Role and Responsibilities
David Elder is the Clerk of the House of Representatives and has held the position since 1 January 2014. David was previously the Deputy Clerk of the House and has also been Serjeant-at-Arms and Clerk Assistant in the Table Office and Committees.

 The office of Clerk of the House involves leading approximately 150 officers who provide administrative and procedural advice to the House, its committees and its international and domestic liaison services.

Biography
David has an MA from the Australian National University. He has worked in the Parliament since 1981, having joined the Australian Public Service in 1979. David is married with two children.

Role and Responsibilities
Claressa Surtees is the Deputy Clerk of the House. The Deputy Clerk is the second most senior official of the Department of the House of Representatives is responsible for advising and assisting Members, their staff and officers on matters of parliamentary practice and law, and drafting private members bills and amendments. The Deputy assists the Clerk in the management of the department and during the Clerk’s absence performs the duties of Clerk.

Biography
Claressa has degrees in law and economics. She has worked in the Parliament since 1993, having previously worked in the Australian Public Service. Claressa has previously been Clerk Assistant (Committees), Clerk Assistant (Table) and Serjeant-at-Arms. Claressa is married with two children.

Contact information
Department of the House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone (02) 6277 4222
Fax (02) 6277 2006
E-mail [email protected]

Role and Responsibilities
James Catchpole is the Serjeant-at-Arms in the Department of the House of Representatives, and is responsible for providing advice, services and support for the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives. The main Chamber responsibilities of the Serjeant during the sittings of the House relate to assisting the Speaker to maintain order. The Serjeant-at-Arms is also the corporate operating officer for the Department, and is responsible for the financial management, information and publishing, and human resources, of the Department.

• More information about the role of the Serjeant-at-Arms

Biography
James commenced as the Serjeant-at-Arms in May 2016. He has worked previously in a number of areas within the Department of House of Representatives.

Contact information
Department of the House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone (02) 6277 4444
Fax (02) 6277 2006
E-mail [email protected]

Role and Responsibilities
Russell Chafer is the Clerk Assistant (Committees) and is responsible for the Committee Support area of the department. The area provides a range of support services to House of Representatives committees and some joint committees.

Biography
Russell has worked in the Department of the House of Representatives since 1993, in a range of positions including as secretary to several committees, Director of the International and Parliamentary Relations Office, Director of the Clerk's office and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms. He has a BA (Hons) from the University of Queensland.

Contact information
Department of the House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone (02) 6277 4399
Fax (02) 6277 2396
E-mail [email protected]

Role and Responsibilities
Catherine Cornish is the Clerk Assistant (Procedure). She is responsible for the work of the Chamber Research Office which provides procedural research and publications for the House, as well as the Parliamentary Skills Centre which coordinates the Parliament’s capacity building activities. She acts as Clerk-at-the-Table of the House of Representatives.

Biography
Catherine has worked in the Department of the House of Representatives in many positions including as Clerk Assistant (Table) and as Director, Chamber Research Office and Clerk’s Office. She was also a Committee Secretary for many years. Catherine has degrees in law and public administration from the Australian National University.

Contact information
Department of the House of Representatives
PO Box 6021
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone (02) 6277 4396
E-mail [email protected]

Role and Responsibilities
Peter Banson is the Clerk Assistant (Table). He is responsible for those areas of the department which provide programming, procedural, legislative and research support to the Chamber and Federation Chamber of the House, and which promote understanding of and interaction with the work of the House and the Parliament, as well as the Parliamentary Skills Centre. He acts as Clerk-at-the-Table of the House of Representatives.

Biography
Peter has worked in the Department of the House of Representatives since 2001 in many positions including in the Chamber Research Office, Table Office and Speaker’s Office and as a Committee Secretary and Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms. He has a degree in science from the Australian National University and is currently undertaking a degree in public administration.

Contact information
Department of the House of Representatives
PO Box 6021
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone (02) 6277 4777
Fax (02) 6277 4517
E-mail [email protected]