Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 1973

Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 1973

[The long title Substituted by No. 91 of 1999, s. 45, Applied:15 Dec 1999] An Act to make provision with respect to the salaries, superannuation and allowances to be paid to members of Parliament

Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:

1.   Short title and commencement

(1)  [Section 1 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 46, Applied:15 Dec 1999] This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 1973 .

(2)  This Act shall commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation (being not earlier than the first day of July 1973).

2.   Repeal

(1)  The Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Act 1962 is repealed.

(2)  The amendments made by this subsection are incorporated in the authorised consolidation of the –

(a) Public Works Committee Act 1914 ; and

(b) Subordinate Legislation Committee Act 1969 ; and

(c) Public Accounts Committee Act 1970 .

3.   Interpretation

(1)  [Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 10 of 1975, s. 2 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 82 of 1977, s. 4 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 2 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 74 of 1986, s. 13 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 22 of 1988, s. 4 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1993, s. 4 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 15 of 1995, s. 4 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 14 of 1996, s. 4 ][Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 44 of 1996, s. 4 ]In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears –

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 47, Applied:15 Dec 1999] accumulation scheme means the Tasmanian Accumulation Scheme established under the Public Sector Superannuation Reform Act 1999 ;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 47, Applied:15 Dec 1999] additional salary means the salary that is payable to a member under Part II or III of Schedule 1 ;

basic salary means the amount determined from time to time by the Auditor-General under Part I of Schedule 1 as the basic salary;

Commission means the Full Bench of the Tasmanian Industrial Commission constituted under sections 5 and 14 of the Industrial Relations Act 1984 ;

Committee means the Committee of Review established by order-in-council dated 23 October 1996 to enquire into certain allowances and benefits to which members are entitled;

Commonwealth basic salary means the annual allowance by way of salary payable under a law of the Commonwealth to a member of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Commonwealth who is not entitled to any additional allowance for holding any office, or performing any function, in, or in relation to, that Parliament or that House;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 47, Applied:15 Dec 1999] [Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 103 of 2000, Sched. 1, Applied:13 Dec 2000]

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 103 of 2000, Sched. 1, Applied:13 Dec 2000] complying superannuation scheme means a complying superannuation fund as provided by the law of the Commonwealth;

Government Whip means the member of the House of Assembly who is for the time being recognized as the Government Whip;

House means a House of Parliament;

member means a member of either House;

Opposition Whip means the member of the House of Assembly who is for the time being recognized as the Whip of a political party that has the greatest number of members of that House, being a party of which no member is a Minister;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 47, Applied:15 Dec 1999] parliamentary salary means the basic salary that is payable to a member and includes any additional salary payable to the member;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 47, Applied:15 Dec 1999] RBF Board means the Retirement Benefits Fund Board continued in existence under section 7 of the Retirement Benefits Act 1993 ;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 47, Applied:15 Dec 1999] relevant officer means the Clerk of the House of Assembly, the Clerk of the Legislative Council or the Secretary of the responsible Department in relation to the Constitution Act 1934 , as the case may require;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 31 of 1998, s. 49, Applied:27 Jul 1998] terms of reference means the terms of reference of the Committee;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 47, Applied:15 Dec 1999] transfer day means the day specified in a notice under section 7(5) of the Public Sector Superannuation Reform Act 1999 ;

[Section 3 Subsection (1) amended by No. 31 of 1998, s. 49, Applied:27 Jul 1998] Tribunal means the Allowances Tribunal referred to in section 8 .

(2)  [Section 3 Subsection (2) omitted by No. 22 of 1988, s. 4 ].  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

(3)  [Section 3 Subsection (3) omitted by No. 22 of 1988, s. 4 ].  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

(4)  [Section 3 Subsection (4) omitted by No. 100 of 1975, s. 2 ].  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

4.   Salaries, fees and allowances of members

[Section 4 Substituted by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 3 ]

(1)  [Section 4 Subsection (1) amended by No. 44 of 1996, s. 5, Applied:15 May 1997] The salaries, fees, and allowances that are to be paid to members are payable in accordance with, and at the rates specified in or determined by reference to, the provisions of Schedules 1 and 2 .

