Remuneration Tribunal Determination 2016/12: Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Public Office

Administered by Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Legislation au F2016L01826 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Explanatory Statement: Determination 2016/12:

Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Public Office

  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 members of Parliament, Judges of Federal Courts, most full-time and part-time holders of public offices and Principal Executive Offices. 

Consultation

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.

3.     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.

4.     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.

5.     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); and
  • the remuneration of similar, comparator, offices within its jurisdiction.

Deputy Chair and Commissioners, Productivity Commission

6.     The Tribunal received a submission from the Chair of the Productivity Commission seeking a review of remuneration for the offices of Deputy Chair and Commissioner, which have not been comprehensively reviewed since 2001.  The Tribunal considered updated information on the roles and responsibilities of the offices, and also sought the views of the Treasurer and took those views into account.

Solicitor-General

7.     There was no consultation on this matter as the amendments delete conditions applying to an office holder who has resigned from the public office.

 

Chief Executive Officer, Innovation and Science Australia

8.     The Tribunal received a submission from the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science requesting accommodation and reunion travel allowances for the CEO.  The submission provided the information required to consider the request, consistent with the Tribunal’s Guidelines on Geographic Relocation of Full-time Office Holders (available on its website www.remtribunal.gov.au).

Disciplinary Appeal Committees under the PE(CT) Regulations 1999

9.     Confirmation was obtained from the Merit Protection Commissioner that this committee no longer exists and the reference could be removed from the determination.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal

10. There was no consultation on this matter as the amendment is a technical one only and has no impact on the office holder.

References to Innovation Australia changing to Innovation and Science Australia

11. There was no consultation on this matter as the amendment to the name arose from legislative change following the commencement of the Industry Research and Development Amendment (Innovation and Science Australia) Act 2016.

Sustainability Committee

12. Following a review of remuneration arrangements for part-time office holders who receive annual fees for serving on governance boards, the Tribunal established new assessment principles by which to consider sub-committee fees.  As a result the Tribunal invited submissions from employing authorities with potentially affected offices in the determination. A submission was received from the Chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency concerning the Board’s Sustainability Committee as a result of that invitation. The submission provided information on the contribution of that committee to the financial sustainability of the scheme.  The Chair subsequently provided further information, at the request of the Tribunal, on the commitment and responsibilities of the part-time committee members.

Retrospectivity

13. Any retrospective application of this determination is in accordance with subsection 12(2) of the Legislation 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

14. Clause 1.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 21 of 2015 as amended) for the purposes of Part 1 of the Determination.

15. Clauses 1.2 and 1.3 set increased remuneration for the Deputy Chair and Commissioner of the Productivity Commission.

16. Clause 1.4 sets the commencement date of clauses 1.2 and 1.3.

17. Clause 1.5 and 1.6 removes all reference to the person specific clause relating to the former Solicitor-General Mr Justin Gleeson.

18. Clauses 1.7 and 1.8 set accommodation and reunion travel allowances for the incoming Chief Executive Officer of Innovation and Science Australia.

19. Clause 1.9 sets the commencement date of Clauses 1.7 and 1.8.

PART 2 – PART-TIME OFFICES

20. Clause 2.1 specifies the Principal Determination (Number 20 of 2015 as amended) for the purposes of Part 2 of the Determination.

21. Clause 2.2 removes all reference to the Disciplinary Appeal Committees under PE(CT) Regulations 1999 as it is no longer constituted.

22. Clause 2.3 removes the term ‘Full-time’ from the entry against the ‘Chair’ column of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal as it is not necessary. The Chairperson must be a Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission, a judicial and related office.

23. Clauses 2.4 and 2.5 change the name of the Innovation Australia Board to Innovation and Science Australia Board following the passage of legislation formally establishing Innovation and Science Australia.

24. Clauses 2.6 and 2.7 change the name of Innovation Australia Committee and Innovation Australia Committee – Non Board Member to Innovation and Science Australia Committee and Innovation and Science Australia Committee – Non Board Member following the passage of legislation formally establishing Innovation and Science Australia.

25. Clause 2.8 sets the commencement date for Clauses 2.4 to 2.7.

26. Clause 2.9 sets additional remuneration for the members of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency Board (the National Disability Insurance Agency) who also sit on the Board’s Sustainability Committee.

