EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Select Legislative Instrument 2005 No. 269

 

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

 

Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973

 

Remuneration Tribunal (Members' Fees and Allowances) Regulations 2005

 

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.

 

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.  

 

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 increases are in line with salary movements for other part-time public office holders.  The fee adjustment is from $63,700 to $66,320 for the President and $30,800 to $32,070 for other members.

 

The Regulations also prescribe travelling allowances payable to members when travelling on official business by reference to determinations made under section 61 of the Public Service Act 1999.  This Regulation does not affect allowances currently paid to members of the Tribunal.

 

The Act specifies no conditions that need to be satisfied before the power to make the proposed Regulations may be exercised.

 

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

 

The Regulations commenced on 25 November 2005.