(2)  [Section 4 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 21 of 1983, s. 4 ]Where, after calculating the amount of any salary, fee, or allowance that, but for this subsection, would be payable to a member under this Act, that amount comprises a number of cents less than 100 or a number of whole dollars and a number of cents less than 100, that number of cents shall, if less than 50, be disregarded, but if 50 or more, shall be treated as one dollar.

(3)  [Section 4 Subsection (3) inserted by No. 91 of 1999, s. 48, Applied:15 Dec 1999] The superannuation entitlements for members elected after 1 July 1999 and to whom neither the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 1973 nor the Parliamentary Retiring Benefits Act 1985 applies are to be determined in accordance with Schedule 3 .

4A.   Publication of Committee's determination

[Section 4A Inserted by No. 44 of 1996, s. 6 ]

(1)  The Committee must, within 14 days of making its report to the Governor in accordance with its terms of reference, cause a notice to be published in the Gazette in the form of a determination specifying its recommendations relating to the matters referred to in items 4, 5 and 6 of the terms of reference.

(2)  The notice referred to in subsection (1) is to be the determination of the Committee.

(3)  The determination of the Committee takes effect on the day on which the notice referred to in subsection (1) is published in the Gazette.

(4)  For the purposes of the terms of reference, the remuneration payable to the chairperson and members of standing committees of the Parliament established by an enactment is taken to be an allowance.

4B.   Determination of Committee not subject to challenge

[Section 4B Inserted by No. 44 of 1996, s. 6 ]The determination of the Committee under section 4A may not be challenged, reviewed, quashed or called into question before any court or in any legal proceedings in the nature of prohibition, mandamus, certiorari or otherwise.

5.   Apportionment

The Apportionment Act 1871 applies to and in relation to all remuneration that is payable by virtue of this Act as if the Crown were bound by that Act.

6.   Appropriation

[Section 6 Substituted by No. 91 of 1999, s. 49, Applied:15 Dec 1999] Salaries, employer superannuation contributions, fees and allowances that are payable under this Act are payable out of the Consolidated Fund which, to the necessary extent, is appropriated accordingly.

7.   Abolition of certain allowances and benefits

[Section 7 Inserted by No. 44 of 1996, s. 7, Applied:15 May 1997]

(1)  Any allowances and benefits to which a member or former member was entitled as a member or former member immediately before the commencement of the Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Amendment Act (No. 2) 1996 , other than in accordance with this Act, are abolished.

(2)  No allowances and benefits may be provided to a member or former member as a member or former member other than in accordance with this Act.

(3)  Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to –

(a) a benefit to which a member or former member is entitled under any superannuation scheme, arrangement or agreement; and

(b) a benefit to which a member is entitled under a personal accident and illness insurance policy; and

(c) staff, office accommodation, equipment (including the capital and recurrent costs of that equipment), facilities and other resources provided to assist a member in the performance of the member's duties; and

(d) the reimbursement of expenses incurred by a member in the course of –

(i) representing the Parliament, with the approval of the presiding officer of the Legislative Council and the presiding officer of the House of Assembly, at any conference, activity or event connected with the member's parliamentary duties; or

(ii) representing a House, with the approval of that House or the presiding officer of that House, at any conference, activity or event connected with the member's parliamentary duties.

8.   Allowances Tribunal

[Section 8 Inserted by No. 31 of 1998, s. 50, Applied:27 Jul 1998]

(1)  The Allowances Tribunal is established.

(2)  The Tribunal consists of –

(a) the President of the Tasmanian Industrial Commission who is to be the chairperson; and

(b) the Deputy Presidents of the Tasmanian Industrial Commission.