27. Clause 2.10 sets the commencement date of Clause 2.9

Authority: Subsections 7(3) and 7(4)

 Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973

Overview

The Remuneration Tribunal Determination 2016/12 was enacted under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 to address the need for regular reviews and adjustments of remuneration, allowances, and entitlements for key Commonwealth office holders. This legislation established the Remuneration Tribunal as an independent statutory authority responsible for assessing and determining the remuneration of various public officials, including members of Parliament, Federal Court judges, and holders of public and principal executive offices. The determination, issued by the Remuneration Tribunal, follows consultations and submissions from relevant ministers, secretaries, and employing bodies, and is informed by various factors such as the office's functions, responsibilities, and requisite skills, as well as comparative remuneration data. The policy objective of this legislation is to ensure fair and appropriate remuneration for public office holders in alignment with their roles and the broader public sector framework. The 2016/12 determination includes adjustments to the remuneration of specific offices, such as the Deputy Chair and Commissioner of the Productivity Commission, and the Chief Executive Officer of Innovation and Science Australia, based on updated role descriptions and responsibilities. It also removes outdated references and incorporates recent legislative changes, such as the renaming of Innovation Australia to Innovation and Science Australia. Additionally, the determination introduces new assessment principles for part-time office holders, specifically addressing the fees for members of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency Board’s Sustainability Committee. This determination ensures the remuneration framework remains current and reflective of the evolving nature of public office responsibilities.

Scope and Application

The Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 applies to key Commonwealth office holders, including members of Parliament, Judges of Federal Courts, most full-time and part-time holders of public offices, and Principal Executive Offices. The Act establishes the Remuneration Tribunal as an independent statutory authority responsible for reporting on and determining the remuneration, allowances, and entitlements of these office holders. The Tribunal operates with a broad mandate, allowing it to inform itself in any manner it deems fit, receive written or oral statements, and not be bound by the rules of evidence. The Act's geographic and jurisdictional reach is limited to the Commonwealth, meaning it applies nationally across Australia. The Act does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, but it does allow for the creation of subordinate instruments to extend or restrict its application. For instance, the Tribunal can consider information from various publicly available sources and may consult with relevant parties, including Portfolio Ministers, to inform its decisions. The Act's provisions apply retrospectively in accordance with the Legislation Act 2003, ensuring that any changes do not adversely affect the rights of individuals, except where the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth is concerned.

Key Provisions

The Determination 2016/12 under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 outlines the adjustments to the remuneration, allowances, and entitlements for various public office holders within the Commonwealth. Section 11 of the Act (1) grants the Tribunal the flexibility to gather information in its own manner, receive both written and oral statements, and operate without formal proceedings or the constraints of evidence rules. The Tribunal generally seeks submissions from relevant ministers or employing bodies (2). The Determination specifies new remuneration rates for certain offices, such as the Deputy Chair and Commissioner of the Productivity Commission (3), and sets allowances for the Chief Executive Officer of Innovation and Science Australia (4). It also removes outdated references and updates names to reflect legislative changes, such as the renaming of Innovation Australia to Innovation and Science Australia (5). The Tribunal is obligated to consider the main functions, responsibilities, and requisite characteristics of the office in question, along with the remuneration of similar offices, when deliberating on remuneration (6). Additionally, the Tribunal must seek the views of relevant ministers before determining remuneration for an office and may consult with the office holders themselves or other stakeholders as necessary (7). The Tribunal also has the discretion to meet with relevant parties or request further information when needed. The Determination sets out various penalties and consequences for breaches of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973. While specific penalties are not detailed in the Explanatory Statement, breaches of the Act could lead to legal actions or administrative consequences as prescribed by the Act or other relevant legislation. It is important to note that any retrospective application of this determination does not affect the rights of individuals to their disadvantage or impose any liability on them (8). The Determination also removes references to the former Solicitor-General and a no longer constituted committee, as well as updates the remuneration for members of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency Board who sit on the Board’s Sustainability Committee (9). The Commencement section of the Determination specifies the dates at which the changes will take effect, ensuring a smooth transition for the affected office holders (10).

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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.