Key points
- Yesterday the Senate passed a resolution disallowing an amendment to the Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017 that removed the restriction on parliamentarians using office expenses to pay for the production or placement of content for television or radio.
- Effective from 9:34 pm yesterday (the time of disallowance), parliamentarians are restricted from using office expenses to pay for the production or placement of content for broadcast on television or radio.
- Parliamentarians are able to claim any such expenses incurred from the date the amendment commenced (23 February 2019) to the time of disallowance (9:34 pm, Wednesday, 3 April 2019).
Yesterday the Senate passed a resolution to disallow a recent amendment to the Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017 (PBR Regs) that removed a restriction preventing parliamentarians from using office expenses to pay for the production or placement of content for broadcast on television or radio.
The amendment to the PBR Regs to remove the restriction was effective from 23 February 2019 (see Circular 2019/01).
In accordance with subsection 45(2) of the Legislation Act 2003, the restriction is reinstated effective from the time of disallowance (9:34 pm, Wednesday, 3 April 2019).
As a result, from that time, parliamentarians are restricted from using office expenses to pay for the production or placement of content for broadcast on television or radio.
Parliamentarians may claim such expenses incurred from and including the date the amendment commenced (23 February 2019) to the time of disallowance. Claims can continue to be submitted after the time of disallowance in relation to expenses incurred during this period. Claims already made are unaffected and will be processed in accordance with normal processes.
No other amendments were affected by the disallowance motion.
Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact your Ministerial and Parliamentary Services’ Advice and Support Director.
Rachel Antone
Assistant Secretary
Policy, People and Programs Branch
Ministerial and Parliamentary Services
4 April 2019