9.   Functions of Tribunal

[Section 9 Inserted by No. 31 of 1998, s. 50, Applied:27 Jul 1998]

(1)  As soon as practicable after the first determination of the Redistribution Tribunal under section 25 of the Legislative Council Electoral Boundaries Act 1995 following the commencement of the Parliamentary Reform Act 1998 , the Tribunal is to determine electorate allowances payable to all members of the Legislative Council.

(2)  In making its determination under subsection (1) the Tribunal is to –

(a) have regard to the determination of the Redistribution Tribunal referred to in subsection (1) and the determination of the Redistribution Tribunal made under section 29A(1) of the Legislative Council Electoral Boundaries Act 1995 ; and

(b) consult with the members of the Redistribution Tribunal in relation to the nature of the new divisions.

(3)  The determination made under subsection (1) has effect in relation to the Council divisions specified in the determination of the Redistribution Tribunal under section 25 of the Legislative Council Electoral Boundaries Act 1995 .

10.   Publication of Tribunal's determination

[Section 10 Inserted by No. 31 of 1998, s. 50, Applied:27 Jul 1998] The Tribunal must, as soon as practicable after making its determination under section 9 , cause the determination to be published in the Gazette.

11.   Determination of Tribunal not subject to challenge

[Section 11 Inserted by No. 31 of 1998, s. 50, Applied:27 Jul 1998] The determination of the Tribunal under section 9 may not be challenged, reviewed, quashed or called into question before any court or in any legal proceedings in the nature of prohibition, mandamus, certiorari or otherwise.

SCHEDULE 1 - [Schedule 1 Heading amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 3 ]Salaries payable to members

Section 4

PART I - Basic salary

[Schedule 1 Amended by No. 10 of 1975, s. 4 ][Schedule 1 Amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 1, 2 and 3 ][Schedule 1 Amended by No. 22 of 1988, s. 5 ][Schedule 1 Amended by No. 91 of 1993, s. 5 ][Schedule 1 Amended by No. 15 of 1995, s. 5 ][Schedule 1 Amended by No. 14 of 1996, ss. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 ]

1.   

(1) Each member is to be paid the basic salary.

(2) [Part I of Schedule 1 Amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 50, Applied:15 Dec 1999] Notwithstanding subclause (1) , a member may, by notice in writing given to the relevant officer, elect to be paid a salary, specified in the notice, that is less than the basic salary.

(3) [Part I of Schedule 1 Amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 50, Applied:15 Dec 1999] A member may withdraw a notice under subclause (2) by another notice in writing given to the relevant officer and, on any such withdrawal, the member is to be paid the basic salary.

2.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

3.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

3A.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

3B.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

3C.   The Commission must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this Act –

(a) determine the percentage of the Commonwealth basic salary that as at 30 June 1996 is to be the basic salary for the purposes of this Schedule; and

(b) cause a notice to be published in the Gazette specifying the amount so determined.

3D.   A determination of the Commission made under clause 3C is taken to have had effect on and from 1 July 1996.

3E.   The Auditor-General must, not later than 14 July 1997 and 14 July in each subsequent year –

(a) determine the amount that as at the preceding 30 June is equivalent to the percentage of the Commonwealth basic salary determined by the Commission under clause 3C; and

(b) cause a notice to be published in the Gazette specifying the amount so determined.

3F.   A determination of the Auditor-General under clause 3E has effect on and from 1 July in the year to which it relates.

3G.   Until such time as the Commission makes a determination, the basic salary of a Member of Parliament is to be $67 519.

4.   The basic salary payable to a member shall be calculated from and including the day on which he is elected as a member and, except as provided by clause 5 , ceases to be payable on the day on which he ceases to be a member.

5.   Where a member of the House of Assembly ceases to be a member of that House by reason of the dissolution of that House or the expiry of that House by the effluxion of time, he is, notwithstanding the cessation of his membership, entitled to continue to receive his basic salary until the day fixed for the taking of the poll next following the dissolution or expiry of that House.

