Ministers of State Amendment Act 1987
No. 71 of 1987
An Act to amend the Ministers of State Act 1952
[Assented to 5 June 1987]
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:
Short title etc.
1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Ministers of State Amendment Act 1987.
(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 “$660,000” and substituting “$680,000”.
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; No. 56, 1985; and No. 26, 1986.
[Minister’s second reading speech made in—
House of Representatives on 18 February 1987
Senate on 20 March 1987]
Overview
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1987, enacted by the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, was introduced to address the need for updating the salary provisions for ministers of state, as stipulated in the Ministers of State Act 1952. This Act specifically amends the principal Act to adjust the salary of ministers, reflecting changes in economic conditions and the cost of living. The policy objective underpinning this amendment is to ensure that the remuneration of ministers remains commensurate with their responsibilities and the broader economic environment. By increasing the salary from $660,000 to $680,000, the legislation aims to maintain the attractiveness and adequacy of ministerial compensation, thereby supporting the effective functioning of the government.
Scope and Application
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1987 is an Act of the Commonwealth of Australia that serves to amend the Ministers of State Act 1952, specifically targeting the remuneration of ministers. The Act applies directly to the Commonwealth level and pertains to the salaries of ministers, thereby affecting the executive branch of the Australian government. The scope of the Act is narrow, focusing solely on adjusting the salary figures of ministers as outlined in the Principal Act. It does not extend to other areas such as the roles, responsibilities, or other entitlements of ministers. The Act is effective from the date of receiving Royal Assent and does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond its primary objective of updating salary figures. The amendment to section 5 of the Principal Act, where the salary of ministers is increased from $660,000 to $680,000, is straightforward and does not involve any subordinate instruments for further extension or restriction of its application.
Key Provisions
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1987 (section 1) amends the Ministers of State Act 1952. Specifically, section 3 of the 1987 Act increases the salary of ministers from $660,000 to $680,000, as per section 5 of the Principal Act. This adjustment to the remuneration of ministers aims to reflect changes in economic conditions and cost of living since the original Act was passed. The amendment is effective from the date the Act receives Royal Assent, as stated in section 2.
Under the Ministers of State Amendment Act 1987, the obligations imposed on the government include ensuring that the amended salary provisions are adhered to for all ministers. This means that from the commencement date, any salary paid to a minister must reflect the updated figure of $680,000, rather than the previous amount of $660,000. The government is also responsible for implementing any necessary administrative changes to reflect this adjustment in salary.
The Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance with the amended salary provisions. However, non-compliance could potentially lead to legal challenges or disputes regarding the proper remuneration of ministers. Such disputes could be addressed under the general principles of administrative law, or through specific legal avenues if it is determined that there has been a breach of statutory duty or an error in the application of the Act. The consequences in such cases would depend on the specific circumstances and the findings of any legal proceedings.