DOCSLIB.ORG

Cook Islands Members of Parliament Remuneration Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Cook Islands Members of Parliament Remuneration Report Salaries and Allowances Tribunal Government of Western Australia Cook Islands Members of Parliament Remuneration Report “The labourer is worthy of his reward” 1 Timothy 5:18 (King James Version) September 2012 FOREWORD This work undertaken to prepare this Report was instigated by the Government of the Cook Islands and undertaken by my colleague and I with the support of the Parliament and Government of Western Australia. The cooperation between the peoples of the Cook Islands and Western Australia has a long history. For around 20 years, the Western Australian Parliament has been assisting the Cook Islands Parliament in a range of ways, usually through advice, but occasionally lending staff for short periods to help with events such as seminars or conferences. In the last five years, the parliaments of Western Australia and the Cook Islands have been officially twinned under the auspices of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. I am pleased to have been part of the ongoing history of cooperation with the Cook Islands and trust this Report makes a useful contribution to the good governance of parliamentary remuneration. The Report has been written in good conscience and in a spirit of fairness and equity to those who serve and have formerly served in the Parliament of the Cook Islands. The Report has the strength of having been written by impartial “outsiders”, however I acknowledge that it has been written without the cultural understanding and history which a local born Cook Islander might bring to it. I trust you will forgive any misconceptions which might have arisen from the perspective of an outsider. This report has been prepared on the premise that “The labourer is worth his reward”. Members of Parliament are not “employees” in the usual sense of that word, however they labour long and hard to fulfill important obligations under the democratic system of Government in the Cook Islands. The recommendations in this report are intended to respect the processes established in the Cook Islands to remunerate Members of Parliament and to fairly reward those who labour for the good government of the Cook Island people. W S (Bill) Coleman AM CHAIRMAN, SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES TRIBUNAL 19 September 2012 Cook Islands Members of Parliament Remuneration Report – September 2012 2 CONTENTS FOREWORD .............................................................................................................. 2 CONTENTS................................................................................................................ 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 5 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................... 6 1.0 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................... 9 2.0 TERMS OF REFERENCE .................................................................................. 10 3.0 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 11 3.1 Legislative Framework .................................................................................... 11 3.2 Mechanisms for Determining Remuneration ................................................... 11 3.3 Work of Members of Parliament ...................................................................... 12 3.4 Remuneration of Members of Parliament ........................................................ 12 3.5 Allowances Payable to Members of Parliament .............................................. 12 3.6 Superannuation .............................................................................................. 12 4.0 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK ........................................................................... 13 4.1 Remuneration Tribunal Act ............................................................................. 13 4.1.1 Functions ............................................................................................................ 13 4.1.2 Public Offices under the Jurisdiction of the Tribunal .......................................... 14 4.1.3 Criteria to be given regard by the Tribunal ......................................................... 14 4.2 Civil List Act .................................................................................................... 15 5.0 MECHANISMS FOR DETERMINING REMUNERATION ................................... 17 5.1 Dual Powers to Recommend Remuneration ................................................... 17 5.2 Issues of Independence .................................................................................. 18 5.3 Frequency of Reviews .................................................................................... 19 6.0 WORK OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ......................................................... 20 6.1 Parliamentary Work ........................................................................................ 21 6.2 Constituency Work .......................................................................................... 21 6.3 Parliamentary Party Work ............................................................................... 22 7.0 REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ....................................... 24 7.1 Salaries .......................................................................................................... 24 7.1.1 Determining the Quantum of the Salaries .......................................................... 27 7.1.2 Economic and Labour Market Data .................................................................... 