14 Nov 2013

Remuneration Authority to handle MPs' entitlements

6:10 pm on 14 November 2013

Legislation that transfers the responsibility for most travel and accommodation entitlements for MPs to an independent agency has unanimously passed its third and final reading in Parliament.

The bill repeals the Civil List Act and is based on changes recommended by the Law Commission in 2010.

At present, MPs' entitlements are decided by either the Speaker of the House or the Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services.

The Remuneration Authority will now be responsible for determining accommodation for MPs and ministers, travel allowances for MPs' families and ongoing travel entitlements for former MPs.

MPs who don't have permission to be absent from the House will have their pay docked after three days in a calendar year, instead of nine.

The amount their pay can be docked will increase from $10 to $270 per sitting day.