PART IA - .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

5A.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

PART II - Additional salary payable to the Premier, the Deputy Premier, and the Ministers of the Crown

6.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

6A.   The Commission must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this Act –

(a) determine as at 30 June 1996 a percentage of the basic salary that it considers appropriate as an additional salary payable to the members for the time being holding the following offices:

Premier

Deputy Premier

Minister

Secretary to Cabinet;

and;

(b) cause a notice to be published in the Gazette specifying the amount so determined.

6B.   A determination of the Commission made under clause 6A is taken to have had effect on and from 1 July 1996.

6C.   Until such time as the Commission makes a determination, the additional salary payable to a person for the time being holding an office that is specified in the first column of the following table is to be such percentage of the amount of the basic salary for the time being as is specified opposite to that office in the second column of that table, namely:

FIRST COLUMN Office	SECOND COLUMN Percentage of basic salary of which the additional salary is comprised
	%
Premier	115
Deputy Premier	82
Minister	70
Secretary to Cabinet	30

7.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

PART III - Additional salary payable to officers of Parliament

7A.   The Commission must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this Act –

(a) determine as at 30 June 1996 a percentage of the basic salary that it considers appropriate as an additional salary payable to the members for the time being holding the following offices:

Legislative Council

President

Leader for the Government

Chairman of Committees

Deputy Leader for the Government

House of Assembly

Speaker

Chairman of Committees

Leader of the Opposition

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Government Whip

Opposition Whip;

and

(b) cause a notice to be published in the Gazette specifying the amount so determined.

7B.   A determination of the Commission made under clause 7A is taken to have had effect on and from 1 July 1996.

7C.   Until such time as the Commission makes a determination, the additional salary payable to a person for the time being holding an office that is specified in the first column of the following table shall be such percentage of the amount of the basic salary for the time being as is specified opposite to that office in the second column of that table, namely:

FIRST COLUMN Office	SECOND COLUMN Percentage of basic salary of which the additional salary is comprised
	%
Legislative Council –
President	35
Leader for the Government	70
Chairman of Committees	20
Deputy Leader for the Government	35
House of Assembly –
Speaker	35
Chairman of Committees	20
Leader of the Opposition	70
Deputy Leader of the Opposition	35
Government Whip	6
Opposition Whip	6

8.   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

9.   Where the House of Assembly is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time, a person who is the holder of the office of –

(a) Leader of the Opposition in that House;

(b) Deputy Leader of the Opposition in that House;

(c) Government Whip; or

(d) Opposition Whip –

is entitled, notwithstanding the dissolution or expiry of that House, to receive the salary payable to him under this schedule until the day fixed for the taking of the poll next following the dissolution or expiry of that House.

9A.   [Part III of Schedule 1 Amended by No. 44 of 1996, s. 8, Applied:15 May 1997] Where the House of Assembly is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time, a person who is the holder of an office specified, pursuant to item 5 of the terms of reference, in the Committee's determination under section 4A as being entitled to receive additional salary is entitled, notwithstanding the dissolution or expiry of that House, to receive the salary payable to the holder in accordance with the determination of the Committee under section 4A until the day fixed for the taking of the poll next following the dissolution or expiry of that House.

PART IV - General provisions relating to salaries

10.   A salary or an additional salary that is payable under the foregoing provisions shall be paid by equal instalments on the fifteenth and last days of each month.

10A.   [Part IV of Schedule 1 Amended by No. 91 of 1999, s. 50, Applied:15 Dec 1999]

(1) Notwithstanding section 4 , a member may elect in writing to the relevant officer, within one month after –

(a) the date of commencement of the Superannuation (Parliament, Judiciary and Statutory Legal Officers) Reform Act 1999 or the date of his or her election or re-election, whichever is the later; or

(b) each succeeding period of 3 years after the relevant date applicable under paragraph (a)  –

that his or her parliamentary salary determined in accordance with section 4 may be provided –

(c) in part by the payment of salary to the member; and

(d) in part by the payment of employer superannuation contributions to a complying superannuation scheme, which may include the accumulation scheme or an investment account established by the regulations under the Retirement Benefits Act 1993 .

