Ministerial Statement

MEMBERS' TRAVEL PROVISIONS

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:04): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: On 22 November last year I announced the intention of the government to refer the provision for spouses, domestic partners or family members to accompany members on parliamentary travel to the Remuneration Tribunal. When I did so, I acknowledged that there were legitimate community concerns about aspects of the travel provisions.

I said that, while travel for members of parliament is not particularly popular, it can make a valuable contribution to our legislature. I indicated that I shared with the community their concern about whether accessing a travel allowance for partners or family remains appropriate. However, I acknowledge that there may be occasions when it may be appropriate for a member of parliament to be accompanied by a family member.

On 27 November last year, I wrote to the Remuneration Tribunal to ask it to review these provisions. The government then provided a submission to the Remuneration Tribunal. In that submission, we submitted that there should no longer be an entitlement for a member of parliament to access the travel allowance to provide for the accompaniment of a family member but that there should be a discretion to authorise such access in a particular case, where there were reasons sufficient to justify public expenditure of funds to provide for the accompaniment.

The tribunal has now reported and determined a new set of rules. The report and rules were received in my office earlier today. The new rules set out by the tribunal improve elements of transparency and accountability associated with parliamentary travel; remove the entitlement of spouses and domestic partners to access the travel allowance except in approved circumstances, in particular, where the spouse or partner is formally invited to attend an official function with the member; preclude family members, other than spouses or domestic partners, from accessing the travel allowance; and provide for the cost of carer's travel, where the member has special physical or medical needs, upon application to the Remuneration Tribunal.

I thank the tribunal for its consideration of this matter and for its determination. In the government's view, the determination strikes a good balance and better reflects community sentiment on this issue. The new rules are being gazetted today. I seek leave to table to the report and determination.