{"id":"C1973A00014","name":"Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973","slug":"remuneration-and-allowances-act-1973","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"14 of 1973","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":2530,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1973A00014-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-03-29","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973","content":"Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973\n\nNo. 14 of 1973\n\nAN ACT\n\nRelating to the Remuneration and Allowances payable to Members of the Parliament, Ministers of State, Justices of the High Court, Judges of Courts created by the Parliament, Permanent Heads of Departments of the Public Service and the Holders of certain Offices or Appointments.\n\n\\[Assented to 1 April 1973\\]\n\nBE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—\n\nPart I—Preliminary\n\nShort title.\n\n1. This Act may be cited as the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973.\n\nCommencement.\n\n2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.\n\nPart II—Members of the Parliament\n\nCitation.\n\n3. (1) In this Part, the Parliamentary Allowances Act 1952–1970 is referred to as the Principal Act.\n\n(2) The Principal Act, as amended by this Part, may be cited as the Parliamentary Allowances Act 1952–1973.\n\nAllowances to Whips.\n\n4. Section 10 of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-sections:—\n\n“(4) There are payable to the senator specified by the Leader of the Government in the Senate as the senator assisting the Government Whip in the Senate and to the senator specified by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate as the senator assisting the Opposition Whip in the Senate allowances at the rate of Five hundred dollars a year each.\n\n“(5) There are payable to the member of the House of Representatives specified by the Prime Minister as the member assisting the Government Whip in that House and to the member of the House of Representatives specified by the Leader of the Opposition in that House as the member assisting the Opposition Whip in that House allowances at the rate of Five hundred dollars a year each.’.\n\n5. After section 11 of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—\n\nAllowances for travelling expenses and expenses of living in Canberra.\n\n“11a. The Governor-General may make regulations providing for the payment to persons referred to in this Act (not being persons who are Ministers of State) of allowances in respect of travelling expenses and in respect of expenses of living in Canberra.’.\n\nAppropriation.\n\n6. Section 12 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the word ‘Act’ the words ‘(other than any allowances provided for by regulations under section 11a)’.\n\nFurther amendments of the Parliamentary Allowances Act.\n\n7. The Principal Act is further amended as set out in Schedule 1.\n\nPart III—Ministers of State\n\nCitation.\n\n8. (1) In this Part, the Ministers of State Act 1952–1971 is referred to as the Principal Act.\n\n(2) The Principal Act, as amended by this Part, may be cited as the Ministers of State Act 1952–1973.\n\nSalaries of Ministers.\n\n9. Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the words ‘Two hundred and fifty-three thousand’ and substituting the words ‘Three hundred and two thousand’.\n\nAdditional allowance to Prime Minister.\n\n10. Section 6 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the words ‘Ten thousand three hundred’ and substituting the words ‘Ten thousand nine hundred’.\n\n \n\n11. Section 7 of the Principal Act is repealed and the following sections are substituted:—\n\nAdditional allowance to Deputy Prime Minister.\n\n“7. There is payable to the Deputy Prime Minister, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly, an allowance, in addition to his salary, at the rate of Five thousand two hundred dollars a year.\n\nAdditional allowances to Ministers.\n\n“8. There is payable to each Minister of State (other than the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister) out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly, an allowance, in addition to his salary, at the rate of Four thousand eight hundred and seventy-five dollars a year.\n\nAllowances for travelling expenses.\n\n“9. The Governor-General may make regulations providing for the payment to Ministers of State of allowances in respect of travelling expenses.’.\n\nFormal amendments.\n\n12. The Principal Act is further amended as set out in Schedule 2.\n\nPart IV—Holders of Certain Judicial and Other Offices\n\nRemuneration and allowances of holders of certain judicial and other offices.\n\n13. (1) Notwithstanding anything in any other Act in force at the commencement of this Act—\n\n(a) the rate per annum of the salary applicable to an office specified in the first column of Schedule 3 is the rate per annum specified in the second column of that Schedule in relation to that office; and\n\n(b) the rate per annum of the annual allowance applicable to an office specified in the first column of Schedule 3 is the rate per annum specified in the third column of that Schedule in relation to that office.\n\n(2) Notwithstanding sub-section 10(1) of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1971–1972, the rate per annum of the additional remuneration payable to the person for the time being holding, or acting in, the office of President of the Trade Practices Tribunal if he is not the Chief Judge of the Commonwealth Industrial Court or the President of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission is Two thousand two hundred dollars per annum.\n\nPart V—Permanent Heads of Departments of the Public Service\n\nSalaries and allowances of Permanent Heads of Departments.\n\n14. (1) Notwithstanding anything in any other Act in force at the commencement of this Act—\n\n(a) the rate per annum of the salary applicable to the office of Permanent Head of a Department of the Public Service is Twenty-nine thousand two hundred and fifty dollars a year; and\n\n \n\n(b) the rate per annum of the annual allowance applicable to the office of Permanent Head of a Department of the Public Service is One thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars a year.\n\n(2) A reference in this section to a Department of the Public Service does not include a reference to a Department of the Parliament.\n\nPart VI—Holders of Certain Offices or Appointments\n\nSalaries and allowances of holders of certain offices or appointments.\n\n15. (1) Notwithstanding anything in any other Act in force at the commencement of this Act but subject to this section—\n\n(a) the rate per annum of the remuneration or salary applicable to an office or appointment specified in the first column of Part I or Part II of Schedule 4 is the rate per annum specified in the second column of that Part of that Schedule in relation to that office or appointment;\n\n(b) the rate per annum of the salary applicable to an office specified in the first column of Part III of Schedule 4 is the rate per annum specified in the second column of that Part of that Schedule in relation to that office; and\n\n(c) the rate per annum of the annual allowance (if any) applicable to an office or appointment specified in the first column of Part I or Part II of Schedule 4 is the rate per annum specified in the third column of that Part of that Schedule in relation to that office or appointment.\n\n(2) Sub-section (1) does not apply in relation to a person who is appointed to hold, or perform the duties of, an office or appointment in a part-time capacity.\n\n \n\nSCHEDULE 1 Section 7\n\nAMENDMENTS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ALLOWANCES ACT 1952–1970\n\nPart I—Amendments relating to Rates of Allowances\n\n```html\n

