The Department contributes to Outcome 3—an efficiently functioning Parliament—by providing Senators, Members and their staff with a range of facilities and services, including the provision of electorate office facilities, travel and accommodation entitlement support, and personnel-related services. The Department's Ministerial and Parliamentary Services Group (M&PS) is primarily responsible for delivering the range of services that ensure Outcome 3 is fulfilled. The Business Services Group had responsibility for COMCAR in 2000–01; however, this responsibility moved to M&PS, effective 1 July 2001.

PERFORMANCE SNAPSHOT

In its 2000–01 PBS indicators, Finance outlined its goals for improving customer satisfaction and services to Senators and Members of Parliament.

The Department has performed very strongly against these indicators in 2000–01, having met or surpassed all of them except one. In the case of that single indicator—customer inquiries successfully responded to within one working day—Finance achieved a result of 90 per cent against a target of 95 per cent. In relation to some demand driven indicators, Finance did not provide the estimated number of services required, because demand was lower than originally estimated. Finance achieved an excellent result in processing superannuation payments for former Senators and Members.

COMCAR achieved a satisfaction rate of 99.60 per cent, based on the number of incidents reported.

More detailed performance information, including analysis and resources tables for Outcome 3, is at the end of this chapter.