Key points
- A pro-rata increase to the communications component of parliamentarians’ 2015‑16 office budgets has been made.
With effect from 4 January 2016, Australia Post increased the standard rate of postage from $0.70 to $1.00 per small letter.
The communications component for each Senator and Member’s 2015-16 office budget has been increased by an amount equivalent to the increase in postage.
This adjustment has been implemented via an amendment to the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations 1997.
Senators
For Senators, the 2015-16 office budget has been increased by $5,839.00 to a total of $33,696.50. Senators’ office budgets will continue to be indexed in future financial years in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Members
For Members, the 2015-16 office budget has been recalculated based on $0.70 per enrolled voter from 1 July 2015 to 3 January 2016 (187 days) and $1.00 from 4 January 2016 to 30 June 2016 (179 days) using the following formula:
($0.70 x 187) + ($1.00 x 179) x Number of enrolled voters
366
The communications component of each Member’s 2016-17 office budget will be calculated using the new standard rate of postage of $1.00 multiplied by the number of enrolled voters in the Member’s electorate as at 31 March 2016.
The April Monthly Management Reports will reflect the updated Office Budget.
Should you have any questions or require any further information, please contact your Ministerial and Parliamentary Services’ Entitlements Manager.
Jason Ford
Assistant Secretary
Entitlements Management Branch
Ministerial and Parliamentary Services
14 April 2016