(2) A member who –

(a) is subject to the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 1973 or the Parliamentary Retiring Benefits Act 1985 ; and

(b) elects to sacrifice some or all of his or her parliamentary salary in accordance with subclause (1)  –

is taken, for the purposes of paying superannuation contributions or receiving superannuation benefits under either of those Acts, to have received the parliamentary salary applicable to that member, notwithstanding the salary sacrifice.

(3) A member who –

(a) is elected after 1 July 1999; and

(b) is not subject to the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 1973 or the Parliamentary Retiring Benefits Act 1985 ; and

(c) elects to sacrifice some or all of his or her parliamentary salary under subclause (1)  –

is taken to have received the parliamentary salary applicable to him or her, notwithstanding the salary sacrifice.

(4) If a member elects to sacrifice some or all of his or her salary under subclause (1) , the election has effect from the date of the election or from a later date specified in the election for that purpose.

11.   A determination of the Commission under this Schedule may not be challenged, reviewed, quashed or called into question before any court or in any legal proceedings in the nature of prohibition, mandamus, certiorari or otherwise.

12.   

(1) In the performance of its functions under this Schedule, the Commission –

(a) may inform itself in such manner as it thinks fit and may conduct such inquiries as it thinks fit; and

(b) may receive written or oral submissions; and

(c) is not required to conduct proceedings in a formal manner; and

(d) is not bound by the rules of evidence or the Industrial Relations Act 1984 , except section 14 .

(2) Without affecting the generality of subclause (1) , the Commission may invite submissions from any member, statutory authority, government department (within the meaning of the Tasmanian State Service Act 1984 ) or any other person.

13.   Where the Commission makes a determination under this Schedule, the Registrar of the Commission must –

(a) make copies of reasons for the determination available to members of the public; and

(b) give public notification in the Gazette and in each daily newspaper circulating generally throughout Tasmania that copies of those reasons are so available.

SCHEDULE 2 - Allowances and benefits to which members are entitled

[Schedule 2  Heading amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 3 ][Schedule 2 Substituted by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997]

Section 4

Allowances and benefits to which members are entitled

1.   

(1) Members are entitled to the allowances and benefits specified in the determination of the Committee under section 4A as adjusted from time to time.

(2) The allowances and benefits referred to in subclause (1) are to be adjusted in accordance with a mechanism established by the determination of the Committee under section 4A .

(3) Where a member of the House of Assembly ceases to be a member of that House by reason of the dissolution of that House or the expiry of that House by the effluxion of time, the member, notwithstanding the cessation of his or her membership, continues to be entitled to receive any allowance or benefit specified in the determination of the Committee under section 4A until the day fixed for the taking of the poll next following the dissolution or expiry of that House.

SCHEDULE 3 - Superannuation for members elected after 1 July 1999

[Schedule 3  Heading amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 3 ][Schedule 3 Repealed by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997] [Schedule 3  Clause 1 amended by No. 10 of 1975, s. 5 ][Part I of Schedule 3 Repealed by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997] [Schedule 3  Clause 2 amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 3 ][Part II of Schedule 3 Amended by No. 8 of 1997, s. 28, Applied:01 May 1997] [Schedule 3  Clause 3 amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 3 ][Part II of Schedule 3 Repealed by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997] [Schedule 3  Clause 6 amended by No. 10 of 1975, s. 5 ][Schedule 3  Clause 6 amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 1 and 3 ][Schedule 3  Clause 6 amended by No. 99 of 1982, s. 3 and Sched. 2, Pt. II ][Schedule 3  Clause 6 amended by No. 13 of 1984, s. 3 ][Schedule 3  Clause 6 amended by No. 22 of 1988, s. 6 ][Schedule 3  Clause 7 amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 3 ][Schedule 3  Clause 7 amended by No. 22 of 1988, s. 6 ][Part IV of Schedule 3 Repealed by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997] [Schedule 3  Clause 8 amended by No. 10 of 1975, s. 5 ][Schedule 3  Clause 8 amended by No. 14 of 1982, s. 4 and Sched. 1 and 3 ][Schedule 3  Clause 8 amended by No. 22 of 1988, s. 6 ][Part V of Schedule 3 Repealed by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997] [Schedule 3  Clause 9 substituted by No. 22 of 1988, s. 6 ][Part VI of Schedule 3 Repealed by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997] [Schedule 3  Part VII inserted by No. 22 of 1988, s. 6 ][Part VII of Schedule 3 Repealed by No. 44 of 1996, s. 9, Applied:15 May 1997] [Schedule 3 Inserted by No. 91 of 1999, s. 51, Applied:15 Dec 1999]

