Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003
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Version as at 13 November 2025
Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003
(SR 2003/306)
Note
The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.
Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.
This determination is administered by the Remuneration Authority.
Pursuant to section 12(1)(ba) of the Remuneration Authority Act 1977, the Remuneration Authority, after consultation with the Government Actuary, makes the following determination (to which is appended an explanatory memorandum).
Determination
1 Title
This determination is the Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003.
2 Commencement
This determination comes into force on 1 November 2003.
3 Interpretation
In this determination, unless the context otherwise requires,—
member means a member of the House of Representatives; and includes any person who is for the time being receiving a salary fixed by a determination made under section 71 of the Parliament Act 2025
ordinary member means a member of the House of Representatives who holds no other office in respect of which a salary is payable under Part 4 of the Parliament Act 2025
salary, in relation to a member, means the salary payable to that member under Part 4 of the Parliament Act 2025
year means—
(a)
a period of 12 months from polling day for the election at which the member is elected or from the day the person is declared to be elected under section 193 of the Electoral Act 1993; and
(b)
a period of 12 months from each anniversary of that date.
Clause 3 member: amended, on 13 November 2025, by section 51 of the Parliament (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 63).
Clause 3 ordinary member: amended, on 13 November 2025, by section 51 of the Parliament (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 63).
Clause 3 registered superannuation scheme: revoked, on 11 December 2015, by clause 4 of the Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003 Amendment Determination 2015 (LI 2015/317).
Clause 3 salary: amended, on 13 November 2025, by section 51 of the Parliament (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 63).
4 Entitlement to superannuation subsidy
A member who is not a contributor under Part 6 of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 is entitled to a superannuation subsidy if the member chooses to contribute to a retirement scheme.
Clause 4: amended, on 11 December 2015, by clause 5 of the Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003 Amendment Determination 2015 (LI 2015/317).
5 Maximum amount of superannuation subsidy
(1)
The maximum amount that in any year may be paid by way of superannuation subsidy in respect of a member is 16% of an ordinary member’s salary for the part of the year until 31 October 2003, increasing to 20% of an ordinary member’s salary on and after 1 November 2003.
(2)
The maximum amount is inclusive of specified superannuation contribution withholding tax.
(3)
If a member has a period of service as a member that is less than a year, the maximum amount that may be paid by way of superannuation subsidy is 20% of an ordinary member’s salary for that period of service.
6 Ratio of subsidy to member’s contribution
The ratio of superannuation subsidy to the member’s contribution is 2.5 to 1, so that a member must make a contribution to the retirement scheme of $1 for every $2.50 of superannuation subsidy.
Clause 6: amended, on 11 December 2015, by clause 6 of the Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003 Amendment Determination 2015 (LI 2015/317).
7 Revocation
The Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 1999 (SR 1999/423) is revoked.
Dated at Wellington this 28th day of October 2003.
H D Peacock, Chairman.
B A Wakem, Member.
David Oughton, Member.
Explanatory memorandum
Note: The following explanatory memorandum should be read in conjunction with the explanatory memorandum(s) appended to the:
This memorandum is not part of the determination, but is intended to indicate its general effect.
This determination applies to members of Parliament who are not contributors to the parliamentary superannuation scheme under the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 (GSF).
The determination is substantially the same as the Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 1999. That determination provides for a maximum superannuation subsidy of 16% of the salary payable to an ordinary member, subject to a 2:1 ratio of subsidy to contribution.
This determination provides for a maximum superannuation subsidy of 20% of the salary payable to an ordinary member, subject to a 2.5:1 ratio of subsidy to contribution. The rationale is to achieve a more equitable position for members of Parliament who are not members of the parliamentary superannuation scheme under the GSF.
People who became members of Parliament before 1 July 1992 are eligible to remain members of the parliamentary superannuation scheme under the GSF. The Government Actuary has assessed that the inherent subsidy in the parliamentary superannuation scheme under the GSF is currently 23% gross.
For people who became members of Parliament after 1 July 1992, the available subsidy is currently limited to 16% of the gross salary payable to a backbencher. Parliamentarians do not have any security of tenure. To the contrary, there is a high turnover of members. Recognising the need for parliamentarians to provide for their future and in order to get more equality between the 2 groups, the Authority has raised the available subsidy to post-1992 members to 20% of the gross salary payable to a backbencher.
Note: The preceding explanatory memorandum should be read in conjunction with the explanatory memorandum(s) appended to the:
Date of notification in Gazette: 30 October 2003.
Notes
1 General
This is a consolidation of the Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003 that incorporates the amendments made to the legislation so that it shows the law as at its stated date.
2 Legal status
A consolidation is taken to correctly state, as at its stated date, the law enacted or made by the legislation consolidated and by the amendments. This presumption applies unless the contrary is shown.
Section 78 of the Legislation Act 2019 provides that this consolidation, published as an electronic version, is an official version. A printed version of legislation that is produced directly from this official electronic version is also an official version.
3 Editorial and format changes
The Parliamentary Counsel Office makes editorial and format changes to consolidations using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. See also PCO editorial conventions for consolidations.
4 Amendments incorporated in this consolidation
Parliament (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 63): section 51
Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003 Amendment Determination 2015 (LI 2015/317)
Versions
Parliamentary Superannuation Determination 2003
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