Provisions amended

Amendments

Section 4(1)...............

Omit “Nine thousand five hundred”, substitute “Fourteen thousand five hundred”.

Section 4(2)...............

Omit “Two thousand seven hundred and fifty”, substitute “Four thousand one hundred”.

Section 5(1)...............

Omit “Nine thousand five hundred”, substitute “Fourteen thousand five hundred”.

Section 5(2)...............

Omit all the words following the word “his”, substitute “duties, at the rate of Four thousand one hundred dollars a year”.

Section 6(1)...............

Omit “Seven thousand five hundred”, substitute “Ten thousand five hundred”.

Section 6(2)...............

Omit “Four thousand”, substitute “Four thousand two hundred and fifty”.

Section 6(3)...............

Omit “Three thousand one hundred and twenty-five”, substitute “Four thousand”.

Section 7(1)...............

Omit “Five thousand”, substitute “Seven thousand five hundred”.

Section 7(2)...............

Omit “One thousand five hundred”, substitute “Four thousand two hundred and fifty”.

Omit “Four thousand six hundred”, substitute “Four thousand eight hundred and seventy-five”.

Section 7a(1)...............

Omit “One thousand six hundred and twenty-five’, substitute ‘Three thousand two hundred”.

Section 7a(2)...............

Omit “Seven hundred and fifty”, substitute “Nine hundred”.

Section 8(1)...............

Omit “Five thousand”, substitute “Seven thousand five hundred”.

Section 8(2)...............

