Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1980

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Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1980

No. 164 of 1980

 

An Act to amend the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973

[Assented to 10 December 1980]

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 Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1980.

(2) The Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

Commencement

2. (1) Subject to sub-section (2), this Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(2) The amendments made by sections 3, 4 and 5 shall be deemed to have taken effect on 1 July 1980.

Salaries and allowances of certain office holders

3. Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting paragraphs (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) and substituting the following word and paragraph:

and (b) the rate per annum of the annual allowance applicable to the office is the rate per annum specified in column 3 of that Schedule in relation to the office.; and

(b) by omitting sub-sections (5) and (6).

4. After section 13 of the Principal Act the following sections are inserted in Part IV:

Travelling allowance payable to the Chief Justice and Justices of the High Court

13a. (1) In this section, judicial office to which this section applies, means the office of Chief Justice of the High Court or an office of Justice of the High Court.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the Australian Capital Territory shall be deemed to constitute a single locality;

(b) each capital city of a State shall be deemed to constitute a single locality; and

(c) each other city or town shall be deemed to constitute a single locality.

(3) There is payable to a person who holds a judicial office to which this section applies an allowance ascertained in accordance with sub-section (4) in respect of his expenses of travel within Australia and the external Territories—

(a) if the sole or principal place of residence of the person is at a place in the Australian Capital Territory—in connection with the performance of his duties otherwise than in the Australian Capital Territory; or

(b) in any other case—in connection with the performance of his duties otherwise than in—

(i) the Australian Capital Territory; and

(ii) the locality in which his sole or principal place of residence is situated.

(4) The allowance in respect of the expenses of travel payable under sub-section (3) to a person who holds a judicial office to which this section applies is—

(a) if the travel involves an absence from his sole or principal place of residence and from the Australian Capital Territory that includes an overnight stay or overnight stays—

(i) in a case to which sub-paragraph (ii) does not apply—$80 per overnight stay; or

(ii) if the number of hours of the absence is not less than the number ascertained in accordance with the formula 24x + 10, where x is the number of overnight stays included in the absence—the sum of the amount that would be ascertained under sub-paragraph (i) if that sub-paragraph were applicable and $20; or

(b) if the travel involves an absence from his sole or principal place of residence and from the Australian Capital Territory of not less than 10 hours but does not include an overnight stay—$20.

(5) There is payable to a person (other than a person to whom an allowance is payable by virtue of section 13b)—

(a) who holds a judicial office to which this section applies by virtue of an appointment made after 1 July 1980; and

(b) whose sole or principal place of residence at the time (in this sub-section referred to as the relevant time) when that appointment took effect was at a place outside, but not in a part of New South Wales that is adjacent to or in the vicinity of, the Australian Capital Territory,

an allowance ascertained in accordance with sub-section (6) in respect of his expenses of travel in connection with the performance of his duties in the Australian Capital Territory, being travel—

(c) if the person establishes his sole or principal place of residence at a place in, or in a part of New South Wales that is adjacent to or in the vicinity of, the Australian Capital Territory before the expiration of 3 months after the relevant time—before the time when he establishes his sole or principal place of residence at such a place; or

(d) in a case to which paragraph (c) does not apply—before the expiration of 3 months after the relevant time.

(6) The allowance in respect of the expenses of travel payable under sub-section (5) to a person who holds a judicial office to which this section applies is—

(a) if the travel involves an absence from his sole or principal place of residence that includes an overnight stay or overnight stays—

(i) in a case to which sub-paragraph (ii) does not apply—$80 per overnight stay; or

(ii) if the number of hours of the absence is not less than the number ascertained in accordance with the formula 24x + 10, where x is the number of overnight stays included in the absence—the sum of the amount that would be ascertained under sub-paragraph (i) if that sub-paragraph were applicable and $20; or

(b) if the travel involves an absence from his sole or principal place of residence of not less than 10 hours but does not include an overnight stay—$20.

(7) There is payable to a person who holds a judicial office to which this section applies, in respect of travel outside Australia and the external Territories in connection with the performance of his duties, an allowance by way of reimbursement of the reasonable expenses of that travel.