29 7.1.3 Public Service Comparators ............................................................................... 30 7.2 Entitlements and Allowances .......................................................................... 33 7.2.1 Constituency Allowance ..................................................................................... 33 7.2.2 Constituency Travel ............................................................................................ 34 7.2.3 Travel and Accommodation in the Cook Islands on Official or Parliamentary Business .......................................................................................................................... 36 7.2.4 Travel and Accommodation outside the Cook Islands ....................................... 36 7.2.5 Office Allowance ................................................................................................. 36 7.2.6 Housing .............................................................................................................. 37 7.2.7 Transport Allowances ......................................................................................... 37 7.2.8 Telephones ......................................................................................................... 37 7.2.9 Clothing Allowance ............................................................................................. 37 7.3 Superannuation .............................................................................................. 38 7.3.1 Establishment of the Current Scheme ................................................................ 38 7.3.2 Impact of the Current Scheme on Former Members .......................................... 38 Cook Islands Members of Parliament Remuneration Report – September 2012 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the Cook Islands Government for their time and assistance in making staff available to provide the information on which this report is based. Our appreciation goes to the Hon Tom Marsters, Deputy Prime Minister, for his advice and assistance, and his Ministerial colleagues who provided documentation and verbal reports. The authors are particularly grateful to Mr Nga Valoa, Clerk of the Parliament, and his staff who provided a wide range of logistical support setting up meetings and interviews without which this report would not have been possible. The generosity of all concerned with their time and hospitality was very much appreciated. In acknowledging the assistance of Members of Parliament who made themselves available to us at short notice and whose courtesy and assistance we will always remember, we pay special tribute to the late Speaker of the Parliament, Sir Geoffrey Henry whose recent sudden passing has saddened all who have known him. Our deepest sympathy goes to his family, his parliamentary colleagues and to the people of the Cook Islands. W S (Bill) Coleman AM J C (John) Lukin CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE OFFICER SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES TRIBUNAL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Cook Islands Members of Parliament Remuneration Report – September 2012 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Cook Islands Member of Parliament Remuneration Report was prepared at the request of the Cook Islands Government following a visit to Perth by the Hon Tom Marsters, Deputy Prime Minister, for the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The Report examines the legislative framework within which remuneration is determined in the Cook Islands and notes some overlap in the mechanisms for determination. The benefits of an independent remuneration process are discussed, in particular, the importance of maintaining the integrity of the process and the reputation of Members of Parliament. Concerns have been raised in the Report regarding
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Gonna Drink, Get Drunk a History and Ethnography of Alcohol in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
    Gonna Drink, Get Drunk A History and Ethnography of Alcohol in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Vaughn Koops Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2002 Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society Department of Public Health The University of Melbourne DECLARATION This is to certify that (i) the thesis comprises only my original work towards the PhD (ii) due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, (iii) the thesis is less than 100,000 words in length, exclusive of tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. …………………………………………………………………………. ii ABSTRACT This thesis describes the place of alcohol in the lives of people from Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It incorporates historical and ethnographic analyses to provide the broad context of drinking by people aged from their teens to late thirties. The historical component of this study describes specific accounts of alcohol consumption, and situates these with regard to changes that occurred in Rarotonga from the early 19th century. Prior to contact with Papa’a (Europeans), people of Rarotonga neither produced nor consumed alcoholic beverages. Thus, the use of alcohol was a phenomenon intimately bound up with global exploration, proselytisation and trade. I trace historical changes in the distribution of power, resources, religious practice, and social discourse, and show how alcohol practice, distribution, and trade was linked to these changes from missionary contact onward. This history informs the ethnography of contemporary drinking practices. Individual and group practices and understandings of alcohol are described. I also describe the contribution of state policy, commercial interests, government institutions, and religious organisations to the place of alcohol in Rarotonga.
