Representatives is Mary Harris.

The Clerk is the chief executive of the Office of the Clerk and is responsible to the Speaker for the management of the Office. The Clerk is supported by a senior management team that leads a staff of over 120 staff and has six business groups:

• House Office
• Deputy Clerk (including Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Research and Education)
• Select Committee Office
• Reporting Services
• Legal Services
• Corporate Services