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4.9 Partner's expenses

Minister

Ministers in the course of their duties both host and attend meetings, functions, entertainment, conferences and conventions in an official capacity. Frequently government, external organisations and companies hosting such events will invite guests, including Ministers, with partners. It is appropriate at such events for the Minister's partner to attend with the Minister (or indeed in the absence of the Minister). Attendance of the Minister's partner not only reflects the proper reciprocity of the nature of the invitation and event, it also in effect doubles the opportunity to advance and interact on matters of State and portfolio interests.

All expenditure incurred by or on behalf of the partner of the Minister must be for official purposes, eg. where the partner of a Minister is required to attend meetings, functions, entertainment, conferences and conventions in an official capacity.

A Minister's partner may accompany the Minister where the Minister believes, on reasonable grounds, that the attendance of the partner will or may assist the Minister in the performance of the relevant duties, provided the Minister is carrying out official duties and fulfilling official responsibilities in relation to the functions and activities of the portfolio or the Government.

These costs would also extend to those occasions when a partner may travel separately from the Minister, to attend the same event.

It is also appropriate to charge costs to the Office of the Minister when the partner is attending such an event either:

  1. in lieu of the Minister; or
  2. invited with the Minister or in their own right as a partner of the Minister.

However, the attendance of a Minister's partner, when not accompanied by the Minister, at a party political function would not result in an entitlement to have travel costs met by the State.

Also see EXPENSES RELATING TO A MINISTER'S OFFICE - Travel to and from the Electorate.

Examples

  1. The Minister for Health is unable to attend an official opening of a hospital wing. It may be appropriate for the Minister's partner to represent them at the event.
  2. It may be appropriate for the Minister's partner to attend an official dinner engagement with a dignitary where the dignitary's partner is in attendance.
  3. Travel to Brisbane by a regionally based Minister's partner merely to spend time with the Minister will not be a sufficient reason for the travel costs to be allowable expenditure.
  4. Travel by the partner in the electorate for assistance with MP duties will not be official Ministerial expenditure.

Parliamentary Secretary

The general provisions above, which apply to the partner of a Minister, do not apply to a partner of a Parliamentary Secretary unless:

  1. the prior approval of the Premier has been obtained for the partner to undertake official business; or
  2. the partner of the Parliamentary Secretary is attending as a guest of the Minister. In this circumstance, the cost of the partner of the Parliamentary Secretary will be a charge to the Office of the Minister and not the Office of the Parliamentary Secretary.

Staff

Unless exceptional circumstances exist, costs of a partner of a staff member would not be allowable expenditure.

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Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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