Omit “One thousand five hundred”, substitute “Four thousand two hundred and fifty”.

Section 8a.................

Omit “One thousand”, substitute “Two thousand”.

Omit “Five hundred”, substitute “Seven hundred and fifty”.

Section 9(1)...............

Omit “Two thousand five hundred”, substitute “Five thousand”,

Section 9(2)...............

Omit “Seven hundred and fifty”, substitute “One thousand five hundred”.

Section 10(1)...............

Omit “One thousand two hundred and fifty”, substitute “Two thousand”.

Section 10(2)...............

Omit “One thousand five hundred”, substitute “Two thousand five hundred”.

Section 10(3)...............

Omit “One thousand two hundred and fifty”, substitute “Two thousand”.

Second Schedule............

Omit the Schedule.

Part II—Formal Amendments

Provisions amended

Amendments

Section 2.................

Omit “the first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-two”, substitute “1st January, 1952”.

Section 3.................

Omit “the First Schedule to this Act”, substitute “the Schedule”.

Section 11.................

Omit “six to ten (inclusive) of this Act”, substitute “6 to 10”.

Omit “four and five of this Act”, substitute “4 and 5”.

The Schedules..............

Omit “THE SCHEDULES”,

First Schedule..............

Omit “FIRST”.

\n```\n\n \n\nSCHEDULE 2 Section 12\n\nFORMAL AMENDMENTS OF THE MINISTERS OF STATE ACT 1952–1971\n\n| Provisions amended | Amendments |\n| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Section 2............. | Omit “the first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-two”, substitute “1st January, 1952”. |\n| Section 3............. | Omit “to this Act”. |\n| The Schedule.......... | Omit “THE”. |\n\nSCHEDULE 3 Section 13\n\n| Office | Rate per annum of Salary | Rate per annum of Annual Allowance |\n| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------- |\n| | $ | $ |\n| Chief Justice of the High Court.......................... | 39,000 | 2,250 |\n| Justice (other than the Chief Justice) of the High Court........... | 35,300 | 1,750 |\n| Chief Judge of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration | 31,450 | 1,750 |\n| Chief Judge of the Commonwealth Industrial Court............. | 31,450 | 1,750 |\n| Judge (other than the Chief Judge) of the Commonwealth Industrial Court | 29,250 | 1,250 |\n| Judge of the Federal Court of Bankruptcy................... | 29,250 | 1,250 |\n| Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory..... | 29,250 | 1,250 |\n| Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory........... | 29,250 | 1,250 |\n| President of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission | 31,450 | 1,750 |\n| Deputy President of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission | 29,250 | 1,250 |\n\n \n\nSCHEDULE 4 Section 15\n\nPart I\n\n```html\n

Office or Appointment

Rate per annum of Remuneration or Salary

Rate per annum of Annual Allowance

$

$

Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.............................

32,650

1,750

Managing Director of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation...............

30,950

1,750

High Commissioner of the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom

29,250

..

General Manager of the Australian National Airlines Commission..............

29,250

2,000

\"\"Chairman of the Public Service Board................................

29,250

1,750

Commissioner of Taxation........................................

Chairman of the Tariff Board......................................

Solicitor-General..............................................

First Parliamentary Counsel.......................................

Executive Chairman of the Australian Industry Development Corporation

Chairman of the Australian Wool Corporation...........................

Commissioner of the National Urban and Regional Development Authority

\"\"Chairman of the Australian Universities Commission......................

26,700

1,200

Chairman of the Australian Commission on Advanced Education..............

Chairman of the Executive of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

Commissioner of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority..............

Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee.................................

Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia........................

Deputy Managing Director of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation

\"\"Chief of Naval Staff in the Naval Forces of the Commonwealth...............

25,850

1,200

Chief of the General Staff in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth

Chief of the Air Staff in the Air force of the Commonwealth..................

\"\"Auditor-General for the Commonwealth...............................

25000

1200

Director-General of Security.......................................