    [Show full text]
  • HERALD16 April 2014 $2 (Incl VAT)
    PB COOK ISLANDS HERALD16 April 2014 $2 (incl VAT) Cakes for all ocassions! Edgewater Cakes Enquiries call us on 25435 extn 7010 Sunset BarBQs at the Shipwreck Hut Saturday Seafood menu with Jake Numanga on the Ukulele 6pm Tuesday Sunset BBQ with Garth Young on Piano 6pm Thursday Sunset Cocktails with Rudy Aquino Goldmine 5.30pm-7.30pm Reservations required Model, 22 166 Dayna is Aroa Beachside Inn, Betela wearing Great Food, Great Entertainment a ring, necklace and Always the best bracelet from selection, best Goldmine price & best service at Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Drawn: 10/4/14 Draw num: 934 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:12/4/14 Draw num: 3415 SUPP: OZLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:15/4/14 Draw num: 1052 Next draw: SUPP: Cook islands Herald 16 April 2014 2 PM Puna now exposed and Vulnerable n the 2010 General skills of strategic and tactical Election night the Cook manoeuvrings within the OIslands Party was swept Parliamentary machinery let into power with a commanding alone his inadequate grasp majority of eight Members of of the Standing Orders and Parliament. An over confident the Constitution leaves his first time Prime Minister Henry leadership exposed to political Puna in the selection of his exploitation. With only five years Cabinet made a political bungle elected political experience, that he now reaps the horror Puna is still a Parliamentary of and that was his failure to novice as during his time as a MP accommodate and secure Atiu Parliament has not sat sufficient MP Norman George. Puna times for him to learn this vital fulfilled what he had already aspect of the political profession.
    [Show full text]
  • Herald Issue 806 24 February 2016
    PB COOK ISLANDS HERALD24 Feb 2016 $2 (incl VAT) Congratulations to Woman of the Month, Mrs Lily Vainerere- Patia. Featured here wearing beautiful black Cakes for pearl jewellery all ocassions! from Goldmine Edgewater Cakes Enquiries call us on 25435 extn 7010 Always the best selection, best price & best service at Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Drawn:18/2/16 Draw num: 1031 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:20/2/16 Draw num: 3609 SUPP: OZLOTTO RESULTS Drawn: 23/2/16 Draw num: 1149 Next draw: SUPP: Cook islands Herald 24 February 2016 NEWS 2 POLITICAL ROUND UP Campaigning, coalitions, corruption investigations and taxes uring Prime Minister Henry Puna’s Demo leader William Smiley Heather Radio Cook Islands broadcast on to MP Teina Bishop read out to the DFriday 19 February he took the gathering much excitement was in the unusual stance of rebutting a Herald midst and the Deputy Mayor for the last article. Puna denied last week’s Herald ten years Poo Bishop was endorsed as report his six day $70,000 northern the Demo/OCI Mayoral candidate group tour of duty was a masked trip nominated by Demo stalwart Savage to campaign for the 10 March Island Lockington. Let’s hope this time Council elections. Leaving on Monday 29 the erratic Demos are synergised; February his entourage includes Minister last time around they fielded two Mark Brown, and the other three candidates splitting a huge margin Northern group Members of Parliament. and handing the Mayoralty to The cost includes the $45,000 Air John Baxter. Rarotonga charter, travelling expenses To cement the political bond and cash gifts.
    [Show full text]
  • Issues and Events, 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018
    Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 Reviews of American Sāmoa, Hawai‘i, inflow of people to the islands” (CIN, Sāmoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and 1 June 2017), so are able to anticipate Wallis and Futuna are not included in changes and demands for services and this issue. resources. However, eighteen months on, the official details of people’s Cook Islands mobility in and out of the country, This review covers the two-year period economic activity, housing, and well- from July 2016 to June 2018 and being are still not available. On the tracks a range of ongoing and emerg- face of it, it would seem that timely ing concerns. Featured here are the and informed public policymaking, implications from the 2016 population planning, and service provisions will census, Marae Moana (the national be impacted. But to some extent this marine park), the Cook Islands’ is not necessarily a bad thing, because impending Organisation for Economic population-related policies need to Co-operation and Development be informed by more than just demo- (oecd) graduation to high-income graphic trends, which invariably can country status, a controversial local be used to support the taken-for- tax amnesty, and events connected granted arguments typically associated with the 2018 general election. with the vulnerabilities and question- 2016 saw the five-year national able viability of small island state population survey get underway. development and economies (Baldac- Preliminary results of the 2016 cen- chino and Bertram 2009). sus, which was held on 1 December, Depopulation is a national concern recorded a total population of 17,459 and a political football (CIN, 31 May (mfem 2018c).
