REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL
Explanatory Statement: Determination 2011/18
Members of Parliament - Entitlements and Travelling Allowance
1. The Remuneration Tribunal has inquired into and determined the remuneration and significantly related matters for members of parliament and public 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 – MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT - ENTITLEMENTS
4. Clause 1.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 18 of 2006 as amended) for the purposes of Part 1 of the Determination.
5. Clause 1.2 provides that the cost of transporting a car on a ferry service will be met by the Commonwealth when a Member of the House of Representatives is travelling within his or her electorate. The service may depart from or return to a location outside the electorate.
6. Clauses 1.3 and 1.4 remove the requirement that only nominated persons can drive a parliamentarian’s private plated vehicle when it is used for private purposes.
7. Clauses 1.5 and 1.6 allow frequent flyer points accrued by parliamentarians – and former parliamentarians – to be donated to charity, provided that the person who accrued the points incurs no financial or taxation benefits from doing so.
8. Clause 1.7 introduces new clauses to allow the part of a supplement that has been used for charter, and which has been paid under Regulation 3EA of the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations 1997, to be offset against the senator or member’s charter entitlement in the following year. The clause also allows the Minister to waive this requirement if he or she considers it appropriate in the circumstances.
PART 2 – MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT – TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE
9. Clause 2.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 16 of 2011) for the purposes of Part 2 of the Determination.
10. Clause 2.2 allows for a more streamlined system of paying the Canberra rate of travelling allowance.
11. Clause 2.3 introduces new clauses to allow the part of a supplement, provided under Regulation 3EA of the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations 1997, and which is used for travelling allowance, to be offset against the senator or member’s travelling allowance entitlement in the following year. The clause also allows the Minister to waive this requirement if he or she considers it appropriate in the circumstances.
Authority: Sub-sections 7(1), 7(2), and 7(4) of
the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.