Key points
- Effective from 1 August 2019, parliamentarians may claim data products and data validation services for the purposes of communicating with constituents as an office expense.
On 1 August 2019, the Minister for Finance approved under paragraph 66(1)(pd) of the Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017 data products and data validation services for the purposes of communicating with constituents as an office expense. As a result, parliamentarians may now submit claims for such services to Ministerial and Parliamentary Services via the Parliamentary Expenses Management System.
The approval applies to all parliamentarians and enables them to use their existing annual budget for office expenses to procure such data products and services from any commercial provider.
In accessing office expenses, parliamentarians are reminded of their obligations under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017, including the dominant purpose and value for money tests.
Should you require further information, please contact your Ministerial and Parliamentary Services’ Advice and Support Director.
Lauren Barons
Assistant Secretary
Advice and Support Branch
Ministerial and Parliamentary Services
5 August 2019