You may claim, against your office expenses budget, signage, facilities and equipment to assist you to conduct your parliamentary business at a mobile office (e.g. a stall at a shopping centre, community fair or market) within your electorate.
Mobile office facilities and equipment could include a marquee to provide coverage when you are conducting your parliamentary business outdoors, site fees and other necessary items such as a table and chairs, or the cost of an exhibition booth for indoor events.
Venue hire (such as function rooms and community centres and halls) is not claimable as a mobile office facility as this is not a prescribed expense under section 66 of the Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017 (the PBR Regulations).
The following are examples of what does not constitute a mobile office:
- hosting large public forums (e.g. to facilitate a debate on issues of importance to constituents, or a large election campaign event)
- hosting an event or conference
- hiring office accommodation, whether on a temporary or permanent basis (temporary office accommodation is provided under the PBR Act framework at Commonwealth Parliament Offices and certain members may claim expenses relating to privately leased satellite offices).
Mobile Office Signage
The purchase of mobile office signage is a claimable expense where it is for the purpose of identifying/directing constituents to your mobile office location, and provided the expense meets your overarching PBR obligations and conditions for claiming. Issues-based material or signage that does not identify or direct constituents to your mobile office location would not satisfy the specific conditions of a mobile office expense.
Mobile office signage could be a corflute (corrugated polypropylene plastic sheeting), A-frame, tablecloth, valance or pull-up banner provided it satisfies your obligations and specific conditions, noting that printing on these materials would not otherwise be claimable as an office expense under paragraph 66(1)(a) of the PBR Regulations.
Mobile office signage should only be claimed in quantities that are for use at or within a reasonable distance of the mobile office location and adequate to identify or direct a constituent to your location. Mobile office signage must also conform to the terms of any government requirements and safety considerations, for example a local council, regarding placement and construction.
Vehicle vinyl wrapping is also permitted as mobile office signage if the vehicle is used as your mobile office. Any costs post-installation, including removal of signage, are your personal responsibility. With all private-plated vehicle signage, any costs levied by the contracted lease provider to repair any resulting damage will also be your personal responsibility. You may only claim signage which identifies or directs constituents to your mobile office location, and in quantities that are adequate to achieve this purpose.
Conditions and reporting
Mobile office expenses:
- may include wording and/or symbols for the purpose of identifying or directing constituents to the mobile office location
- must not solicit a vote for any person (including a political party), solicit financial or non-financial support or party memberships, nor include an advertisement pursuing a commercial purpose
- must not contain issues-based or election campaign material (for example, ‘Say yes/no to [Issue]’ or ‘Vote for [campaign policy]).
- must conform to the terms of any local government requirements, for example, regarding placement and construction
- must be easily movable. For example, eligible signage may include an A-frame or pull-up banner. Fixed billboards or signs that are incorporated into fixed structures are not claimable.
For more on conditions relating to all office expenses, please visit Conditions for claiming.
You are responsible for ensuring that all mobile office signage, facilities and equipment are properly secured and do not expose members of the public or staff to health and safety risks, and all other legal requirements and authorisations are met. Further information on your Work, Health and Safety obligations is available from the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service.
Mobile office expenses are included in your expenditure reports published by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA).
You can contact the MaPS Help Desk or your MaPS state or territory office for further information.