Division Description Changes — Bills — Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Bill 2017; in Committee — 16th Feb 2017

Change	Division
senate vote 2017-02-16#11 Edited by mackay staff on 2017-02-24 22:34:40	Title Description The majority voted against an [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5799_amend_972809b4-931d-4b07-9b0c-43f8afd80192%22;rec=0) introduced by Australian Conservative Senator [Cory Bernardi](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/cory_bernardi) (SA), which means it was unsuccessful. ~~Senator Bernardi explained:~~ Senator Bernardi [explained that](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-02-16.190.1): > I think it is only reasonable that those who retire from this place who are eligible for a defined benefit pension scheme are not able to access it until they reach the preservation age, like every other Australian, of 60 years of age. This will prevent circumstances where we have seen leaders of political parties in this place retire at the ripe old age of 38, or thereabouts, and they are still living on the taxpayers' purse. ### Amendment text > (1) Schedule 2 , page 19 (before line 4) , before heading specifying Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 , insert: > Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948 > 1A At the end of section 18 > Add: >> (13) Despite anything in this Act, any instrument under this Act or any other law relating to Parliamentary superannuation, a member is not entitled to any benefit under this Act, or any other law relating to Parliamentary superannuation, unless the member is at least 60 years old. >> (13) Despite anything in this Act, any instrument under this Act or any other law relating to Parliamentary superannuation, a member is not entitled to any benefit under this Act, or any other law relating to Parliamentary superannuation, unless the member is at least 60 years old.
senate vote 2017-02-16#11 Edited by mackay staff on 2017-02-24 22:34:01	Title Bills — Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Bill 2017; in Committee Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 - in Committee - No benefits until at least 60 years old Description ~~<p class="speaker">Cory Bernardi</p>~~ ~~<p>by leave—I move:</p>~~ <p class="italic">(1) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (after line 23), after the definition of <i>Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement</i>, insert:</p> The majority voted against an [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5799_amend_972809b4-931d-4b07-9b0c-43f8afd80192%22;rec=0) introduced by Australian Conservative Senator [Cory Bernardi](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/cory_bernardi) (SA), which means it was unsuccessful. Senator Bernardi explained: > I think it is only reasonable that those who retire from this place who are eligible for a defined benefit pension scheme are not able to access it until they reach the preservation age, like every other Australian, of 60 years of age. This will prevent circumstances where we have seen leaders of political parties in this place retire at the ripe old age of 38, or thereabouts, and they are still living on the taxpayers' purse. ### Amendment text > (1) Schedule 2 , page 19 (before line 4) , before heading specifying Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 , insert: > Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948 > 1A At the end of section 18 > Add: *>> (13) Despite anything in this Act, any instrument under this Act or any other law relating to Parlia*mentary superannuation, a member is not entitled to any benefit under this Act, or any other law relating to Parliamentary superannuation, unless the member is at least 60 years old. ~~<p class="italic"><i>Prime Minister</i>: see section 4AB.</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">(2) Schedule 1, item 9, page 7 (after line 5), after section 4AA, insert:</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">4AB Prime Ministers</p>~~ ~~<p class="italic">For the purposes of this Act, a member is only taken to be the Prime Minister if the member has been the Prime Minister for a period of at least 4 consecutive years.</p>~~ <p>I mentioned this in my second reading speech: the High Court case that was taken on behalf of former parliamentarians in the respect of the gold card also included a grasp for additional funds for their defined benefit scheme pensions when they retired at an early age. They wanted to avail themselves of more money. The High Court ruled that this was not a property right. I think it is only reasonable that those who retire from this place who are eligible for a defined benefit pension scheme are not able to access it until they reach the preservation age, like every other Australian, of 60 years of age. This will prevent circumstances where we have seen leaders of political parties in this place retire at the ripe old age of 38, or thereabouts, and they are still living on the taxpayers' purse.