General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission................

General Manager of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission (Australia).....

Commonwealth Railways Commissioner..............................

Member (other than the Chairman) of the Public Service Board................

Public Service Arbitrator.........................................

Commissioner of Trade Practices...................................

Second Commissioner of Taxation..................................

Commissioner of the National Capital Development Commission..............

General Manager of the Commonwealth Trading Bank of Australia

General Manager of the Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia

General Manager of the Commonwealth Development Bank of Australia.........

General Manager of the Australian Coastal Shipping Commission..............

Chairman of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission....................

\n```\n\nPart II\n\n```html\n

Office

Rate per annum of Remuneration or Salary

Rate per annum of Annual Allowance

$

$

Member (other than the Chairman) of the Executive of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

23,750

..

Administrator of Papua New Guinea.................................

23,207

3,000

Second Parliamentary Counsel.....................................

22,758

..

\"\"Clerk of the Senate.............................................

22,012

Clerk of the House of Representatives................................

Chairman of the Commonwealth Bureau of Roads........................

Chairman of the Australian Wheat Board..............................

..

Executive Member of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission..............

Director of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories Commission..............

Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Control Board....................

\n```\n\n \nSchedule 4—continued\n\nPart II—continued\n\n```html\n

Office

Rate per annum of Remuneration or Salary

Rate per annum of Annual Allowance

$

$

\"\"Administrator of the Northern Territory...............................

20,810

2,500

Chairman of the Housing Loans Insurance Corporation.....................

20,810

1,000

Commissioner of the Export Payments Insurance Corporation.................

Chairman of a Taxation Board of Review..............................

20,810

..

\"\"Associate Commissioner of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority.......

20,502

Deputy Commissioner of the National Urban and Regional Development Authority..

..

National Librarian

Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Tribunal.......................

19,902

..

\"\"Assistant Director of the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation

19,148

Member (other than the Chairman) of a Taxation Board of Review.............

Associate Commissioner of the National Capital Development Commission.......

..

Deputy Chairman of the Australian Universities Commission.................

Director of the Australian Institute of Marine Science......................

Member (other than the Chairman) of the Australian Broadcasting Control Board....

18,995

..

Deputy Chairman of the Tariff Board.................................

18,086

..

\"\"Parliamentary Librarian..........................................

17,792

..

Chairman of the Australian Capital Territory Electricity Authority..............

Member (other than the Chairman or a Deputy Chairman) of the Tariff Board......

Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology........................

\"\"Chairman of the Australian Dairy Produce Board.........................

17,043

700

Chairman of the Australian Meat Board...............................

\"\"Chairman of a Valuation Board.....................................

17,043

..

President of the Superannuation Board................................

Commissioner of Employees’ Compensation............................

Commonwealth Teaching Service Commissioner.........................

Member (other than the Chairman) of the Repatriation Commission

Chairman of a War Pensions Entitlement Appeal Tribunal...................

General Manager of the Australian Tourist Commission

15,983

900

\"\"Executive Member of the Metric Conversion Board.......................

15,983

..

Principal Parliamentary Reporter....................................

Secretary to the Joint House Department...............................

Deputy Chairman of the Housing Loans Insurance Corporation................

15,385

..

Chairman of a War Pensions Assessment Appeal Tribunal...................

14,633

..

\"\"Chairman of the Industrial Research and Development Grants Board

14,479

..

Director of the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority...................

Administrator of Norfolk Island....................................

12,974

1,000

Member (other than the Chairman) of a War Pensions Entitlement Appeal Tribunal..

12,974

..

Chairman of the Australian Canned Fruits Board.........................

11,055

500

Chairman of a Repatriation Board...................................

10,824

..

Member (other than the Chairman) of a Repatriation Board..................

9,961

..

Part III

Office

Rate per annum of Salary

\"\"

$

Commissioner of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission.................

16,250

Deputy Public Service Arbitrator................................................

