The department conducted its annual members’ survey in June 2014 to identify levels of satisfaction with services provided by the department. The survey was identical to last year’s survey. The information gathered is required for internal and external reporting purposes and as a benchmark for service provision.
Thirty members were selected randomly for survey and interview. Members were assured of confidentiality in the survey. A total of 21 respondents completed the survey (70 per cent).
All participants in the survey were asked if they were satisfied overall with the services they received from the department. Members were unanimously satisfied with the department’s support in helping them fulfil their parliamentary duties. The responses to the other questions asked in the survey and during interviews are contained in the table below (which also shows the responses from the 2013 survey, in brackets). The result is an overwhelming endorsement of the quality of service provided by the department, with a 99 per cent satisfaction rate overall. The satisfaction rate last year was also 99 per cent.
The participants in the survey were also asked about their satisfaction level with the legislative drafting support they receive. Eleven respondents stated they were satisfied with the service, compared with 14 last year. One respondent was not satisfied with the support, and the remainder stated they had not used the service.
In relation to suggestions for change, some technological advancements were recommended by some members.
Members’ satisfaction levels with departmental services, 2014 survey (2013 in brackets)
| Service area |
Extremely
satisfied |
Highly
satisfied |
Satisfied |
Not satisfied |
| Advice and services received from the Clerks-at-the-Table in the Chamber and Federation Chamber |
15 (12) |
6 (6) |
0 (1) |
0 (0) |
| Advice and services received from other staff in relation to Chamber and Federation Chamber duties |
14 (11) |
7 (6) |
2 (2) |
0 (0) |
| Quality and availability of procedural and statistical publications and support in obtaining such information |
8 (10) |
9 (7) |
4 (2) |
0 (0) |
| Procedural advice, research, analytical drafting and administrative support services in relation to committee inquiries and publication of the final report |
9 (10) |
6 (8) |
1 (2) |
1 (0) |
| Rating of the House of Representatives magazine About the House, the Twitter feed, the Facebook page, the YouTube channel, TV programs and the Meet your MP touchscreen |
5 (3) |
3 (6) |
8 (5) |
0 (1) |
| Advice and support received in relation to overseas parliamentary delegation visits |
8 (4) |
1 (4) |
2 (3) |
0 (0) |
| Services in relation to pay entitlements supplied by the department |
7 (7) |
10 (6) |
3 (5) |
1 (0) |
| Services provided by the Serjeant-at-Arms’ Office |
13 (12) |
8 (7) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
| Information on members’ home page on the Parliament of Australia website |
5 (9) |
8 (3) |
6 (6) |
0 (0) |
Note: Not every member who completed the survey had used the full range of services.