This Act establishes the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service.

The functions of the PWSS include:

  (a)   its human resources functions; and

  (b)   its support function; and

  (c)   its complaint resolution function; and

  (d)   its policy development function; and

  (e)   its education and training functions; and

  (g)   to monitor, review and evaluate certain matters; and

  (h)   to prepare and publish reports.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission is also established by this Act.

The functions of the IPSC include:

  (a)   assisting the Commissioners in the performance of their functions; and

  (b)   publishing guidance about its functions and the functions of the Commissioners.

The functions of the Commissioners include:

  (a)   dealing with conduct issues in accordance with Divisions   3 to 6 of Part   2A; and

  (b)   preparing and publishing IPSC public statements in accordance with Division   7 of Part   2A .

Parliamentarians must comply with certain training requirements, consultation requirements and requests for information under this Act. A failure to comply may result in details of the non - compliance being published in a public report.

There is to be a Chief Executive Officer of the PWSS. The CEO is responsible for the management of the PWSS and the IPSC, for ensuring that the PWSS performs its functions and for assisting the IPSC and Commissioners to perform their functions and exercise their powers.

This Act also establishes:

  (a)   the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Advisory Board, to advise the CEO on matters relevant to the PWSS or CEO; and

  (b)   the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Consultative Committee, to enable parliamentarians and MOPS employees to be consulted on matters relevant to the PWSS; and

  (c)   the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Parliamentary Standards, to oversee the work of the IPSC.