Appendix One – Summary of survey responses

Review of administrative arrangementsfor compiling the register of senators’ interests

*30 senators (or 40% of total number of senators) responded to the survey. In the results tables, 100% = 30.

Are you aware of the committee’s website?

https://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/interests_ctte/index.htm

Yes	(%)	No	(%)
22	73%	8	27%

Have you used the forms on the website?

Yes	(%)	No	(%)
16	53%	14	47%

Do you prefer to –
1. complete the forms electronically; or
2. print them off and fill them in by hand?
(a) (%) (b) (%)

9 30% 21
(1 - either way) 70%
Do you prefer to receive reminders from the registrar –
1. by email;
2. in hardcopy; or
3. in both forms?
(a) (%) (b) (%) (c) (%)

10 33% 2 7% 18 60%
Are you happy with the practice of acknowledging receipt of statements or notifications of alterations by email?

Yes	(%)	No	(%)
29	97%	1	3%

With regard to Form B (for spouses, partners or dependent children) –

were you aware that Form B remains confidential unless the committee considers that a conflict of interest arises (at which time the committee may table the declaration)?

Yes	(%)	No	(%)
20	66%	10	33%

were you aware that you are not required to identify any persons covered by Form B by name?

Yes (%) No (%)

12 40% 17 57%

1 (3%) – no response
are you aware that you are required to register only those interests of your spouse, partner or dependent children of which you are aware?

Yes (%) No (%)

26 87% 4 13%

Would you find it useful to have this (or any other information) specified on the front of the form or would you prefer it to remain in the explanatory notes?

Front of Form	(%)	Explanatory Notes	(%)
14	47%	7	23%
8 (27%) – no response1 (3%) – leave as is

With regard to Form A (for senators) are there any improvements you would like to suggest to the form?

For example, would you find it useful for the form to use examples along the following lines:

1. SHAREHOLDINGS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMPANIES (INCLUDING HOLDING COMPANIES) INDICATING THE NAME OF THE COMPANY OR COMPANIES

Self	NAME OF COMPANY (INCLUDING HOLDING AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES IF APPLICABLE)
	Example—AMP, Telstra, XYZ Pty Ltd

3. REAL ESTATE, INCLUDING THE LOCATION (SUBURB OR AREA ONLY) AND THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT IS OWNED

Self	(Note: The full street address of property is NOT required to be specified)
	Location	Purpose for which owned
	*Example—*Ainslie, ACT	Residential

Yes	(%)	No	(%)
18	60%	5	17%
7 (23%) – no response

Suggestions received:
Yes to examples, would be useful for those completing forms for the first time
No improvements required
Suggested examples would be useful
Examples are useful, but not necessary
Yes, and reminder of the limit for gifts which have to be declared plus limit for donation and whether you have to declare how much (helps when you have a new staff member who doesn’t have this detail)
Examples not necessary
Examples as above would be very useful
Giving examples would make it easier for those with more complicated financial arrangements

Are there any other categories for which you would find examples useful?

Suggestions received:
Question 13 re office holder or contributor to any organisation – include an example or two of common ones
Hospitality perhaps
Gifts
Hospitality/Donations over $300
Gifts over $...... and Donations over $.....
Membership of organisations
These seem to be the main ones causing difficulties

Do you have any other comments on the forms, explanatory notes or timeframes?

Suggestions received:
Indicate on forms that it is not necessary to advise amount of $ held in bank accounts, shares, etc. or of liabilities
Exemptions (e.g. airport lounge use) should be noted on form
Satisfied with the current system
System works well for me
(plus a substantive response on the timeframe for notifying alterations in shareholdings)

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(a)	(%)	(b)	(%)
9	30%	21 (1 - either way)	70%