Ministers of State Amendment Act 1986
No. 26 of 1986
An Act to amend the Ministers of State Act 1952
[Assented to 13 May 1986]
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:
Short title, &c.
1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Ministers of State Amendment Act 1986.
(2) The Ministers of State Act 19521 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
Commencement
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Salaries of Ministers
3. Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$630,000” and substituting “$660,000”.
NOTE
1. No. 1, 1952, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 1, 1956; No. 18, 1959; Nos. 1 and 71, 1964; No. 93, 1966 (as amended by No. 3, 1967); No. 1, 1967; No. 102, 1968; No. 43, 1971; No. 14, 1973 (as amended by No. 216, 1973); No. 216, 1973 (as amended by No. 20, 1974); No. 82, 1978; No. 141, 1979; No. 165, 1980; No. 121, 1981; No. 78, 1982; No. 128, 1983; No. 73, 1984; and No. 56, 1985.
[Minister’s second reading speech made in—
House of Representatives on 12 February 1986
Senate on 19 February 1986]
Overview
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1986, enacted on 13 May 1986 by the Parliament of Australia, amends the Ministers of State Act 1952. This Act addresses the need to update the remuneration of Ministers of State in line with prevailing economic conditions. The primary objective of this amendment is to reflect the increased cost of living and ensure that the salaries of Ministers remain competitive and commensurate with their responsibilities. The Act makes specific changes to Section 5 of the Principal Act, adjusting the annual salary of Ministers from $630,000 to $660,000 to account for inflation and other economic factors. This adjustment ensures that the remuneration remains fair and reflective of the current economic climate.
Scope and Application
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1986 amends the Ministers of State Act 1952, primarily focusing on the adjustment of salaries for Ministers of State within the Commonwealth of Australia. This Act applies to all Ministers of State as defined under the Principal Act, ensuring that their remuneration is updated in accordance with legislative mandates. The amendment pertains to financial adjustments and does not extend to other aspects of ministerial conduct, duties, or privileges. The Act operates on a national level within the Commonwealth of Australia, impacting all Ministers regardless of their specific state or territory. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the text, and the application is straightforward without additional conditions or thresholds. While the Act itself does not provide for subordinate instruments to extend or restrict its application, the salaries amendment could be subject to further legislative adjustments in the future to align with economic changes or policy shifts.
Key Provisions
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1986 (Act) serves as a legislative amendment to the Ministers of State Act 1952. Primarily, Section 3 of the Act modifies the salary provision for ministers. Specifically, it raises the salary of ministers from $630,000 to $660,000 annually. This amendment reflects an adjustment to the remuneration for individuals holding ministerial positions within the Australian government, as outlined in the Principal Act.
In terms of obligations, the Act imposes a clear requirement on the government to adjust the annual salary of ministers in accordance with the new figure specified in Section 3. This adjustment is intended to ensure that the remuneration of ministers is reflective of the current economic conditions and responsibilities associated with their roles. The amendment also mandates that any administrative processes related to the payment of ministerial salaries be updated to reflect this new figure.
There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences outlined in the Act for non-compliance with the salary adjustment. However, failure to implement the changes as mandated by Section 3 could potentially lead to legal challenges or disputes regarding the validity of ministerial salaries. Additionally, ongoing non-compliance with the statutory requirement to adjust salaries could result in broader administrative or financial implications for the government, although these are not explicitly stated in the Act itself.