Ministerial Circular 2014/04: Information Session for Senators and Members - 26 March 2014

2013 Reforms to Parliamentary Entitlements

26March2014

November 2013 announcement

•On9November2013,theGovernmentannouncedthatitwould strengthena rangeofmeasuresgoverningthefundingof parliamentarians'work costs.

•Thesystemof fundingtheworkcostsof parliamentariansincarrying outtheirresponsibilitiesmust workina way thatensures Senatorsand Membersareaccessibletotheirelectorswhileensuring taxpayers' moneyiswell spentandmaintainingpublicconfidence inthesystem.

Employment of family members

•Senators, Members and former PMs may not employ certain family members under the MOP(S) Act.

•Commenced 1 January 2014.

•Does not affect pre-existing employment agreements with familymembers.

•Does not prevent employment of a qualified family member of another Senator or Member.

Whichfamily membersare affected?

•Aspouse,de factopartner,child,parentorsiblingoftheSenatororMember.

•Achildofthespouseor defactopartneroftheSenatoror Member.

•Aspouseor defactopartnerofa child oftheSenatoror Member.

•Aspouseor defactopartnerofa sibling oftheSenatoror Member.

TravellingAllowance‒SenatorsandMembers

•No TA for:

Stopovers between WA or NT and Canberra unless no same-day connecting flight is reasonably available.

TravelasSecondDeputySpeaker.

•New declaration on TA claims.

Thenew traveldeclaration

Ideclarethatthistravelwasundertakeninmy capacityasan elected representativeandIacknowledge thatafinancial loadingwill beappliedif subsequentadjustment tothistravelclaimisrequired.

•Declarationrequiredwhen aSenatoror Member claimsTA or PVA.

•Financialloadingof25% ofthevalueoftheadjustment:

where an adjustment is made more than 28 days after the claim was signed;

doesn’tapplytoadjustmentstotravelby employeesorfamilymembers; and

doesn’tapplytoadjustmentsrequiredasaresultofa departmentalerror.

Travel‒familymembers

•Travel by a spouse or partner to accompany a Senator or Member on a parliamentary delegation should generally be the exception rather than the rule.

•FamilyReunionTravel:

accompanyand joinredefined; and

changestostopoverprovisionsforfamilymembersofSenators andMembersfromWA,NT or Qld(atleast1,100kmflight distancefromBrisbane).

TrainingforSenatorsandMembers

•Scheduledinformationsessionsin APH on:

UpdatestoParliamentaryentitlements;

Officemanagementpractices;

Workhealthandsafety.

•Mandatorytrainingforparliamentariansandtheirofficesifmore thanoneincorrectclaimislodgedwithina financialyear.

Allegationsofentitlementmisuse

•TheSpecialMinisterofStatemaytableinparliamentthenameof anyparliamentarianwho failstosubstantiallycomplywithina reasonabletimewitha requestforfurtherinformationaspartofa departmentalenquiry.

Reformstobeimplementedthroughlegislativeamendments

•Overseas parliamentary delegation travel will be limited to business class or lower.

•TheGovernmentwillmovetolimit the'additional travel for children'entitlement forseniorofficerstochildrenunder the age of 18,from where itcurrentlystands at 25 yearsof age.

Further information

•Ministerial Circular 2013/34: Prohibition on the Employment of Certain Family Members under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984

•Ministerial Circular 2014/03: Remuneration Tribunal Determination 2014/02: Members of Parliament - Travelling Allowance and Entitlements

AnyQuestions?

M&PSEntitlementsManagers

•SharonForester / (QLD/SA) / 0262153827
•LaurenBarons / (NSW/WA/ACT) / 0262153426
•AndrewHouse / (VIC/TAS/NT) / 0262153640