Additional allowance payable to certain Justices of the High Court

13b. (1) There is payable to a person—

(a) who holds a judicial office to which this section applies;

(b) who, on 1 July 1980, held a judicial office to which this section applies; and

(c) whose sole or principal place of residence is, and was on that date, at a place outside, but not in a part of New South Wales that is adjacent to or in the vicinity of, the Australian Capital Territory,

an allowance, on account of expenses that will be incurred by him by reason that his sole or principal place of residence is at a place outside, and not in a part of New South Wales that is adjacent to or in the vicinity of, the Australian Capital Territory, at the rate of $7,500 per annum.

(2) In this section, judicial office to which this section applies has the same meaning as in section 13a.

Travelling allowances payable to holders of certain offices

13c. (1) In this section—

headquarters, in relation to a person who holds an office to which this section applies, means—

(a) if that office is an office of Chief Judge, Senior Judge or Judge of a Court and the sole or principal place of residence of the person is situated in a locality in which there is a registry of that Court—that locality; or

(b) in a case to which paragraph (a) does not apply—the locality where the person ordinarily performs the duties of that office;

office to which this section applies means—

(a) an office specified in column 1 of Part II of Schedule 3;

(b) President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission;

(c) Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission; or

(d) Chairman of the Law Reform Commission.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the Australian Capital Territory shall be deemed to constitute a single locality;

(b) each capital city of a State shall be deemed to constitute a single locality; and

(c) each other city or town shall be deemed to constitute a single locality.

(3) There is payable to a person who holds an office to which this section applies an allowance ascertained in accordance with sub-section (4) in respect of his expenses of travel within Australia and the external Territories in connection with the performance of his duties otherwise than at—

(a) his headquarters; and

(b) the locality in which his sole or principal place of residence is situated.


(4) The allowance in respect of the expenses of travel payable under sub-section (3) to a person who holds an office to which this section applies is—

(a) if the travel involves an absence from his sole or principal place of residence and from his headquarters that includes an overnight stay or overnight stays—

(i) in a case to which sub-paragraph (ii) does not apply—$72 per overnight stay; or

(ii) if the number of hours of the absence is not less than the number ascertained in accordance with the formula 24x + 10, where x is the number of overnight stays included in the absence—the sum of the amount that would be ascertained under sub-paragraph (i) if that sub-paragraph were applicable and $20; or

(b) if the travel involves an absence from his sole or principal place of residence and from his headquarters of not less than 10 hours but does not include an overnight stay—$20.

(5) There is payable to a person who holds an office to which this section applies, in respect of his expenses of travel outside Australia and the external Territories in connection with the performance of his duties, the same allowance as would be applicable to officers of the First Division of the Australian Public Service in respect of the expenses of like travel in the performance of their duties.

(6) Where a person who holds 2 or more offices to which this section applies travels in connection with the performance of his duties as the holder of any one or more of those offices, nothing in this Act or in any other Act entitles him to be paid in respect of the expenses of that travel an amount exceeding the amount that he would be entitled to be paid if he held only the office, or one of the offices, to the duties of which the travel relates.

(7) Notwithstanding sub-section (1), the office of President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the office of Director-General of Security shall not be taken to be an office to which this section applies unless the President or the Director-General, as the case may be, is a Judge of a court created by the Parliament.

(8) Notwithstanding sub-section (1), the office of Chairman of the Commonwealth Grants Commission shall not be taken to be an office to which this section applies unless sub-section 8(6a) of the Commonwealth Grants Commission Act 1973 applies to the holder of the office.

(9) Notwithstanding sub-section (1), the office of Chairman of the Law Reform Commission shall not be taken to be an office to which this section applies unless the Chairman is a Judge of a court created by the Parliament or the holder of an office referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of office to which this section applies in sub-section (1)..


Schedule 3

5. Schedule 3 to the Principal Act is repealed and the following Schedule substituted:

SCHEDULE 3 Section 13

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

 

Rate per annum of salary

Rate per annum of annual Allowance

PART I

$

$

Chief Justice of High Court .......................................

