Flags, nationhood material and wreaths
Overarching obligations
The Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 imposes overarching obligations.
The dominant purpose and value for money tests and specified conditions must be met. See s25, 26, 27, 28.
The Commonwealth is not liable to pay an expense or provide a public resource where you contravene any of these obligations (s29, PBR Act).
Flags and nationhood material
For the conduct of your parliamentary business, and subject to the limit of your annual budget for office expenses and your obligation to ensure your expenditure provides value for money, you may purchase flags, flag lapel pins and documents related to nationhood, of kinds approved by the Minister, for presentation to constituents or organisations.
- ‘Documents’ may be written, printed or electronic.
- ‘Constituents’ - is defined in section 5 of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 as a person enrolled to vote or resident in your electorate (or your State/Territory if you are a Senator).
- ‘Presentation’ - it is expected that there will be an element of formality in the act and/or ceremony attached to the manner in which flags, flag lapel pins and documents are presented and that the presentation is made directly by you to the recipient.
There is no sub-limit for the amount you may spend - the only limit is the limit of your annual budget for office expenses. Flag and nationhood material expenditure is reported in your monthly management reports and quarterly expenditure reports.
Note: Flags obtained for presentation as part of the Chamber Flag Program are not debited from the annual budget for office expenses.
Flags
The flag types and sizes that the Minister has approved for presentation to constituents and organisations are:
The national flag, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag in the following sizes:
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The red ensign
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| Desktop and hand-waver flags |
Flag lapel pins
The Minister has approved the following types and sizes of flag lapel pins for presentation to constituents and organisations:
The National Flag lapel pin with butterfly clip attachment
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Orders for flags and flag lapel pins must be made via Complete Office Supplies. Costs will be deducted from your annual budget for office expenses.
Please note: heavy duty flags for external use at your electorate office can be ordered by your Ministerial and Parliamentary Services (MaPS) State Office.
.Nationhood documents
The Minister has approved the following nationhood documents for presentation to constituents and organisations:
- Booklet on the flags of Australia
- Booklet on Australia’s national symbols
- Compact disc and DVD recordings of the Australia national anthem
- Portraits of Her Majesty The Queen and Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Wreaths
For the conduct of your parliamentary business, and subject to the limit of your annual budget for office expenses and your obligation to ensure your expenditure provides value for money, you may purchase wreaths, for example, for ceremonial purposes.
Claims for payment should be sent to MaPS electronically via the Parliamentary Expenses Management System (PEMS); or if PEMS is not able to be used, by completing Form 146 - 'Invoice certification and request for reimbursement - satellite electorate office, courier or freight transfer costs and other' form and include an itemised tax invoice and proof of payment.
PEMS log on
For all items purchased from the annual budget for office expenses, invoices must clearly identify:
- items
- quantity
- date of purchase
- date of delivery, and
- cost.
- s32(1) Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 /node/40
- ss66(1)(h), 67 Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017
Last updated: 27 March 2020