    [Show full text]
  • Cook Islands Handbook for ADB Missions
    Cook Islands: Handbook for ADB Missions Kia Orana , Welcome to the Handbook for ADB Missions in the Cook Islands. This online booklet aims to provide you with information regarding our In-Country processes, Government contacts, protocols, resource availability and other general information which should be useful in planning your visit. These pages will provide you with the following information: ADB Support Structure and Contact details ADB In-country Mission clearance process ADB Cook Islands Project List Cook Island Government contacts, processes & protocol ODA Policy, principles and goals Information on the Cook Islands and its’ culture Visitor entry requirements: An entry permit is not required by persons who are entering the Cook Islands as bona-fide visitors. A bona-fide visitor refers to any person who enters the Cook Islands for recreation or vacation/holiday and is exempted from requiring an entry permit for a stay of not more than 31 days. It also applies to any person who enters the Cook Islands for the purpose of exploring investment opportunities. Those intending to attend business meetings, conferences, exhibitions and sports activities, including tournaments may also travel as bona-fide visitors. An extension beyond 31 days is however available only to those undertaking holiday or recreation. Once the in-country mission is approved by the Cook Islands Ministry of Finance and Economic Management through a “concurrence to missions clearance”, the ADB Support Office will notify Cook Islands Immigration of your pending arrival. Visitor Requirements All visitors must have adequate financial means of supporting their stay, hold valid tickets for their return journey to a port of origin or next port of destination and their passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay.
    [Show full text]
  • Cook Islands Elections 2014 in Brief
    Cook Islands Elections 2014 In Brief Contents Message from the Chief Electoral Officer ........................................................................ 3 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 Electoral Process and Administration............................................................................... 4 Candidates and Political Parties ....................................................................................... 5 Registration and the Electoral Roll ................................................................................... 6 Election Methods .............................................................................................................. 8 Postal Voting ................................................................................................................ 8 Advance Voting ............................................................................................................ 8 Special Voting (Declaration) ........................................................................................ 8 Special Care .................................................................................................................. 8 Ordinary Voting ............................................................................................................ 8 Election Result .................................................................................................................. 9 Technological
    [Show full text]
  • FORTY-NINTH SESSION Hansard Report
    FORTY-NINTH SESSION Hansard Report 49th Session Fifth Meeting Volume 5 TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2019 MADAM SPEAKER took the Chair at 1.00 p.m. OPENING PRAYER MADAM SPEAKER (N. RATTLE): Please be seated Honourable Members. I would like to express my thanks to our Chaplain this afternoon for the beautiful message extended to us all and all the encouragement and his wishes to all of us for the Christmas and New Year festive season. Kia Orana – greetings to all the Members of this House this afternoon. Today is a beautiful day and we look forward to the final day of our Sitting for this year. Greetings to all our people listening in to our Parliament meeting today. MADAM SPEAKER’S ANNOUNCEMENTS Honourable Members, at 10.30 this morning I, with the Honourable Prime Minister, Henry Puna, Cabinet Ministers, accompanied by the Deputy Clerk, Jeannine Daniel delivered the Address in Reply to His Excellency, Sir Tom Marsters. This is the Reply to the Speech addressed to Parliament at the Ceremonial Opening of the 49th Session of Parliament. His Excellency, Sir Tom Marsters was pleased to receive the Address in Reply from this dignified House. He also extended seasonal greetings to each and every Member in this House and your families. I was also very pleased to see our Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers who were present at the ceremony this morning. So, I thank you very much for a job well done in completing this job that was due to be done. The second announcement I would like to make is that there has been an invite extended to Members of Parliament from the New Zealand High Commission for a Memorial Service for the late Her Excellency Tessa Temata.
