Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann

Members of Parliament and their staff will have to meet new standards and rules when it comes to their work expenses.

With effect from 1 January 2018, the Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017 introduces a new principles-based work expenses framework that covers all travel and office expenses for Parliamentarians and their staff. These regulations accompany the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017, which was passed in May.

Under the Parliamentary Business Resources Regulations 2017, Parliamentarians will only be able to make a claim if their expenditure is made in order to conduct parliamentary business, provides value for money and meets the specified guidelines. 

These new regulations will also have stronger oversight, thanks to the establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority earlier this year.

Throughout 2017, the Government has been undertaking the most comprehensive reforms to federal parliamentarians’ work expenses in a generation. The new expenses framework for Members of Parliament is the latest in this program of expense reforms.