29Limit on certain costs

29 Limit on certain costs

(1) The total of the costs that can be claimed by a member for a financial year under the following provisions is limited: (a) section 16 (family reunion travel to Canberra and within local area); (b) section 22 (travel as member’s representative); (c) section 27 (family member private vehicle allowance—travel to Canberra).

Note 1: Family member private vehicle allowance claimed in exchange for a fare under section 17 or 18 is not counted for the purposes of this section: see subsection 27(6).

Note 2: Transport costs for incidental travel prescribed by section 25 (incidental transport costs) are not counted for the purposes of this section.

Working out the limit (2) The limit is the sum of the following: (a) the value of 9 business class return airfares for the member’s spouse or nominee to travel from the spouse or nominee’s home base airport to Canberra; (b) the value of 3 economy class return airfares for each dependent child of the member to travel from the child’s home base airport to Canberra.

Note: The spouse of a senior office holder is included for the purposes of working out this limit.

(3) If the home base for a spouse or nominee, or a dependent child, is within 150 km of Parliament House by road, the limit is to be calculated on the basis of return airfares from Sydney to Canberra. (4) The value of the airfares for a financial year is to be determined by IPEA based on the reasonable costs of airfares during the latter part of the previous financial year. When limit is determined (5) The limit is to be determined by IPEA at the beginning of the financial year based on information provided by the member. (6) Once determined, the limit is fixed for the financial year, despite changes in the member’s family circumstances during the year.

Note: If a person becomes a member during the year, the limit is pro‑rated under section 53 of the Act.