There is no ‘total remuneration’ for parliamentarians as the concept is usually understood, and as it applied for some offices in the Tribunal’s jurisdiction (for example, full-time office holders). However, the remuneration of parliamentarians, Ministers and Parliamentary office holders can be said to be made up of several components:

All Senators and Members of the House of Representatives receive a base salary.
Additional salary is payable to those parliamentarians who are also Ministers or Parliamentary office holders. Since December 1999, additional salary has been expressed as a percentage of MPs’ base salary. For further information about additional salaries, go to the Parliamentarians page.
The Tribunal makes recommendations to the Government on Ministers’ additional salary although the Government may accept or reject the Tribunal’s advice. The Tribunal last reported on 4 October 2011 – Report Number 1 of 2011 .
The Tribunal may also determine additional salaries for Parliamentary Office Holders. The current determination is 2012/03 .
Superannuation is not determined by the Tribunal but is governed by the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948 and the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004. All questions on parliamentary superannuation should be directed to the Department of Finance and Administration.

The Tribunal also determines some transport and work facilities allowances for MPs, including a private plated vehicle. For further information about parliamentary allowances, go to the Parliamentarians page.

3. What is Electorate Allowance?

Electorate Allowance is an expenses of office allowance payable to Senators and Members, including Ministers and Parliamentary office holders, to reimburse them for costs necessarily incurred in providing services to their constituents. The allowance is not subject to income tax if it is used for electorate expenses.
Clause 1 of Determination 2012/04 sets out the rates of Electorate Allowance.

4. What is the Life Gold Pass?

The Life Gold Pass was introduced by the Federal Government after the 1918 Premiers’ Conference. The Tribunal first considered the Pass in 1976 after a referral from the Government. The Pass is provided to long-serving parliamentarians in recognition of their years of service, and enables retired MPs to travel at Government expense for non-commercial purposes.

Following passage through the Parliament of the Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Act 2002, the Tribunal has the power to set qualifying periods for access to the Pass, as set out in clause 7 of Determination 2012/04 .

5. How do Federal parliamentarians’ salary levels affect State and Territory parliamentarians’ pay?

Base salary movements for members of parliament in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania are tied through state legislation to salary movements in the Federal Parliament. Base salary for MPs in these states and the Northern Territory is expressed either as a percentage of the Federal base salary or as the Federal base salary minus a specified dollar amount.

Australian Capital Territory and Western Australian parliamentarians’ base salaries are determined independently by the ACT and WA Tribunals.

Information on State and Territory parliamentarians’ base pay and additional remuneration can be found on the Parliament House website, in a paper titled ‘Parliamentary Remuneration’ prepared by the Department of the Parliamentary Library.

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