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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-23 Daily Xml
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PARLIAMENTARY REMUNERATION (BASIC SALARY) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Second reading.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (22:23): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading explanation inserted in Hansard without my reading it.

Leave granted.

The Parliamentary Remuneration Act 1990 provides that State parliamentarians have a base salary that is automatically linked to the base salary payable to a Federal parliamentarian, less $2,000 per annum. Other entitlements payable to State parliamentarians, such as electoral allowances, are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal of South Australia.

It is understood that the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal, who are responsible for setting Federal parliamentarians' base salary, are considering whether electorate allowances should be regarded as salary, principally for reasons of clarity and transparency.

If the Commonwealth Tribunal determines that electorate allowances are to be incorporated into Commonwealth parliamentarians' base salary there would be a direct flow on effect to the base salary of South Australian parliamentarians, without an offsetting reduction in allowances.

This Bill seeks to suspend until 30 June 2012, the existing arrangement under which the basic salary paid to a Member of Parliament is automatically linked to the annual salary allowance paid to a member of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. It will ensure that any move to incorporate electorate allowances into Commonwealth parliamentarians' base salary will not result in any unintended consequences to pay and other benefits from an automatic increase in the basic salary of South Australian parliamentarians.

A decision on whether any changes are required to the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 1990 can then be made following the outcome of the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal's review.

Given the expected timing of a decision by the Commonwealth Tribunal later this year, this Bill will need to pass the Parliament in this session.

I commend the Bill to Members.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

2—Amendment provisions

These clauses are formal.

Part 2—Amendment of Parliamentary Remuneration Act 1990

3—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

This clause provides a new definition of basic salary to apply for the period between commencement of the measure and 30 June 2012 (being the basic salary payable immediately before commencement of the measure).

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. R.I. Lucas.


At 22:24 the council adjourned until Thursday 24 November 2011 at 11:00.

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