</p> <p>This brings into alignment the things that many of us who are not on the defined benefits scheme get criticised for: that we have fat juicy pensions and lifetime pensions as soon as we leave here. The fact is that we do not, but some do. This will bring it into line so that they cannot access it until they are 60. It will also be a big saving to the budget. I am sure the minister is not going to tell me exactly how much that is, but nonetheless I have moved the amendment standing in my name.</p> ~~<p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p>~~ <p>I made the point earlier on, prior to Senator Bernardi being present, that I would do each senator the courtesy of responding once to the group of amendments that they moved. Senator Bernardi, I did outline earlier to the chamber why the government did not support any change to the status of prime ministers in this particular bill. With respect to your proposed amendment regarding the superannuation scheme, I—like you—first entered this place after 2004. This is not a bill that is addressed in any way at the parliamentary superannuation scheme. The government does not believe it is appropriate to deal with any matter like that arising through the bill that is before the parliament that deals with expenses, the life gold pass and a number of other changes, as outlined.</p> ~~<p>The CHAIR: The question is that the motion, as moved by Senator Bernardi, be agreed to.</p>~~

~~Cory Bernardi~~
~~by leave—I move:~~
(1) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (after line 23), after the definition of Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement, insert:
The majority voted against an [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Famend%2Fr5799_amend_972809b4-931d-4b07-9b0c-43f8afd80192%22;rec=0) introduced by Australian Conservative Senator [Cory Bernardi](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/cory_bernardi) (SA), which means it was unsuccessful.
Senator Bernardi explained:
> *I think it is only reasonable that those who retire from this place who are eligible for a defined benefit pension scheme are not able to access it until they reach the preservation age, like every other Australian, of 60 years of age. This will prevent circumstances where we have seen leaders of political parties in this place retire at the ripe old age of 38, or thereabouts, and they are still living on the taxpayers' purse.*
### Amendment text
> *(1) Schedule 2 , page 19 (before line 4) , before heading specifying Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 , insert:*
> *Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948*
> *1A At the end of section 18*
> *Add:*
>> *(13) Despite anything in this Act, any instrument under this Act or any other law relating to Parliamentary superannuation, a member is not entitled to any benefit under this Act, or any other law relating to Parliamentary superannuation, unless the member is at least 60 years old.*
~~Prime Minister: see section 4AB.~~
~~(2) Schedule 1, item 9, page 7 (after line 5), after section 4AA, insert:~~
~~4AB Prime Ministers~~
~~For the purposes of this Act, a member is only taken to be the Prime Minister if the member has been the Prime Minister for a period of at least 4 consecutive years.~~
I mentioned this in my second reading speech: the High Court case that was taken on behalf of former parliamentarians in the respect of the gold card also included a grasp for additional funds for their defined benefit scheme pensions when they retired at an early age. They wanted to avail themselves of more money. The High Court ruled that this was not a property right. I think it is only reasonable that those who retire from this place who are eligible for a defined benefit pension scheme are not able to access it until they reach the preservation age, like every other Australian, of 60 years of age. This will prevent circumstances where we have seen leaders of political parties in this place retire at the ripe old age of 38, or thereabouts, and they are still living on the taxpayers' purse.
This brings into alignment the things that many of us who are not on the defined benefits scheme get criticised for: that we have fat juicy pensions and lifetime pensions as soon as we leave here. The fact is that we do not, but some do. This will bring it into line so that they cannot access it until they are 60. It will also be a big saving to the budget. I am sure the minister is not going to tell me exactly how much that is, but nonetheless I have moved the amendment standing in my name.
~~Scott Ryan~~
I made the point earlier on, prior to Senator Bernardi being present, that I would do each senator the courtesy of responding once to the group of amendments that they moved. Senator Bernardi, I did outline earlier to the chamber why the government did not support any change to the status of prime ministers in this particular bill. With respect to your proposed amendment regarding the superannuation scheme, I—like you—first entered this place after 2004. This is not a bill that is addressed in any way at the parliamentary superannuation scheme. The government does not believe it is appropriate to deal with any matter like that arising through the bill that is before the parliament that deals with expenses, the life gold pass and a number of other changes, as outlined.
~~The CHAIR: The question is that the motion, as moved by Senator Bernardi, be agreed to.~~