Parliament’s expanding workload and increased committee activities have been cited as reasons for rising communication costs, with expenditure doubling to $2.4million in 2024 from $1.2m in 2023.
Secretary-General to Parliament Jeanette Emberson told the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that increased mobile phone plans and internet services for MPs and parliamentary staff reflected the evolving demands of Parliament’s work.
Ms Emberson was responding to questions from committee member and MP Rinesh Sharma about figures contained in Parliament’s Annual Report 2023–2024 Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year ended July 31, 2024.
Ms Emberson said the expenditure covered telephone services, mobile plans and internet connectivity for MPs and staff.
She said updated remuneration and allowances for MPs, determined through the Emoluments Committee, also required the Parliamentary Secretariat to comply with provisions approved by the House.
“These expenses pertain to mobile phone services, mobile, the plans have increased for MPs as well as for staff because the work of the Parliament is always evolving,” she said.
A separate $4.4m capital purchase was also recorded for an information and communications technology infrastructure upgrade.
During the hearing, MP Virendra Lal questioned why a recommendation to review and update legislation governing parliamentary powers and privileges remained outstanding.
The recommendation was made through a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Benchmark for Democratic Legislatures self-assessment, which called for the legislation to be reviewed as soon as possible.
Ms Emberson said Parliament had noted the recommendation and was working through its legislative priorities.
She said work on a parliamentary Bill was ongoing but stressed that amendments to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act were ultimately for the Government of the day to propose.
“It’s still outstanding, and that’s because we have not delved into any work to really bring this up to the recommendation.”
