Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act (No. 2) 1976

Administered by Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Administrative Services

Legislation au C2004A01600 Not in force Act

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REMUNERATION AND ALLOWANCES AMENDMENT ACT (No. 2) 1976

No. 170 of 1976

An Act relating to the Remuneration and Allowances payable to Justices of the High Court, Judges of the Courts created by the Parliament and the holders of certain other Offices, and for purposes connected therewith.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and 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 (No. 2) 1976.

(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 be deemed to have come into operation on 1 June 1976.

(2) Sections 4 and 6 shall come into operation on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

3. Sections 13 and 14 of the Principal Act are repealed and the following section is substituted:

Salaries and allowances of holders of judicial and certain other offices.

13. (1) Notwithstanding anything in any Act passed before the commencement of this section

(a) the rate per annum of the salary applicable to a judicial or other office specified in column 1 of Schedule 3 is the rate per annum specified in column 2 of that Schedule in relation to that office;

(b) the rate per annum of the annual allowance applicable to a judicial or other office specified in column 1 of Schedule 3 is the rate per annum specified in column 3 of that Schedule in relation to that office; and

(c) the rate per day of the travelling allowance applicable to a judicial or other office specified in column 1 of Schedule 3 is the rate per day specified in column 4 of that Schedule in relation to that office.

(2) On and after the date of commencement of this section, sub-section 33(1) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 as in force at that date does not have any effect but, if the person for the time being holding, or acting in, the office of President of the Trade Practices Tribunal is not the Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court or the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, he shall be paid additional remuneration at the rate of $1,000 per annum and an additional annual allowance at the rate of $250 per annum.

(3) If the person for the time being holding, or acting in, the office of President of the Trade Practices Tribunal, not being the Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court or the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, dies or

(a) being a Judge of a Federal Court or of the Supreme Court of a Territory, retires as such a Judge; or

(b) being a person who has the status of a Judge of the Australian Industrial Court, retires from the office by virtue of which he has that status,

the Judges Pensions Act 1968 applies to or in relation to him as if he had been the Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court immediately before his death or retirement.


(4) On the date of commencement of this section, sub-sections 8(2), (3) and (4) of the Prices Justification Act 1973 as in force at that date shall be deemed to be repealed but, if the person for the time being holding, or acting in, the office of Chairman of the Prices Justification Tribunal is a Judge within the meaning of the Prices Justification Act 1973 but is not the Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court or the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, he shall be paid additional remuneration at the rate of $ 1,000 per annum and an additional annual allowance at the rate of $250 per annum.

(5) If the person for the time being holding, or acting in, the office of Chairman of the Prices Justification Tribunal is a Judge within the meaning of the Prices Justification Act 1973 but is not the Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court or the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, and that person dies or

(a) being a Justice or Judge of a Federal Court (other than the High Court) or of the Supreme Court of a Territory, retires as such a Justice or Judge; or

(b) being a person who has the status of a Justice or Judge of such a Court, retires from the office by virtue of which he has that status,

the Judges Pensions Act 1968 applies to or in relation to him as if he had been Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court immediately before his death or retirement.

(6) An additional annual allowance at the rate of $250 per annum is payable to the senior Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory appointed under sub-section 7(1) of the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Act 1933.

(7) Sub-section (6) does not have effect on or after the day on which a person is appointed to be the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.

(8) Notwithstanding any determination of the Remuneration Tribunal that would otherwise be applicable, in the case of the Chairman of the Grants Commission holding office on 1 June 1976 (who was, immediately before his appointment, a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales), the rate of remuneration payable to him is $39,500 per annum and the rate of the annual allowance payable to him is $2,250 per annum, being rates recommended by that Tribunal..

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

Application of certain provisions of section 13.

14. The provisions of sub-sections 13(2), (3), (4) and (5) do not apply to a person who is a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

Salaries and allowances of holders of certain additional offices.

15. In respect of a judicial office specified in column 1 of Schedule 4

(a) the rate per annum of the salary applicable to the office is the rate per annum specified in column 2 of that Schedule in relation to the office;

(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

(c) the rate per day of the travelling allowance applicable to the office is the rate per day specified in column 4 of that Schedule in relation to the office.

Judges of other courts appointed to Federal Court of Australia.

16. (1) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Act but subject to sub-sections (2) and (3), a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia who holds office by virtue of an appointment that took effect while he was a Judge (including the Chief Judge) of any other court or courts created by the Parliament shall, while he continues to hold office both as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia and as a Judge (including the Chief Judge) of that other court or of any of those other courts, be remunerated with the salary and annual allowance to which he is from time to time entitled as a Judge of the other court or courts, and, if he continues to be a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia after he no longer holds any other judicial office referred to in this sub-section, other than an office as an additional Judge of the Supreme Court of a Territory or as a Judge of the Supreme Court of an external Territory, he shall receive such salary and annual allowances as are applicable to the office held by him as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.


