Ministers of State Amendment Act 1994
No. 35 of 1994
An Act to amend the Ministers of State Act 1952
[Assented to 15 March 1994]
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
Short title etc.
1.(1) This Act may be cited as the Ministers of State Amendment Act 1994.
(2) In this Act, “Principal Act” means the Ministers of State Act 19521.
Commencement
2. This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Salaries of Ministers
3. Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting paragraphs (a) and (b) and substituting the following paragraphs:
“(a) in the financial year that commenced on 1 July 1993—$1,588,000; or
(b) in a subsequent financial year—$1,615,000.”.
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; No. 26, 1986; Nos. 71 and 91, 1987; No. 19, 1988; No. 20, 1989; No. 109, 1990; and No. 50, 1992.
[Minister’s second reading speech made in—
House of Representatives on 9 February 1994
Senate on 22 February 1994]
Overview
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1994 was enacted to make amendments to the Ministers of State Act 1952, specifically addressing the remuneration of Ministers of State. This legislation was introduced to ensure that the salaries of Ministers were updated to reflect changes in financial years, specifically for the financial years commencing on 1 July 1993 and subsequent years. The Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia and received Royal Assent on 15 March 1994. The policy objective was to provide a clear and updated framework for the remuneration of Ministers, ensuring it aligned with the fiscal policies and economic conditions of the time.
Scope and Application
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1994 applies to the amendment of the existing provisions of the Ministers of State Act 1952, primarily focusing on the financial remuneration of ministers. This Act applies to individuals who hold the office of a Minister of State within the Australian Commonwealth government, impacting their salary structures. The Act's jurisdiction is limited to the Commonwealth of Australia and does not extend to state or territory governments. Notably, this legislation does not explicitly exclude any persons or entities from its scope but rather targets the financial parameters for ministers as outlined in the amended sections. The Act itself does not contain provisions for subordinate instruments to further extend or restrict its application, as the primary amendments pertain directly to the financial remuneration of ministers.
Key Provisions
The Ministers of State Amendment Act 1994 (section 1) is a legislative act designed to amend the Ministers of State Act 1952. This amendment primarily concerns the salaries of ministers, as outlined in section 3. Specifically, section 5 of the Principal Act is altered to adjust the salary figures for ministers, setting them at $1,588,000 for the financial year commencing 1 July 1993 and $1,615,000 for subsequent financial years. The Act commences on the day it receives Royal Assent, as stated in section 2.
The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties it governs are centred around the financial remuneration of ministers. The Act mandates that the salary for ministers in the specified financial years must adhere to the revised figures outlined in section 3. This adjustment ensures that all ministers are compensated in accordance with the legislative requirements set forth in this amendment.
In terms of the consequences for non-compliance, the Act does not explicitly detail any offences, penalties, or specific civil or criminal repercussions for breaching its provisions. However, the failure to comply with the amended salary provisions could potentially lead to legal scrutiny or administrative actions under the broader framework of the Ministers of State Act 1952 and associated regulations. The absence of specific penalties in the Act suggests that adherence to the financial stipulations is critical to avoid any legal or administrative issues that might arise from non-compliance.