\n```","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This Act narrows and redirects how some allowances are set and funded: it fixes many salaries and allowances directly in Schedules (s.13, s.14, s.15) while also delegating travel/Canberra living allowances to Governor‑General regulations for certain persons (s.11a inserted by cl.5; Ministerial travel regs via cl.11/new s.9). It also amends appropriation treatment so allowances made under those regulations are excluded from the Principal Act’s appropriation (cl.6). Mechanically, that transfers some rate‑setting from the parliamentary/primary‑statute framework into executive regulation and creates direct Consolidated Revenue Fund obligations for specified ministerial allowances (cl.11)."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive, itemised pay schedules listing many distinct offices with precise dollar rates (Schedule 3 and Schedule 4; implemented by s.13 and s.15) — increases maintenance and interpretation burdens.","Amendments of multiple principal Acts (Parliamentary Allowances Act 1952–1970 and Ministers of State Act 1952–1971) across Parts II and III (see cl.3, cl.8 and Schedules 1–2) — cross‑reference complexity.","Introduces executive regulation‑making powers for travel and Canberra living allowances for members and Ministers (insertion of s.11a via cl.5 for Members; new Ministerial travel regulation provision inserted by cl.11 as new s.9) — creates delegated discretion.","Alters appropriation treatment by excluding certain allowances made under regulations from the original appropriation (cl.6 amends the Principal Act’s appropriation provision) — shifts budgeting mechanics.","Explicit appropriation language for some ministerial allowances (cl.11: payments out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund) — creates direct fiscal obligations.","Technical exceptions and limits (for example s.15(2) excludes part‑time appointments from the fixed rates) — needs careful application to appointments.","Cross‑statute interaction: specific reference to another Act’s subsection (s.13(2) references sub‑section 10(1) of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1971–1972) — legal interaction points.","Numerous formal and drafting amendments (Schedules 1–2 make many small textual substitutions) — increases risk of transcription or application errors when consolidating texts.","Operational and compliance burden on payrolls and agencies to implement many discrete changes in parallel (various Parts and Schedules)."],"plain_english_summary":"Sets fixed salaries and allowances for members of Parliament, Ministers, High Court and other judges, permanent department heads and many statutory office‑holders by amending earlier Acts and inserting detailed Schedules of monetary rates. It also empowers the Governor‑General to make regulations for travel and Canberra living allowances for certain persons and specifies which payments are drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. It affects office‑holders (who receive pay), the Treasury (who funds it), and creates administrative and compliance duties for agencies managing pay."},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":1657},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original scope of setting remuneration and allowances for parliamentarians, ministers, judicial officers, senior public servants, and statutory office holders as described in the title and preamble."},"complexity_factors":["Four schedules containing detailed tabular salary data for various office holders","Amends two existing Acts (Parliamentary Allowances Act 1952-1970 and Ministers of State Act 1952-1971) by citation and substitution","Specific dollar amounts throughout that require future legislative amendment to update","Cross-reference to Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1971-1972 for Trade Practices Tribunal President","Delegation of power to Governor-General to make regulations for travel and living allowances","Multiple distinct beneficiary categories with different remuneration structures (parliamentary, judicial, executive, administrative)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act updates and fixes 1973 salaries, allowances, and expense payments for senior federal office-holders — including Members of Parliament, ministers, judges, senior public servants and a range of statutory officers. It amends the Parliamentary Allowances Act 1952 and Ministers of State Act 1952, allows regulations on MPs’ travel and Canberra living costs, and overrides any conflicting pay rates in prior laws, ensuring a single, current pay regime."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/remuneration-and-allowances-act-1973","history":"/api/acts/remuneration-and-allowances-act-1973/history","analysis":"/api/acts/remuneration-and-allowances-act-1973/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/remuneration-and-allowances-act-1973/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/remuneration-and-allowances-act-1973/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/remuneration-and-allowances-act-1973/documents"}}