Key points
- Bargaining for the next MOP(S) Act enterprise agreement will be deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since November 2019, the Government has engaged in productive meetings with unions and other employee bargaining representatives to develop a new enterprise agreement to replace the Commonwealth Members of Parliament Staff Enterprise Agreement 2016-2019.
I want to thank all participants for their efforts. A significant amount of work has been undertaken in developing, discussing and responding to proposals. However, we are now experiencing an unprecedented change in circumstances.
Given the current COVID-19 crisis, the Government does not consider it appropriate to provide a pay rise to the staff of Members of Parliament at this time. The Government will continue to work with bargaining representatives on a new enterprise agreement once the crisis is over.
If employees have any queries, please email eacomment@finance.gov.au. Parliamentarians are invited to contact their Advice and Support Director should they have any queries in relation to this circular.
Kind regards
Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance
24 March 2020