Parliamentary Departments Staff Enterprise Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000145)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Parliamentary Departments Staff Enterprise Award covers employees of the four Australian parliamentary departments: the Department of the Senate, the Department of the House of Representatives, the Department of Parliamentary Services, and the Parliamentary Budget Office. If you work in Parliament House in Canberra -- whether as an administrative officer, librarian, Hansard reporter, IT technician, gardener, maintenance worker, or security officer employed by a parliamentary department -- this award sets your minimum pay and conditions.
This award does NOT cover members of parliament, their personal staff (who are covered by the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984), or employees of separate parliamentary agencies. It also does not cover employees who are covered by an enterprise agreement that sits above this award.
How classification levels work
The classification structure mirrors the Australian Public Service levels, running from Parliamentary Service Level 1 (entry-level administrative support) through to Parliamentary Service Level 6 (senior technical and policy roles), Executive Level 1 and 2 (management), and SES (Senior Executive Service). Separate classification streams exist for gardening and maintenance staff. Your classification is set by the duties you actually perform.
What about irregular and intermittent employees?
The award uses the term "irregular and intermittent" instead of "casual." These employees receive a loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave and other ongoing entitlements.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| Level | Typical Duties | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Irregular/Intermittent Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSL 1 | Mail, reception, general admin support | $978.00 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| PSL 2 | Records management, data processing | $1,026.80 | $27.02 | $33.78 |
| PSL 3 | Committee support, procurement, HR admin | $1,075.60 | $28.31 | $35.39 |
| PSL 4 | Hansard editor, case officer, project officer | $1,139.20 | $29.98 | $37.48 |
| PSL 5 | Senior analyst, program coordinator | $1,190.40 | $31.33 | $39.16 |
| PSL 6 | Team leader, senior adviser, specialist | $1,262.00 | $33.21 | $41.51 |
| EL 1 | Section manager, senior specialist | $1,448.80 | $38.13 | $47.66 |
| EL 2 | Branch manager, director | $1,684.00 | $44.32 | $55.40 |
| Gardening | Gardening and horticultural maintenance staff | $978.00 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Maintenance | Building and facilities maintenance staff | $1,026.80 | $27.02 | $33.78 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Irregular/intermittent rate = hourly rate x 1.25.
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees (Day Workers)
| When you work | Penalty | PSL 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | Base rate (100%) | $28.31/hr |
| Saturday (all day) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Sunday (all day) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
| Public holiday or additional holiday | 250% | $70.78/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
| Overtime -- Saturday and Sunday (all day) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
Shiftworkers
| When you work | Penalty | PSL 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Day shift | Base rate (100%) | $28.31/hr |
| Night shift | 115% | $32.56/hr |
| Continuous night shift | 125% | $35.39/hr |
| Night shift -- gardening staff | 115% | $32.56/hr |
| Night shift -- maintenance staff | 115% | $32.56/hr |
| Saturday | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Sunday | 200% | $56.62/hr |
| Public holiday or additional holiday | 250% | $70.78/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
Irregular and Intermittent Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | PSL 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 125% (loading) | $35.39/hr |
| Saturday and Sunday (all day) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Public holiday or additional holiday (all day) | 275% | $77.85/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary hours for parliamentary department staff?
Ordinary hours for day workers are 7 hours 36 minutes per day (7.6 hours), totalling 38 hours per week. The standard span is 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday. However, parliamentary sitting periods often require extended hours. During sitting weeks, staff such as Hansard reporters and chamber support officers frequently work overtime at the applicable penalty rates.
2. Do parliamentary staff get penalty rates during sitting weeks?
Yes. Hours worked beyond ordinary hours during parliamentary sitting periods attract overtime rates. Overtime on Monday to Friday is paid at 150% for the first 3 hours and 200% thereafter. Saturday overtime is 150%, and Sunday overtime is 200%. Work on public holidays attracts 250%. These penalty rates apply regardless of whether the extended hours are due to sitting schedules.
3. What shift penalties apply to overnight maintenance workers?
Maintenance staff who work night shifts receive a 115% loading on their base hourly rate. If you are a continuous night shift worker (working night shifts on a permanent or ongoing roster), the loading increases to 125%. Weekend shifts attract higher penalties -- 150% on Saturday and 200% on Sunday.
4. Are gardening and maintenance staff on different pay rates?
Yes. Gardening and maintenance staff have separate classification levels that may differ from the standard PSL scale. However, they receive the same shift penalties and overtime rates as other parliamentary department employees. Night shift penalties for gardening and maintenance staff are specifically identified in the award at 115%.
5. How is overtime calculated for part-time staff?
Part-time employees receive overtime rates for any hours worked in excess of their agreed hours per day or per week. For example, if you are contracted for 30 hours per week and your employer asks you to work 35 hours, the additional 5 hours attract overtime at 150% for the first 3 hours and 200% for the remaining 2 hours. Any work on a day that is not part of your agreed roster also attracts overtime rates.
Check Your Rate
Not sure if you are being paid correctly? Use our free pay rate calculator to check your exact rate based on your Parliamentary Service Level, employment type, and shift pattern.
Enter your details and get an instant breakdown of what you should be earning -- including shift loadings, overtime, and sitting-week penalties. Every result cites the specific award clause so you can verify it yourself.
Schema Markup Suggestions
FAQ Schema (FAQPage)
Apply FAQPage schema to the 5 FAQ questions and answers above.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What are the ordinary hours for parliamentary department staff under the Parliamentary Departments Staff Enterprise Award?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Ordinary hours for day workers are 7 hours 36 minutes per day (7.6 hours), totalling 38 hours per week. The standard span is 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday."
}
}
]
}
Breadcrumb Schema
Home > Awards > Parliamentary Departments Staff Enterprise Award (MA000145)
Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.