Explanatory Statement: Remuneration Tribunal Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2026

1.        The Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 (the Act) establishes the Remuneration Tribunal (the Tribunal) as an independent statutory authority responsible for reporting on and determining the remuneration, allowances and entitlements of key Commonwealth office holders. These include Judges of Federal Courts and most full-time and part-time holders of public offices. An additional function of the Tribunal is to determine a classification structure for Principal Executive Offices and the terms and conditions applicable to each classification within the structure.
2.        Section 11 of the Act advises that in the performance of its functions the Tribunal:

• may inform itself in such manner as it thinks fit;
• may receive written or oral statements;
• is not required to conduct any proceeding in a formal manner; and
• is not bound by the rules of evidence.

1.        The Tribunal normally receives submissions on remuneration from a portfolio minister, or a secretary, program manager or employing body (in respect of a Principal Executive Office) with responsibility for the relevant office(s). The Tribunal will normally seek the views of the relevant portfolio minister prior to determining remuneration for an office.
2.        The Tribunal may reach a decision based on the information provided in the submission and other publicly available information such as portfolio budget statements, annual reports, corporate plans, legislation and media releases. On occasion it may wish to meet with relevant parties or seek further information from the relevant minister or person making the submission.
3.        Amongst other relevant matters in deliberating on appropriate remuneration for an office the Tribunal informs itself on:

• the main functions, responsibilities and accountabilities of the office;
• the organisational structure, budget and workforce;
• the requisite characteristics, skills or qualifications required of the office holder(s);
• the remuneration of similar, comparator, offices within its jurisdiction; and
• any non-financial rewards associated with the office, including the status of holding the office.

Consultation

Productivity Commission, Associate Commissioner

1.        On 9 January 2026, the Hon Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer, wrote to the Tribunal seeking a review of remuneration for the full-time office of Associate Commissioner of the Productivity Commission. The accompanying submission provided information on the contemporary role and responsibilities of the office.

Solicitor-General

1.        The instrument removes a special provision for the previous office holder. There was no consultation on this matter, as the provision is no longer in force as the office holder’s appointment has concluded.

Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security

1.        The instrument removes 2 special provisions for the previous office holder. There was no consultation on this matter, as the provisions are no longer in force as the office holder’s appointment has concluded.

Exemption from sunsetting

1.        Under section 12, item 56 of the Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015, an instrument required to be laid before the Parliament under subsection 7(7) of the Act is exempt from the provisions of paragraph 54(2)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003.
2.   This exemption has been granted by the Attorney-General because the Remuneration Tribunal has a statutory role independent of government.
3.   As the Remuneration Tribunal makes new principal determinations annually, this instrument’s exemption from sunsetting will not have any practical effect. As such, the exemption from sunsetting will not have a practical impact on parliamentary oversight of the relevant measures.

The power to repeal, rescind and revoke, amend and vary

1.   Under subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

Details of the determination are as follows:

1.   Section 1 specifies the name of the instrument as the Remuneration Tribunal Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2026.
2.   Section 2 specifies the commencement date of the instrument as the day after the instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.
3.   Section 3 specifies the authority for the instrument, sections and 7(3) and (4) of the Act.
4.   Section 4 outlines the effect of instruments specified in a Schedule to the instrument.
5.   Schedule 1 sets out the amendments made to the instruments specified in Schedule 1.

SCHEDULE 1—AMENDMENTS

Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Full-time Public Office) Determination 2025

1.   Item 1 removes the reference to the special provision for the Solicitor-General, from Table 2A.
2.   Item 2 establishes new total remuneration for the office of Associate Commissioner, Productivity Commission in Table 2A.
3.   Item 3 repeals the previous entry for the office of Associate Commissioner, Productivity Commission in Table 2A.
4.   Item 4 removes the special provision for Dr Stephen Donaghue KC, the former Solicitor-General, from Table 2B.
5.   Item 5 removes the special provision for the Hon Dr Christopher Jessup KC, the former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, from Table 5A.
6.   Item 6 removes the special provision for the Hon Dr Christopher Jessup KC, the former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, from Table 5B.

Authority:

Sub-sections 7(3) and (4) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Remuneration Tribunal Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2026

This disallowable Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Instrument

This instrument amends the principal determination:

•                     Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Full-time Public Office) Determination 2025

This instrument amends the remuneration of one full-time office and removes the expired special provisions for 2 former office holders.

Human rights implications

This instrument engages the right to work in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the right to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work, primarily contained in Article 7 of ICESCR.

Right to work and to just and favourable conditions of work

Article 6 of the ICESCR recognises ‘… the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses or accepts …’ The right to just and favourable conditions of work include, but is not limited to, ensuring ‘fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value without distinction of any kind’, and ‘a decent living for themselves and their families’ (Article 7(1)(a)).

Consistent with Articles 6 and 7 of the ICESCR, this instrument ensures that individuals appointed to the public offices subject to the determination are fairly remunerated in respect of the work they undertake as public office holders. Specifically, the instrument:

•                     Amends the remuneration for the full-time office of Associate Commissioner, Productivity Commission;

•                     Removes a temporary special provision (annual amount in lieu of travel allowance) for Dr Stephen Donaghue KC, former Solicitor-General, whose term has concluded;

•                     Removes the special provisions (temporary accommodation and reunion travel assistance) determined for the Hon Dr Christopher Jessup KC, former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, whose term has concluded.

By establishing remuneration, allowances and entitlements based on an assessment of the current work value of the offices, the instrument directly promotes the principle of ensuring ‘fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value’ per Article 7(1)(a) of the ICESCR and more broadly contributes to ‘… the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses or accepts …’ per Article 6 of the ICESCR.

Conclusion

This instrument is compatible with human rights because it enhances and promotes the protection of human rights, and in particular, the right to work and to just and favourable conditions of work through maintaining the principle of fair, and current, remuneration for work performed.

To the extent that the instrument limits human rights, these limitations are lawful, reasonable and proportionate.

The Remuneration Tribunal