77,000

4,000

Justice (other than the Chief Justice) of the High Court .....................

70,000

3,350

PART II

 

 

Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia...........................

65,000

3,075

Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory...........

61,000

3,075

Chief Judge of the Family Court of Australia............................

59,000

3,075

President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.........................

59,000

3,075

President of the Trade Practices Tribunal..............................

59,000

3,075

Director-General of Security......................................

59,000

3,075

Chairman of the Commonwealth Grants Commission......................

59,000

3,075

Judge (other than the Chief Judge) of the Federal Court of Australia............

59,000

2,800

Judge (other than the Chief Judge) of the Supreme Court of the Australian

59,000

2,800

Capital Territory..............................................

Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court...........................

55,000

2,800

Judge (other than the Chief Judge) of the Australian Industrial Court............

52,000

2,800

Judge of the Federal Court of Bankruptcy..............................

52,000

2,800

Senior Judge of the federal Court of Bankruptcy.........................

52,000

2,800

Judge (other than the Chief Judge or a Senior Judge) of the Family Court of Australia

48,000

2,800

 

Overview

The Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1980 was enacted to amend the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973, updating the salary and allowances of various high-ranking office holders in Australia, including the Chief Justice and Justices of the High Court, as well as other judicial and public service positions. This Act was passed by the Queen, in and with the advice and consent of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, and received Royal Assent on 10 December 1980. The primary objective of this legislation was to adjust the financial remuneration of certain office holders to reflect changes in the economic conditions and the roles they undertake. The Act includes provisions for amending the salary and annual allowances of specific office holders, as well as introducing new allowances for travel expenses for the Chief Justice and Justices of the High Court. It also includes provisions for travelling allowances for holders of certain offices and additional allowances for certain Justices of the High Court. The enacting body responsible for this Act was the Parliament of Australia, aiming to ensure that the remuneration and allowances of high-ranking officials remain commensurate with their responsibilities and the changing economic landscape.

Scope and Application

The Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1980 amends the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973, primarily affecting the salaries and allowances of certain office holders. This Act applies to specific judicial office holders including the Chief Justice and Justices of the High Court, as well as other designated judicial and administrative positions. It specifies the rates of annual salaries and allowances for these offices, and introduces new allowances for travel expenses within Australia and the external Territories, as well as for travel outside Australia. Notably, the Act provides additional allowances for certain Justices of the High Court based on their place of residence. The Act also extends to offices such as the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, among others. The geographic reach of this Act is national, applying across Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory and external Territories. The Act does not extend its application to offices of the President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Director-General of Security unless specific conditions are met, such as the officeholder being a Judge of a court created by the Parliament. The Act’s provisions are applicable to both new appointments and those already in office as of 1 July 1980.

Key Provisions

The Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1980 (sections 3, 4, and 5) amends the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973. These amendments became effective on 1 July 1980. Section 3 modifies section 13 of the Principal Act by removing certain subsections and altering the language to adjust the rates of annual allowances for specific officeholders. New sections 13a, 13b, and 13c are introduced to address travel allowances for certain judicial officeholders and other specified officeholders. These new sections outline the conditions and rates at which allowances are payable for travel within Australia, external territories, and outside Australia. The Act imposes specific obligations on the entities and individuals it governs. For instance, it mandates that travel allowances be paid to the Chief Justice and Justices of the High Court based on their travel expenses within Australia and external territories, provided certain conditions are met. Similarly, it requires that travel allowances be provided to holders of certain other offices under specific conditions, with different rates depending on the nature and duration of the travel. Additionally, it outlines that an additional allowance of $7,500 per annum is payable to certain Justices of the High Court due to their place of residence being outside certain areas. Breaches of the provisions outlined in this Act could lead to legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance, failure to adhere to the stipulated conditions for allowances could potentially result in disputes or legal challenges regarding the rightful entitlement to these allowances. The consequences would depend on the specific nature of the breach and the interpretation by the relevant authorities or courts. It is important for the entities and individuals governed by this Act to comply fully with its provisions to avoid any potential legal issues.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.