Section 4(3)

1.   Superannuation entitlements of members elected after 1 July 1999

(1) This Schedule applies only in respect of a member elected after 1 July 1999 who is not subject to the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 1973 or the Parliamentary Retiring Benefits Act 1985 .

(2) Where a person is elected as a member after 1 July 1999 and before the transfer day –

(a) he or she is not eligible to become a member of the contributory scheme established by the regulations under the Retirement Benefits Act 1993 ; and

(b) subject to subclause (4) , he or she is to be a member of the non-contributory scheme provided by those regulations; and

(c) references to an eligible employee in those regulations are to be read as including references to the member; and

(d) the rate of contributions to be made in respect of the member is 9% of the parliamentary salary determined in accordance with section 4 of this Act; and

(e) before the transfer day all such contributions are to be paid into a complying superannuation scheme nominated by the member in accordance with subclause (4) or, if no such nomination is made, into an investment account established by the regulations under the Retirement Benefits Act 1993 .

(3) Where a person is elected as a member on or after the transfer day –

(a) he or she is not eligible to become a member of the contributory scheme provided by the regulations under the Retirement Benefits Act 1993 ; and

(b) subject to subclause (4) , he or she is to be a member of the accumulation scheme; and

(c) references to an employee in the Public Sector Superannuation Reform Act 1999 are to be read as including references to the member; and

(d) the rate of contributions to be made in respect of the member is 9% of the parliamentary salary determined in accordance with section 4 of this Act.

(4) The member may at any time elect to become a member of a complying superannuation scheme that is not the non-contributory scheme referred to in subclause (2) or the accumulation scheme.

(4A) [Schedule 3 Amended by No. 103 of 2000, Sched. 1, Applied:13 Dec 2000] Where an election is made under subclause (4) , the relevant officer is not required to pay superannuation contributions into a complying superannuation scheme if that scheme does not accept payment by electronic funds transfer.

(5) If the member has become a member of a complying superannuation scheme that is not the non-contributory scheme or the accumulation scheme, he or she may at any time elect to become a member of the accumulation scheme instead.

(6) Where the member elects to become a member of a complying superannuation scheme that is not the non-contributory scheme referred to in subclause (2) or the accumulation scheme, the relevant officer must, on being satisfied after making reasonable inquiries that the nominated scheme is a complying superannuation scheme, make contributions –

(a) at the rate of 9% of the parliamentary salary determined in accordance with section 4 ; and

(b) in the manner required by the rules of that scheme and the requirements of the law of the Commonwealth.

(7) An election under this section is to be made in writing to the relevant officer.

2.   Voluntary contributions and spouse contributions

A member may elect, in writing to the RBF Board, to make voluntary contributions or spouse contributions to the accumulation scheme or an investment account established by the regulations under the Retirement Benefits Act 1993 .

3.   Lump sum benefit may be taken as allocated pension

Where a member, his widow or her widower is in receipt of a lump sum benefit, he or she may elect to transfer all or part of that benefit to the accumulation scheme or an allocated pension account established by the regulations under the Retirement Benefits Act 1993 .