PART 5 – RATES OF AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR TRAVEL WITHIN AUSTRALIA

Rates

5.1 For the purposes of subsection 31(2) of the PBR Act, this Part determines the rates of Australian travel allowance payable in accordance with section 10 of the PBR Regulations.

5.2 The rate for a member who stays in commercial accommodation for a night is:

a. if the member is the Prime Minister or Acting Prime Minister—$641; or

b. if the member is a Minister or the holder of an office specified in section 5.4—the amount, in the table in Schedule B, in column 2 of the row containing the location in column 1 where the stay takes place; or

c. if the member is not a member mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b)—the amount, in the table in Schedule B, in column 3 of the row containing the location in column 1 where the stay takes place.

5.3 The rate for a member who stays in non‑commercial accommodation for a night is:

a. if the location of the stay is Canberra—the rate that would apply to the member is they were staying in commercial accommodation (disregarding the effect of section 5.5A); or

b. for all other locations—one‑third of the rate that would apply to the member if they were staying in commercial accommodation (disregarding the effect of section 5.5A).

5.4 The following offices are specified for the purposes of paragraph 5.2(b):

a. Leader or Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives or the Senate;

b. Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives

c. President, or Deputy President and Chair of Committees, of the Senate;

d. Chief Government Whip or Chief Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives or the Senate;

e. Leader of a minority party.

Accommodation paid for by Commonwealth

5.5 Despite section 5.2, the rate for a Minister who stays in commercial accommodation for a night, where the accommodation is paid for by the Commonwealth, is the lesser of:

a. $223; and

b. the cost of the Minister’s meals and incidental expenses for the stay.

Accessible accommodation

5.5A Despite section 5.2, if:

a. a member self‑identifies as having a physical limitation or impairment that requires the provision of accessible accommodation arrangements; and

b. while the member so self‑identifies, the member stays in commercial accommodation for a night; and

c. the cost of the accommodation is greater than the base accommodation rate for the member;

the rate for the member is the sum of:

d. the rate that would, apart from this section, apply to the member under section 5.2; and