Members of Parliament (Accommodation Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members) Amendment Determination 2024
2024/49
Members of Parliament (Accommodation Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members) Amendment Determination 2024
This determination (to which is appended an explanatory memorandum) is made by the Remuneration Authority under section 17 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013 and under the Remuneration Authority Act 1977 after complying with sections 18 and 32 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013.
Contents
Determination
1 Title
This determination is the Members of Parliament (Accommodation Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members) Amendment Determination 2024.
2 Commencement
This determination is deemed to have come into force on 1 November 2023.
3 Principal determination
This determination amends the Members of Parliament (Accommodation Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members) Determination 2023.
4 Clause 4 amended (Overview)
In clause 4(3), replace “non-Wellington accommodation payments”
with “accommodation payments both in and outside Wellington”
.
5 Clause 50 replaced (Increase in accommodation expense payment in certain circumstances)
Replace clause 50 with:
50 Increase in accommodation expense payment in Wellington in certain circumstances
(1)
This clause applies if—
(a)
a member of Parliament is unable to travel outside the Wellington commuting area for 1 or both of the following reasons:
(i)
the House agrees a motion to accord urgency to certain business:
(ii)
an unforeseen or unavoidable disruption occurs in the Wellington commuting area or at the member of Parliament’s destination; and
(b)
the member of Parliament is unable to book suitable accommodation in the Wellington commuting area within the maximum amount specified in clause 18, 22, 28, or 34 (whichever applies to the member of Parliament).
(2)
The relevant agency (see subclause (4)) may authorise an accommodation payment in excess of the amounts specified in clause 18, 22, 28, or 34 (whichever applies to the member of Parliament).
(3)
An increase in the accommodation payment authorised under subclause (2)—
(a)
may—
(i)
not exceed $120, in relation to clauses 18, 22, and 28; and
(ii)
not exceed $100, in relation to clause 34; and
(iii)
apply to 1 or more members of Parliament or 1 or more groups of members of Parliament; and
(b)
must be specified to apply—
(i)
on 1 or more occasions; or
(ii)
during a period not exceeding 3 months.
(4)
The agency responsible for granting an authorisation under this clause and clause 50A must be determined in accordance with section 7 of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000.
(5)
In this clause, an unforeseen or unavoidable disruption includes, but is not limited to, a disruption arising as a result of—
(a)
a natural disaster:
(b)
adverse weather conditions:
(c)
riot or disorder, or a threat of riot or disorder:
(d)
a terrorist act (as defined in section 5 of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002):
(e)
an epidemic notice given under section 5(1) of the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 being in force.
50A Increase in accommodation expense payment outside Wellington in certain circumstances
(1)
This clause applies if—
(a)
a member of Parliament is unable to book suitable accommodation within the maximum amount specified in clause 42, 44, or 47 (whichever applies to the member of Parliament); and
(b)
the increased cost is attributable to 1 or more of the following:
(i)
a shortage of suitable accommodation because of a cultural, sporting, or diplomatic event:
(ii)
a lack of suitable available accommodation in the centre in which the member of Parliament wishes to book accommodation:
(iii)
a premium payable for late booking, if the late booking is due to unexpected engagements or to unexpected travel disruptions, such as flight cancellations or adverse weather conditions:
(iv)
the unavailability of accommodation for a member of Parliament or a member of Parliament’s family member because the member of Parliament or the family member has a disability.
(2)
The relevant agency (see clause 50(4)) may authorise an accommodation payment in excess of the amounts specified in clause 42, 44, or 47 (whichever applies to the member of Parliament).
(3)
An increase in the accommodation payment authorised under subclause (2)—
(a)
may—
(i)
not exceed $120, in relation to clauses 42 and 44; and
(ii)
not exceed $100, in relation to clause 47; and
(iii)
apply to 1 or more members of Parliament or 1 or more groups of members of Parliament; and
(b)
must be specified to apply—
(i)
on 1 or more occasions; or
(ii)
during a period not exceeding 3 months.
Dated at Wellington this 16th day of April 2024.
Geoff Summers,
Chairperson.
Dallas Welch,
Member.
Vern Walsh,
Member.
Explanatory memorandum
This memorandum is not part of the determination but is intended to indicate its general effect.
This determination, which is deemed to have come into force on 1 November 2023, amends the Members of Parliament (Accommodation Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members) Determination 2023 (the principal determination).
This determination allows additional accommodation support to be paid to a member of Parliament who, for certain reasons beyond the member’s control, is unable to book, at short notice, overnight accommodation within the payment limits set by the principal determination. The reasons are that the House of Representatives is required to sit under urgency or that an unforeseen or unavoidable disruption, such as a natural disaster or adverse weather conditions, has occurred in Wellington or at the member of Parliament’s destination.
This determination makes that change by replacing clause 50 of the principal determination with new clauses 50 and 50A. New clause 50 has the effect described above. New clause 50A has the same effect that its predecessor clause, clause 50 of the principal determination, had before the principal determination was amended by this determination.
Date of notification in Gazette: 18 April 2024.