As part of your remuneration, you may request a Commonwealth-leased private-plated vehicle (PPV) or additional electorate allowance in lieu of a PPV (currently $19,500 per annum).
Whether you choose to receive a PPV or an allowance, there are limitations on claiming transport costs (such as taxi fares) in circumstances where you could reasonably use your PPV (or the additional electorate allowance). For example, a parliamentarian who chooses an allowance instead of a PPV could reasonably be expected to use the allowance instead of claiming taxi costs in circumstances where a PPV could otherwise be reasonably used. Please refer to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) for more information.
PPVs must not to be used for commercial purposes and are serviced, maintained, insured and fuelled at the expense of the Australian Government. Further information is available on the vehicle administration page.
Eligibility
Senators
All senators may request one standard PPV (see the list of standard vehicles in related resources).
In addition to the standard PPV, senators for the Northern Territory may request up to two four-wheel-drive PPVs. The cost of the lease for the additional four-wheel-drive PPVs will be deducted from your electorate allowance and/or your limit for transport costs for unscheduled commercial transport. Contact IPEA for information on the limit for transport costs for unscheduled transport.
Members of the House of Representatives
All members of the House of Representatives may request one standard PPV (see the list of standard vehicles in related resources).
Members of the House of Representatives for an electoral division with an area of 300,000km2 or more may request a four-wheel-drive PPV instead of a standard PPV.
In addition, members of the House of Representatives for an electoral division with an area of 300,000km2 or more may request up to two four-wheel-drive PPVs. The cost of the lease for the additional four-wheel-drive PPVs will be deducted from your electorate allowance and/or your limit for transport costs for unscheduled commercial transport. Contact IPEA in relation to this limit.
Electorates with an area of 300,000km2 or more are:
- Durack
- Grey
- Kennedy
- Lingiari
- Maranoa
- O’Connor
- Parkes
Allowance in lieu of a private-plated vehicle
If you wish to receive the $19,500 per annum additional electorate allowance in lieu of a standard PPV, please email crm@sgfleet.com and your MaPS state or territory office.
For Senators for the Northern Territory and members representing electorates over 300,000km2 in size, should you elect to receive the additional electorate allowance, you will not be eligible to be provided with any PPVs, including the additional four-wheel-drive PPVs.
You may request a PPV if at least 12 months have passed from the date you elected to receive additional electorate allowance in lieu of a PPV.
You cannot switch to additional electorate allowance if you elected to be provided with a PPV within the last 12 months. You also cannot switch if the Commonwealth would incur extra expenses (such as lease cancellation fees), unless you agree to cover these expenses.