3EASupplement of capped entitlements in exceptional circumstances

#### 3EA Supplement of capped entitlements in exceptional circumstances (1) This regulation applies to a member if the Minister is satisfied that the member: (a) has, in the financial year in which a disaster happens, expended a substantial part of a capped entitlement; and (b) because of the disaster, requires a supplement to the capped entitlement to conduct the member’s electorate or parliamentary business. (2) For subsection 5(1) of the Act, the member is entitled, on application to the Minister, to a supplement in the financial year in which the disaster happened. (3) An application mentioned in subregulation (2) must be made: (a) in the form approved by the Minister; and (b) as soon as practicable after the disaster. (4) The amount of the supplement is the amount the Minister decides the member needs to supplement the member’s capped entitlement mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) in order to conduct the member’s electorate or parliamentary business in the financial year in which the disaster happens. (5) However, the total amount of supplement to which a member is entitled under this regulation in a financial year cannot exceed $20,000. (6) A supplement under subregulation (2) may only be used by the member for one or more of the purposes declared by the Minister in a legislative instrument for this subregulation. (7) However, the member may use the supplement for a purpose described in subregulation (6) only if, in the financial year in which the disaster occurred, the member has fully expended: (a) if the purpose relates to a capped entitlement connected with an office budget benefit—the office budget for the financial year for the member; or (b) if the purpose relates to another capped entitlement—that capped entitlement. (8) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, declare a benefit to be a capped entitlement. (9) In this regulation: > capped entitlement means a benefit declared by the Minister under subregulation (8). > disaster means a serious disruption to a community or region caused by a rapid onset event that: (a) threatens or causes death, injury or damage to property or the environment; and (b) requires significant and coordinated multi‑agency and community response.