Statement of Duties
Department of Premier and Cabinet
As at 14 March 2017
Position title:
Assistant Parliamentary Counsel
Position number:
001373
Award/Agreement:
Legal Practitioners Agreement 2014
Classification level:
Level 1
Division/branch/section:
Office of Parliamentary Counsel
Full Time Equivalent (FTE):
1.0
Location:
Hobart
Position status:
Permanent
Ordinary hours per week:
36.75
Supervisor:
Chief Parliamentary Counsel / Senior Drafting Officer
Agency/Department values:
DPAC values underpin our culture and guide our decision making and behaviour. Our values
are:
Excellence
We strive for excellence at all times.
Customer-focused
Our customers are at the centre of what we do and how we do it.
Working together
We support and respect one another and work with others to achieve results.
Being professional
We act with integrity and are accountable and transparent
For more information about DPAC visit www.dpac.tas.gov.au
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Statement of Duties: Assistant Parliamentary Counsel
Position objective:
Preparation of subordinate legislation and, with professional development, Bills of a
straightforward and less difficult nature as directed by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in
accordance with the requirements of Ministers, Members of Parliament and Government
Agencies. Provision of advice on proposed legislation. Participation in the general and legal
work of the Office.
Duties:
1. Preparation of legislation of a straightforward and less difficult nature including the
preparation of subordinate legislation and, with professional development, Bills of the
same nature.
2. Provide assistance to senior legislative drafters in connection with the preparation of
more complex legislation.
3. Attendance at Parliament to assist in the passage of straightforward and less difficult
Bills when required by either House of Parliament and to draft amendments to such
legislation as required by Members of Parliament.
4. Provision of advice and assistance to Ministers, Members of Parliament and
Government Agencies on matters relating to the preparation of straightforward and
less difficult legislation.
5. Participation in the legal and general work of the Office.
Level of Responsibility:
In consultation with, and under the direction of, more senior legislative drafters:


responsible for ensuring that all legislation prepared by the holder of the position is
legally sound and conforms to the drafting standards required by the Office, including
timeliness; and
responsible for advising, and liaising and consulting with, Ministers, Members of
Parliament and Government Agencies with respect to proposed straightforward and
less difficult legislation and preparation of that legislation.
Although subject to review, decisions taken and advice given will have significant impact on
the form, quality and effectiveness of Tasmanian legislation. Advice given is likely to be
influential and accepted as authoritative by persons outside the Office.
Reporting structure:
Reports to more senior legislative drafters as directed by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel.
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Statement of Duties: Assistant Parliamentary Counsel
All draft legislation, correspondence and advice is subject to review and clearance by more
senior legislative drafters.
Selection criteria:
Knowledge:
1. A basic understanding of the fundamentals of the Westminster legislative process
with particular reference to Tasmania.
2. A basic understanding of the discipline of legislative drafting and a knowledge of the
issues and developments in statutory interpretation with particular reference to
Australia.
Skills:
1. An aptitude for legislative drafting.
2. Writing skills of a high standard enabling the production of legislation and other
documents that are clear, accurate and concise and which are understandable by
both legally qualified people and people without legal qualifications.
3. Sound oral communication skills enabling clear, accurate and effective professional
dialogue and discussion with Ministers, Parliamentarians, representatives of
Government Agencies and colleagues to obtain information, clarify issues and obtain
co-operation regarding the planning and execution of legislative drafting and related
tasks.
4. Sound liaison, consultative and negotiation skills enabling the clarification and
constructive resolution of legislative drafting and policy issues, the avoidance of legal
and administrative problems, the acceptance by others of critical legislative drafting
imperatives and the obtaining of information and co-operation from colleagues and
people outside the Office.
5. Sound organisational skills enabling the co-ordination and management of a variety of
simultaneous legislative drafting tasks and the planning and completion of these tasks
within externally determined timeframes that can often be inflexible or legally or
politically sensitive.
6. Computer and IT skills enabling the use of computers and computer software to
perform legislative drafting and other work, including proficiency in the use of
Tasmania's consolidated legislation website and other on-line legal resources, or the
ability to obtain such skills.
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Statement of Duties: Assistant Parliamentary Counsel
Essential requirements:

Admitted, or qualified for and entitled to be admitted, as barrister or practitioner of
the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
Desirable requirements:

Post-admission legal practice equivalent to 12 months may be an advantage.
State Service Principles:
Employees should familiarise themselves with the State Service Principles (view at
thelaw.tas.gov.au website) and must work to ensure the Principles are embedded into the
culture of the Agency and that the Principles are applied to all Agency decision making and
activities.
Code of Conduct:
The State Service Code of Conduct (view at thelaw.tas.gov.au website) complements the State
Service Principles and requires employees and officers to act appropriately in the course of
their duties and to maintain the confidence of the community in the activities of the State
Service.
Workplace diversity:
The Department is committed to high standards of performance in respect to managing
diversity.
Workplace health and safety:
The Department is committed to high standards of performance in respect to work health
and safety and managing diversity.
All employees are expected to participate in maintaining safe working conditions and practices
and to promote and uphold the principles of fair and equitable access to
employment/promotion, personal development and training and the elimination of workplace
harassment and discrimination.
Smoking is not permitted in the workplace or government vehicles.
Staff are also responsible for adhering to the instructions within the security plan and are
expected to be pro-active in identifying threats in their workplace, in particular challenging or
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Statement of Duties: Assistant Parliamentary Counsel
reporting anyone who is not properly identified within their workplace. All staff are to be
familiar with and participate in all evacuation drills.
White Ribbon:
The Department is committed to providing a healthy and safe working environment for all
employees and has a zero tolerance for violence, including violence against women.
Department of Premier and Cabinet