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Last updated: 9 March 2006
Supporting Ministers, Upholding the Values
Appendix 2: Portfolio Ministers’ entitlements— financial arrangements — Department of Finance and Administration
Portfolio Ministers are provided with a range of entitlements, with the costs of these being shared between a number of agencies.
This document provides a list of those items defined under the entitlements framework that can be met by the Department of Finance and Administration (Finance). Any costs that are incurred that fall outside this list will not be met by Finance (Ministerial and Parliamentary Services).
Finance is responsible for the following costs of services for Portfolio Ministers:
- Payment of the Ministerial salary component (the Minister’s base salary component is met by the relevant chamber department)
- Payment of Travelling Allowance
- The cost of all travel within Australia (except official car transport costs) by Ministers and their staff, spouse, nominee and dependent children (limited)
- The cost of a private plated vehicle in the Minister’s electorate
- The cost of the Minister’s official overseas travel, including the travel costs for personal staff, spouse and official, non-portfolio, related Australian Government hospitality of a reciprocal nature consistent with the reasonable cultural requirements of the country (limited). The dollar limit may be extended with prior permission from the Special Minister of State
- Electorate office accommodation and office requisites and/or stationery for the Minister and electorate staff, as provided for all Senators and Members
- Additional Ministerial office accommodation—either in the capital city of the Minister’s home state or their electorate (approved by the Special Minister of State)
- The Minister’s Communications Allowance as a Senator or Member
- Management of office accommodation in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House, including parking in the Ministerial Wing basement car park
- The supply of executive furniture for the Minister and a range of standard furniture, to Australian Government OH&S standards, for staff in the Ministerial Wing
- The supply of amenities such as refrigerator, microwave and other equipment such as televisions, necessary for the function of Ministerial offices in the Ministerial Wing
- Authorisation of the removal of any furniture or equipment from the Ministerial Wing (Note: this applies even if the furniture or equipment is a portfolio department asset)
- Payment of salaries and allowances for Ministerial staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff ) Act 1984
- Computer training and other training for electorate staff of the Minister
- The provision and maintenance of the ‘Ministerial Communications Network’.
The Minister’s Portfolio Department is responsible for meeting the following costs:
- The costs of official cars for the Minister and his or her spouse, including any private plated vehicle in Canberra
- Additional or alternative furniture or equipment requested by the Minister (including additional computer and facsimile equipment) for the Minister’s offices both in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House and the Minister’s home state or territory
- Repairs and maintenance to departmental furniture and equipment in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House
- Salary, travel and other costs of Departmental Liaison Officers
- Stationery and office requisites for the Minister’s Parliament House office, Ministerial office in a capital city, and/or the Minister’s joint Ministerial/electorate office
- Business cards for the Minister and his/her staff
- Relief arrangements for personal staff of the Minister, where the period of the staff absence is less than 12 weeks
- Postage for use in relation to Ministerial duties
- The costs of official residential telephone, dedicated data line and facsimile services and telephone charge cards for the Minister
- Portfolio related business hospitality
- Any additional security requirements beyond that provided by the Protective Security Coordination Centre when overseas
- Official hospitality within Australia (including when a staff member of the Minister represents the Minister)
- Overseas travel costs associated with portfolio related hospitality and portfolio business (please seek further detailed advice from Finance)
- Laptop computers and a mobile telephone for the Minister, and staff of the Minister nominated by the Minister
- Membership fees of business organisations related to portfolio or Ministerial functional responsibilities
- The provision of semi-official residential telephone services and telephone charge cards for senior staff of the Minister nominated by the Minister
- Payment of conference and training fees for personal staff, as well as any membership of airline lounges.
The Minister’s chamber department is responsible for meeting the costs of the following:
- Payment of the Minister’s base salary, and electorate allowance
- The issue of facilities and equipment in the Ministerial suite in Parliament House, including telephones, two computers linked to the Parliament House network and a facsimile machine.
The Protective Security Coordination Centre, Attorney-General’s Department, is responsible for the costs of the following services to Portfolio Ministers:
- Personal security, residential security and security of personnel in offices outside Parliament House
- Overseas security costs.
The Ceremonial and Hospitality Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is responsible for meeting the cost of:
- The supply of official gifts for presentations, currently through Beaver Galleries, Deakin ACT. The Branch oversees all aspects of the official gifts service.
Contacts
Queries regarding the provision of services to Portfolio Ministers should be directed to the Entitlements Management Branch of Ministerial and Parliamentary Services, within the Department of Finance and Administration.
Entitlements Management Branch Helpdesk:
Ph: 02 6215 3542
Fax: 02 6267 3279
Email: emb@finance.gov.au
Issued by Ministerial and Parliamentary Services, Department of Finance and Administration, March 2005, and may be updated from time to time.
