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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-22 Daily Xml
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PARLIAMENTARY REMUNERATION ACT

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:17):l I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I rise to make a ministerial statement on proposed amendments to the Parliamentary Remuneration Act. The act links the basic rate of a federal member of parliament to that of a state member of parliament. The nexus between the basic salary of a state MP is fixed at a value of $2,000 less than commonwealth members. Earlier this year the federal government passed legislation enabling the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal to independently set base salaries for parliamentarians. These determinations will be non-disallowable.

Following on from this amendment, the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal is currently considering a determination on base salary for federal MPs. Under the Parliamentary Remuneration Act any increase to the base salary of federal MPs will flow directly to South Australian MPs. This would be, however, without an offset in allowances and other non-salary benefits.

Any changes to the remuneration of federal MPs will need to be assessed before there can be an automatic flow-on to South Australian MPs. I therefore propose that the Parliamentary Remuneration Act be amended to suspend the nexus between state and federal parliamentarians' remuneration until 30 June 2012 so that an assessment to any changes can be made. It will be necessary for this measure to proceed through both houses before parliament rises for the year and so I ask for cooperation from the opposition to enable the speedy passage of the bill, if necessary by suspension of standing orders.

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