Ruling 4/2026 - Use of the General Travel Allocation to fund staff travel for Parliamentary Business purposes

Issued 11 February 2026

Section 36 of the Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal Act 2013 provides that the Clerk of the Parliament (the Clerk) may, by written notice, ask the Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal (the Tribunal) to give a ruling on the interpretation or application of a determination as soon as practicable after the request is made.

The Clerk sought a ruling in relation to the use by Members of Parliament (Members) of the General Travel Allocation (GTA) to fund staff travel for the purpose of parliamentary business, where the Member has not claimed themselves.

Ruling: The Tribunal supports the Clerk of Parliament to implement appropriate consistent controls and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the cost of staff travel is only met from the Member's GTA where the staff member accompanies the Member travelling for the purpose of Parliamentary Business according to categories (f); (g) and (j) of the definition of Parliamentary Business.

Explanation: The Tribunal's Determination 9/2015 stated:

The Tribunal determines that where a Member travels on Parliamentary Business and requires one or more of their staff to accompany them (including research officers), the cost of the staff travel may be met from the Member’s General Travel Allocation under the following conditions:

(i) The Member must only be conducting Parliamentary Business according to categories (f); (g) and (j) of the definition of Parliamentary Business; and

(ii) Costs will be reimbursed in accordance with amounts contained in the Parliamentary Service staff travel policy.

The definition of Parliamentary Business was approved by the Tribunal in Determination 4/2014 and reflected in the Queensland Legislative Assembly Members’ Remuneration Handbook (the Members’ Remuneration Handbook). Claimable travel by staff is limited to those circumstances of Parliamentary business when a Member is:

(f) attending to business (including attending conferences, functions, meetings or seminars) directly relating to a Member’s Electorate or;

(g) attending to business directly related to a matter of current parliamentary debate or addressing conferences, meetings and seminars to which a Member has been invited in his/her capacity as a Member of Parliament; or

(j) studies, investigations, or inquiries on matters related to duties and responsibilities as a Member of Parliament (including addressing or attending conferences, meetings, functions or seminars) provided that the nature, official purpose, place and other relevant information is stated by the Member to identify the Parliamentary Business involved.

The Tribunal confirms its position, as reflected in the Members’ Remuneration Handbook, that the cost of staff travel may only be met from the Member’s GTA where the staff member accompanies the Member travelling for the purpose of Parliamentary Business according to categories (f); (g) and (j) of the definition of Parliamentary Business.

The Tribunal is of the view that while a member should not necessarily be precluded from making a claim for staff travel costs under their GTA, in the absence of a claim for themselves, appropriate controls are required to ensure that the claim meets the Members’ Remuneration Handbook requirements.

The Tribunal supports the Clerk of Parliament to adopt appropriate consistent controls and oversight mechanisms to ensure that conditions are met for claims for staff member travel against the GTA.

Date of ruling: 11 February 2026