Parliamentarians’ Entitlements
The Department of Finance and Deregulation administers a number of entitlements provided to Senators, Members of Parliament, and their staff.
Committee for the Review of Parliamentary Entitlements
On 8 September 2009, the Government announced a number of reforms to the parliamentary entitlements framework in response to the Australian National Audit Office’s report, Administration of Parliamentarians’ Entitlements by the Department of Finance and Deregulation [
5.16 MB]. At the same time, the Government referred broader matters for future reform to the parliamentary entitlements framework to an independent Committee. See the media release issued by the Special Minister of State [].
The Committee comprised: Ms Barbara Belcher AM, former First Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Chair); Mr John Conde AO, President of the Remuneration Tribunal; Ms Jan Mason, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation; and Professor Allan Fels AO, former ACCC Commissioner and current Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
On 24 March 2011, the Special Minister of State tabled the Committee’s report in the Parliament and announced that the Government had accepted the Committee’s recommendation to restore the independent Remuneration Tribunal’s powers in relation to parliamentary base salary.
Submissions received by the Committee for the Review of Parliamentary Entitlements
Review of Parliamentary Entitlements Committee Report
Announcement by the Special Minister of State on the release of the Committee’s report []
For further details please contact the Director of Communications and Public Affairs by phone on (02) 6215 2455 or via email at mediaenquiries@finance.gov.au.
Review of the Administration of Parliamentary Entitlements
The Department of Finance and Deregulation commissioned a review of the Administration of Parliamentary Entitlements by Ms Helen Williams AO, former Secretary of the Department of Human Services. Ms Williams provided her report to the Department in January 2011.
The Department has accepted all of Ms Williams’ recommendations and a timeline of implementation has been developed to track the recommendations.
Parliamentary Entitlements Framework
Senators, Members of Parliament, and their staff are provided with entitlements under various pieces of legislation and documents made pursuant to such legislation.
Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation
Documents Relating to the Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation
Senators and Members’ Entitlements Handbook
This handbook contains information on all Parliamentary entitlements provided to Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia.
Senators and Members' Entitlements [ 1.5 MB]
Entitlement Summaries
Summaries of entitlements provided to federal parliamentarians under the parliamentary entitlements framework.
Senators and Members' entitlements [ 196 KB]
Senators and Members' entitlements [
116 KB]
Ministers' entitlements [ 129 KB]
Ministers' entitlements [ 220 KB]
Parliamentary Secretaries' entitlements [ 126 KB]
Parliamentary Secretaries' entitlements [ 211 KB]
Opposition Office Holders' entitlements [ 152 KB]
Opposition Office Holders' entitlements [ 228 KB]
Vetting of the Printing and Communications Entitlement
From 1 October 2009, Senators and Members have had the option to submit a print ready copy of material proposed to be printed using their printing and communications entitlement for vetting by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. As part of the vetting process, Finance will assess the print ready copy against the parameters of the printing and communications entitlement, and Senators and Members will receive written advice on whether or not the item is within entitlement.
Examples of Material Vetted by Finance
Guidelines on Former Parliamentarians’ Travel
Former Senators and Members are provided with a severance travel or Life Gold Pass entitlement which is dependent on the length of their service in the Parliament. The following guidelines are intended to inform severance travellers and Life Gold Pass holders of the entitlements available to them under Remuneration Tribunal Determination 2006/18 (the Determination) and the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Act 2002 (LGP Act) respectively. To view the Determination or the LGP Act, follow the link above to the Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation page.
- Severance Travel Guidelines [ 60 KB ]
- Severance Travel Guidelines [ 5.5 MB ]
- Life Gold Pass Travel Guidelines [62 KB ]
- Life Gold Pass Travel Guidelines [ 5.3 MB ]
Contact for information on this page: mediaenquiries@finance.gov.au