Overview

The Parliamentary Service (Remuneration) Amendment (Parliamentary Librarian, Department of Parliamentary Services) Determination 2019, issued on 5 July 2019 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, amends the remuneration conditions for the Parliamentary Librarian within the Department of Parliamentary Services. This determination, made under section 38E of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999, takes effect from 1 July 2019. It was introduced to address the need for updated remuneration in response to advice from the Remuneration Tribunal. The amendment sets a base salary of $280,260 per annum and total remuneration of $316,450 per annum for the Parliamentary Librarian, reflecting the legislative intent to ensure fair and appropriate compensation for this role within the parliamentary services framework.

Scope and Application

This determination, made under section 38E of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, applies specifically to the remuneration and conditions of appointment for the Parliamentary Librarian within the Department of Parliamentary Services. The amendment, which came into effect on 1 July 2019, modifies the previous determination by setting the base salary for the Parliamentary Librarian at $280,260 per annum and the total remuneration at $316,450 per annum. This change is based on advice from the Remuneration Tribunal. The amendment is limited to the remuneration and conditions of the Parliamentary Librarian and does not extend to other personnel or departments within the Parliamentary Service. Additionally, the determination does not include any stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the specific changes to salary and remuneration for the affected position. The application of this determination is confined to the Commonwealth jurisdiction and does not involve any extension through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this determination, clause 2.1, repeal and substitute the remuneration and other conditions of appointment for the Parliamentary Librarian within the Department of Parliamentary Services. Specifically, it sets the base salary for the role at $280,260 per annum and total remuneration at $316,450 per annum. The new rates come into effect from 1 July 2019. This Act imposes clear obligations on the parties involved, particularly the Parliamentary Librarian. They must now be remunerated according to the new rates set out in the determination, ensuring that they receive a base salary of $280,260 per annum and total remuneration of $316,450 per annum. This is a direct mandate from the determination, and failure to adhere to these financial stipulations could result in non-compliance with the legislation. Furthermore, the Act sets forth requirements that the Remuneration Tribunal's advice must be taken into account when making such amendments. This ensures a systematic and advisory process in determining the remuneration of key roles within the parliamentary services. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil or criminal consequences mentioned for breach of this determination. However, non-compliance with the stipulated remuneration could potentially lead to legal disputes or administrative penalties. The exact consequences would depend on how the breach is interpreted and the subsequent actions taken by the relevant authorities or courts. The determination does not specify maximum penalties for non-compliance, leaving it to the interpretation of the law and the discretion of the relevant authorities to determine appropriate actions. The lack of explicit penalties may suggest a focus on ensuring adherence through administrative measures rather than punitive actions.