A new Salaries and Benefits Commission would be established as an independent constitutional body to determine the salary and benefits framework for most State officers under the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026.
Under section 173, the Vice-President would chair the five-member Commission, with the remaining four members appointed by the President.
Two would be appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister and two on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.
Members would be required to have qualifications or extensive experience in areas including accounting, actuarial work, public administration, trade, commerce, finance or labour relations, while representing the interests of the public.
The Commission would be required to meet once every four years to review and determine the framework and upper limits for salaries and benefits applying to State officers.
However, its jurisdiction would specifically exclude Members of Parliament, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, President and Vice-President.
The Bill also proposes safeguards against reducing the overall salaries and benefits of judges, judicial officers, members of independent commissions and independent officers.
Reductions could only occur because of national economic austerity and as part of a general reduction applying similarly to all State officers.
The Commission would be permitted to receive submissions and consider other relevant material when conducting its reviews.
Its four appointed members could only be removed for incapacity or misbehaviour, using the same procedure proposed for removing a judicial officer.
