Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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PARLIAMENTARY ENTITLEMENTS REGULATIONS 1997 NO. 318

STATUTORY RULES 1997 No. 318

ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

PARLIAMENTARY ENTITLEMENTS ACT 1990

PARLIAMENTARY ENTITLEMENTS REGULATIONS

The Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 (the Act) confers certain benefits upon members of each House of Parliament, ministers and parliamentary office-holders, as set out in Schedule 1: the 'scheduled benefits'.

Section 12 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make Regulations for the purposes of paragraph 5(1)(b) and section 9.

Paragraph 5(1)(b) of the Act provides that members of parliament, ministers and parliamentary office-holders are entitled to such additional benefits as are prescribed by the Regulations. Subsection 9(2) of the Act provides that a scheduled benefit may be may be varied or omitted by the Regulations.

The purpose of the Regulation is to:

*       omit item 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act which provides members of parliament with an entitlement to personalised letterhead stationery under subsection 9(2) of the Act (regulation 4); and

*       instead provide members of parliament With a benefit in relation to personalised letterhead stationery, newsletters for distribution to constituents and other printed material (such as magnetised calendars) as approved by the Minister, for distribution to constituents, under paragraph 5(1)(b) of the Act (regulation 3).

The Regulations establish the entitlement of members of parliament to stationery (including personalised letterhead stationery) and printed items and allow for greater transparency in the administration of such entitlements.

Details of the Regulations- are as follows:

Regulation 1 - Citation

Regulation 1 provides that the Regulations may be cited as the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations.

Under section 48 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, the Regulations commence on gazettal.

Regulation 2 -,Definitions

Regulation 2 provides that id the Regulations "Act' means the Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990.

Regulation 3 - Additional Benefits for Members

Regulation 3 provides members with an entitlement to benefits for personalised letterhead stationery, newsletters for distribution to constituents and other printed material (such as magnetised calendars) as approved by the Minister for distribution to constituents.

Regulation 4 - Alteration of Scheduled Benefits

Regulation 4 alters the scheduled benefits by omitting item 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990.