EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Select Legislative Instrument 2006 No. 296

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

 

Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973

 

Remuneration Tribunal (Members’ Fees and Allowances) Amendment Regulations 2006 (No. 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 the Parliament, Judges of federal courts and Territory Supreme Courts, most full-time and part-time holders of public offices and Principal Executive Offices.

 

Section 13 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

 

The new Regulations provide for an increase in the fees payable to the President and other members of the Tribunal. The Tribunal advises boards and Ministers on the remuneration of Chief Executive Officers of certain Government Business Enterprises. It also advises Ministers on the remuneration of Heads of Executive Agencies and the Prime Minister on the remuneration of Secretaries of Departments.

 

Under section 4 of the Act, the Governor-General appoints the three part-time members of the Tribunal, one of whom is also appointed as President of the Tribunal by the

Governor-General. Section 12 of the Act provides that a member of the Tribunal shall be paid such fees and allowances as are prescribed.

 

The increases are in line with salary movements for other part-time public office holders. The adjustments increase fees payable from $66,320 to $69,260 for the President and from $32,070 to $33,500 for other members.

 

No consultation has taken place in relation to the Regulations as they are of a minor or machinery nature and do not substantially alter existing arrangements.

 

The Act specifies no conditions that needed to be satisfied before the power to make the Regulations was exercised.

 

The Regulations are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

The Regulations commenced on 25 November 2006.