REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL

Explanatory Statement:  Determination 2015/22
Members of Parliament – Base Salary, Additional Salary for Parliamentary Office Holders, and Related Matters
1.	The Remuneration Tribunal has inquired into and determined a general adjustment of 2 per cent in the remuneration of Public Offices in its jurisdiction with effect on and from 1 January 2016, as it is empowered to do by the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 (the Act).  This Determination gives effect to the adjustment with respect to members of parliament including parliamentary office holders.
2.	In undertaking its inquiry and making this Determination the Tribunal has informed itself through consultation in accordance with established practice.  Full reasons for the Tribunal’s decisions, as required by subsection 7A of the Act, are published on the Tribunal’s website. 
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.
Contents
PART 1 – GENERAL
PART 2 – PARLIAMENTARY BASE SALARY
PART 3 – ADDITIONAL SALARY FOR PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS
PART 4 – MINISTERS OF STATE
PART 1 – GENERAL
4.	Part 1 sets out the authority for and date of effect of the Determination and revokes and supersedes previous Determination 2015/06.  It also defines ‘base salary’ and explains the scope of references to a ‘member’ or ‘member of parliament’.
5.	The other provisions in Part 1 are unchanged from those contained in Part 1 of the previous Determination.
PART 2 – PARLIAMENTARY BASE SALARY
6.	Part 2 sets the base salary to be paid to a member of parliament and the portion of that salary that is not to be taken into account in defining parliamentary allowance (salary) for the purposes of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948 (PCS Act). 
7.	Clause 2.1 increases the base salary to be paid to a member of parliament by 2 per cent (rounded).  Clause 2.2 adjusts the portion of base salary that is not parliamentary allowance by 2 per cent (rounded).
PART 3 – ADDITIONAL SALARY FOR PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS
8.	Part 3 sets the additional salary to be paid to parliamentary office holders and the portion of that salary that is not to be taken as ‘allowance by way of salary’ for the purposes of the PCS Act.
9.	It also specifies how authorities are to administer payment of the additional salary and limits the number of shadow ministers who may be paid in accordance with the Determination.
10.	The provisions in Part 3 are unchanged from those contained in Part 3 of the previous Determination.
PART 4 – MINISTERS OF STATE
11.	Part 4 specifies the portion of additional salary of Ministers of State that will not count as allowance by way of salary for the purposes of the PCS Act.
12.	The provisions in Part 4 are unchanged from those contained in Part 4 of the previous Determination.
	Authority: Subsections 7(1), 7(1A), 7(1B), 7(1C), 7(2), 7(2A), 7(4) and 7(5G)
of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973