REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL

Explanatory Statement:  Determination 2013/13
Members of Parliament – Base Salary, Additional Salary for Parliamentary Office Holders, and Related Matters
1.	The Remuneration Tribunal has determined a general adjustment of 2.4 per cent in the remuneration of public offices in its jurisdiction with effect on and from     1 July 2013, as it is empowered to do by the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.  This Determination gives effect to the adjustment with respect to members of parliament including parliamentary office holders.
2.	In 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.
PART 1 – GENERAL
4.	Part 1 sets out the authority for and date of effect of the Determination and revokes and supersedes previous Determinations 2012/02 (as amended) and 2012/03 which apply to members of parliament.  It also defines ‘base salary’ and explains the scope of references to a ‘member’ or ‘member of parliament’.
PART 2 – PARLIAMENTARY BASE SALARY
5.	Clause 2.1 increases the base salary to be paid to a member of parliament by 2.4 per cent (rounded).
6.	Clause 2.2 adjusts the part of base salary that is not to be taken into account in defining parliamentary allowance (salary) for the purposes of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948.
PART 3 – ADDITIONAL SALARY FOR PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS
7.	Clause 3.1 provides that the additional salary to be paid to parliamentary office holders is specified in Table 1 of the Determination.
8.	Clause 3.2 specifies how authorities are to administer payment of the additional salary.
9.	Clause 3.3 specifies the portion of additional salary, of office holders listed in Table 1, that will not count as allowance by way of salary for the purposes of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948.
10.	Clause 3.4, with subclauses 3.4.1 to 3.4.5, limits the number of shadow ministers who may be paid in accordance with the Determination.  In general this will mean that there cannot be more shadow ministers paid than ministers in the Government at any time.  However, clause 3.4.5 is a transitional provision, in place until the next election at the latest, which recognises the makeup of the shadow ministry current at the time that the Determination was made.
PART 4 - MINISTERS OF STATE
11.	Clause 4.1 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 Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948.

	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