republic of vanuatu

Parliament (Members’ Expenses And Allowances) (Amendment) 
Act No. 45 Of 2017
Arrangement of Sections
1	Amendment	2
2	Commencement	2

republic of vanuatu
Assent:		02/01/2018
Commencement:		09/01/2018
Parliament (Members’ Expenses And Allowances) (Amendment) 
Act No. 45 Of 2017
An Act to amend the Parliament (Members’ Expenses and Allowances) 
Act [CAP 109].
Be it enacted by the President and Parliament as follows-
1	Amendment
The Parliament (Members’ Expenses and Allowances) Act [CAP 109] is amended as set out in the Schedule.
2	Commencement
This Act commences on the day on which it is published in the Gazette.
SCHEDULE
AMENDMENTS OF parliament (members’ expenses and allowances) act [cap 109]
1	Section 3
Repeal the section, substitute
“3	Responsibility allowance and Member of Parliament allocation
(1)	A Member of Parliament (including the Speaker, Prime Minister and 	Ministers) is entitled to:
	(a)	an annual responsibility allowance in accordance with the Grades 		set out in the table below:
Minimum	Midpoint	Maximum	
1	2	3	
VT5,324,100	VT5,650,500	VT5,989,600	
	; and
	(b)	a Member of Parliament allocation of up to and not more than 	VT3,000,000 	per annum.
(2)	Subject to the availability of funds from the Government, the Parliamentary Committee on Privilege, Integrity, Ethics and Parliamentary Rights is to determine when the Grades set out in the table in paragraph (a) are to be paid and determine the rate of the Member of Parliament allocation.
(3)	The Member of Parliament allocation is to be excluded from any calculation relating to the payment of:
	(a)	contributions to the Vanuatu National Provident Fund; and
	(b)	gratuity.”

2	Subsections 4(2) and (3)
Repeal the subsections, substitute
“(2)	A Member of Parliament (including the Speaker, the Prime Minister and Ministers) is entitled to a sitting allowance at the rate of VT7,500 for each sitting of, Parliament or any of its Committee.
(3)	A sitting allowance must not be paid to a Member of Parliament unless such Member actually attends the sitting of Parliament or the sitting of any of its Committee.”
3	After section 4
Insert
“4A	Touring Allowance
A Member of Parliament (including the Speaker, Prime Minister and Ministers) is entitled to a touring allowance of VT 1,605,000 per annum.
4B	Accommodation entitlement
(1)	A Member of Parliament (other than the Speaker, Prime Minister, any Ministers and the Leader of Opposition) is entitled to a reasonably affordable rented apartment for the duration of a session of Parliament.
(2)	In the event that the entitlement under subsection (1) is not available, the Member of Parliament is to be paid VT7,500 per day to meet his or her accommodation for the duration of a session of Parliament.
4C	Ceasing of take home pay entitlements
(1)	A Member of Parliament (including the Speaker, Prime Minister and Ministers) is not entitled to any form of take home pay entitlements as from the date on which this Act commences.
(2)	For the purposes of this section:
	take home pay entitlements includes all of the following allowances:
	(a)	child, family, spouse allowances; and 
	(b)	cost of living allowance; and
	(c)	entertainment allowance; and
	(d)	fuel allowance; and
	(e)	housing allowances; and
	(f)	telephone allowance.”