(2) In the case of a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia to whom sub-section (1) applies, if the salary or annual allowance to which he would be entitled as a Judge of that Court if that sub-section were not applicable exceeds the salary or annual allowance, as the case may be, by which he is remunerated in accordance with that sub-section, he shall receive, in respect of his office as a Judge of that Court, an additional amount by way of salary or annual allowance, as the case may be, equal to the excess.

(3) Where sub-section (1) applies to a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia who also holds the office of Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory or of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory of Australia, sub-section (2) does not apply, but he shall, while he continues to hold both those offices, receive, in respect of his office as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, in addition to the salary and annual allowance by which he is remunerated in accordance with sub-section (1), salary at the annual rate of $2,500..

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

Column 4

Office

Rate per annum of Salary

Rate per annum of Annual Allowance

Rate per day of Travelling Allowance

 

$

$

$

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

52,500

3,300

52

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

47,500

2,750

52

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

40,500

2,500

46

President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission 

40,500

2,500

46

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

40,500

2,500

46

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

39,500

2,250

46

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

39,500

2,250

46

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

39,500

2,250

46

Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.

39,500

2,250

46

Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.......

39,500

2,250

46

Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission 

39,500

2,250

46

Senior Judge of the Family Court of Australia............

38,000

2,000

46

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

33,000

2,000

46


Schedule 4.

6. The Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following Schedule:

SCHEDULE 4 Section 15

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Office

Rate per annum of Salary

Rate per annum of Annual Allowance

Rate per day of Travelling Allowance

 

$

$

$

Chief Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.........

46,000

2,500

46

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

42,000

2,250

46

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

40,500

2,500

46

Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory of Australia 

40,500

2,500

46

 

Overview

The Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act (No. 2) 1976 was enacted by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia to amend the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973. This Act was introduced to address discrepancies in the remuneration and allowances for various judicial and other offices, ensuring consistency and fairness in the payment of salaries and allowances. The Act specifies the rates of remuneration and allowances for holders of judicial and certain other offices, making amendments to the Principal Act by repealing and substituting certain sections and introducing new provisions. The policy objective is to provide clear and updated guidelines on the salaries, annual allowances, and travelling allowances applicable to specified offices. The Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act (No. 2) 1976 replaces and updates the rates specified in the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973, ensuring that the remuneration for judicial and other officeholders is appropriately set out and reflects current standards. It also addresses specific allowances for certain roles, such as the President of the Trade Practices Tribunal and the Chairman of the Prices Justification Tribunal, ensuring they receive additional remuneration and allowances if they are not the Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court or the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. Furthermore, the Act includes provisions for the Judges' Pensions Act 1968 to apply to certain retirees, thereby ensuring continuity in pension benefits for those who have transitioned from other judicial roles.

Scope and Application

The Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act (No. 2) 1976 applies to the remuneration and allowances of certain judicial and office holders within the Commonwealth of Australia. This includes Justices of the High Court, Judges of various federal courts, and other specified office holders. The Act primarily amends the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973, setting out new rates for salaries, annual allowances, and travelling allowances for these positions. The Act is a federal law and therefore applies throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, influencing the remuneration of federal judicial officers and certain other officials. The Act includes specific provisions for additional payments to certain individuals based on their roles and does not apply to Judges of the Federal Court of Australia, as explicitly stated. The Act also includes a detailed schedule that specifies the rates for different judicial and office positions, thereby providing a clear framework for the remuneration of these roles. Any further extension or restriction of the Act's application would be through subordinate instruments, although the Act itself does not explicitly mention any such provisions.

Key Provisions

The Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act (No. 2) 1976 (referred to as the Act) amends the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973 (referred to as the Principal Act) by revising the salaries, allowances, and other remunerations for various judicial and other office holders. Section 3 of the Act repeals sections 13 and 14 of the Principal Act and substitutes them with new provisions that detail the rates of remuneration and allowances for specified offices. The Act specifies that the salary, annual allowance, and daily travelling allowance for each office are determined by the corresponding amounts listed in Schedule 3, which is incorporated into the Act. Under the new section 13, the Act outlines specific remuneration rates for offices such as the Chief Justice of the High Court, Judges of the Federal Court, and the President of the Trade Practices Tribunal. It also includes provisions for additional payments if certain conditions are met, such as when the President of the Trade Practices Tribunal is not also the Chief Judge of the Australian Industrial Court or the President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. Additionally, the Act provides for the application of the Judges’ Pensions Act 1968 to certain retiring judges. The Act imposes obligations on the government to ensure that the specified remuneration rates are adhered to and paid accordingly. It also requires that specific allowances be paid to the senior Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory until a Chief Judge is appointed for that court. Furthermore, the Act mandates that the Chairman of the Grants Commission, who was previously a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, receive specified remuneration rates as recommended by the Remuneration Tribunal. Breach of the provisions regarding the remuneration and allowances as specified in the Act could result in legal consequences. Although the Act does not explicitly outline specific penalties for non-compliance, it is implied that failure to adhere to the prescribed remuneration rates could lead to legal action for non-payment or underpayment of salary and allowances. Additionally, any actions taken in contravention of the Act's provisions could potentially be subject to review or challenge under other relevant laws or administrative procedures.

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Public Sector Remuneration
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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.