REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL

Explanatory Statement: Determination 2006/23

Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Public Office and Members of Parliament

1. The Remuneration Tribunal has inquired into and determined the remuneration and significantly related matters for office holders, as it is empowered to do by the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

2. In making this determination the Tribunal has informed itself through consultation in accordance with established practice.

3. Any retrospective application of this determination is in accordance with subsection 12(2) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 as it does not affect the rights of a person (other than the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth) to that person’s disadvantage, nor does it impose any liability on such a person.

PART 1 – FULL-TIME OFFICES

5.                  Clause 1.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 13 of 2006 as amended) for the purposes of Part 1 of the Determination.

6.                  Clause 1.2 advises that the Tribunal has inquired into the levels of remuneration and related matters for office holders and has decided that no changes should be made to the Principal Determination.

PART 2 – SPECIFIED STATUTORY OFFICERS

7.                  Clause 2.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 5 of 2006 as amended) for the purposes of Part 2 of the Determination.

8. Clause 2.2 advises that the Tribunal has inquired into the levels of remuneration and related matters for office holders and has decided that no changes should be made to the Principal Determination.

PART 3 – PART-TIME OFFICES

9.                  Clause 3.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 12 of 2006 as amended) for the purposes of Part 3 of the Determination.

10.             Clause 3.2 specifies the annual fee for the Chairman of the ABC in lieu of the previous specified annual fee.

11.             Clause 3.3 removes the reference to Mr McDonald as Chairman of the ABC.

12.             Clause 3.4 inserts an annual fee of $29,000 for members of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the associated clause 3.5 removes reference to the PBAC from Schedule B of the Determination.

13.             Clause 3.6 specifies the annual fee for the Chairman and Members of the Australian Fair Pay Commission in lieu of the previous specified annual fees.

14.             Clause 3.7 provides that the Chairman and Members will receive an additional daily fee as specified for each day above 35 days per annum, with the additional daily fee to apply for up to a maximum of 85 and 55 days, respectively, per annum.

15.             Clauses 3.8 provides that clauses 3.2 to 3.7 take effect on and from 1 January 2007.

16.             Clause 3.9 advises that the Tribunal has inquired into the levels of fees and allowances for office holders and has decided that no other changes should be made to the Principal Determination.

PART 4 – MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT - TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE

17.             Clause 4.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 14 of 2006 as amended) for the purposes of Part 4 of the Determination.

18.             Clause 4.2 amends Table 2A in clause 2.13 of the Principal Determination, to increase, from 12 to 30, the maximum number of nights per year for which senators, except senators from the Northern Territory, may claim travelling allowance for overnight stays within their electorates when travelling on parliamentary or electorate business.  The maximum numbers of overnight stays per year are otherwise unchanged.
 

PART 5 – MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT - ENTITLEMENTS

19.             Clause 5.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 18 of 2006 as amended) for the purposes of Part 5 of the Determination.

20.             Clause 5.2 updates the heading for Part 8 of the Principal Determination.

21.             Clause 5.3 inserts three new clauses into the Principal Determination, to provide a Resettlement Allowance to Members of Parliament who have been elected since 2001; who are not able to access a pension or superannuation benefit immediately upon ceasing to be a Member of the Parliament; and who have lost party endorsement to contest an election (other than in cases of misconduct) and/or are defeated at an election.

PART 6 –PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS – ADDITIONAL SALARY

22.             Clause 6.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 21 of 2006) for the purposes of Part 6 of the Determination.

23.             Clause 6.2 amends Table 1 of the Principal Determination to provide additional salary for Deputy Chairmen of certain Parliamentary Committees at a rate of 50% of the additional salary is paid to the relevant Committee Chairman.

Authority: Sub-sections 7(1), 7(3) and 7(4) of

the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.