    [Show full text]
  • Te Mato Vai Contracts I Also Hold Principles Dear to and Freedoms for All Cook Because It Is Required to Have Me That May Cause Me to Set Islanders
    PB COOK ISLANDS HERALD5 February 2014 $2 (incl VAT) Cakes for all ocassions! Edgewater Cakes Enquiries call us on 25435 extn 7010 Sunset BarBQs at the Shipwreck Hut Saturday Seafood menu with Jake Numanga on the Ukulele 6pm Tuesday Sunset BBQ with Garth Young on Piano 6pm Thursday Sunset Cocktails with Rudy Aquino 5.30pm-7.30pm Reservations required 22 166 Aroa Beachside Inn, Betela Great Food, Great Entertainment Goldmine Model Ngatupuna is wearing a necklace, earrings and Always the best selection, best bracelet from Goldmine price & best service at Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Drawn: 30/1/14 Draw num: 924 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:1/2/14 Draw num: 3395 SUPP: OZLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:4/2/14 Draw num: 1042 Next draw: SUPP: Cook islands Herald 05 February 2014 news 2 Where’s the apology Porter, never mind the vehicles what about the people? his publication is calling tongue excuses and assurances. failure of the Ministry of Internal on Toa Petroleum to Why the Ministry of Internal Affairs to enforce compliance. Tapologise to the people Affairs or the Price Tribunal The CIP government must give of the Cook Islands for its have sat back after being put priority to introducing legislation inexcusable blatant disregard on notice and allowed Toa to with the harshest retribution as for their health. Toa should continue selling the dangerous a deterrent to future breaches. also be held in contempt for its fuel is deplorable. Toa’s shocking Toa’s licence to import fuel must disregard of the Cook Islands business practice while being now be the subject of a review pristine environment that is the sponsored by the people of the Sulphur is a very serious heart of our tourism industry.
    [Show full text]
  • Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998
    Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 Reviews of American Sâmoa, Hawai‘i, gain. Opposition members also Sâmoa, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna incurred the public’s wrath for being are not included in this issue. weak and contributing to the country’s problems. The sense of dissatisfaction Cook Islands with politicians in general was In this review I focus mainly on the increased when New Zealand inter- twenty-five members of Parliament, vened in an effort to steer the Cook because public debates on national Islands back onto the road to eco- political issues revolve around their nomic recovery. The arrival of New decisions. The current economic crisis Zealand consultants, in what some has increased public awareness of their saw as nothing less than a process of actions and subjected them to more recolonization, led to a perception that criticisms for their perceived failings. Maori Cook Islanders did not have the Less than a year before the next ability to handle their own political general election, these are frightening affairs. Newspapers and television days to be a member of Parliament. have played an important role in Cook Islanders have not forgotten the disseminating information and opinion pain of measures implemented by the about the crisis, and the public have government to revive their country’s made their views known on a very economy, which by 1996 was on popular talk-back radio show and in the brink of bankruptcy. Alarmed letters to the editor. creditors threatened to halt future Cook Islands Party (cip) politicians transactions with the Cook Islands, have been at the front line and bearing which was unable to service its the full wrath of public censure.
    [Show full text]
  • Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, I July I993 to 30 June I994
    MiiM£J!lfJ&AJifWMi6I&lJ6&MiWMii/;BMi5MiHMMUh R -W&;, Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, I July I993 to 30 June I994 Reviews of American Samoa and governments?) that the debt will gener­ Tuvalu are not included in this issue. ate such high income that repaying it will be no problem. That is not going THE. COOK ISLANDS, JULY to happen, but it is possible that much 1992 TO JUNE 1994 the biggest and most controversial Political highlights of the two years debt-that for the government-owned under review included debates about hotel known as the Sheraton (because the swelling government debt, highly it is hoped that Sheraton will manage it critical audit reports, the extent of for the government)-might shrink. ministerial travel, and allegations of The loan came from Italy, guaranteed tax fraud and other malpractice in by the Italian government in order to relation to the tax haven (politely promote Italian construction, but the known as the International Finance Italian construction company is now in Centre), which enabled the New liquidation, its president indicted for Zealand National Business Review to Mafia activities, and the Cook Islands earn a bonanza from a three-part series may not be obliged to pay back more advertised with a heading ten inches than they have already paid (although high promising on-the-spot investiga­ this seems to be much more than the tive reporting about "illegal tax rorts, value of what has so far been done). political corruption and [government] Accusations and counteraccusations hotel construction cost blow-outs" in bounce off the empty shell of the hotel, the "Crook Islands." Although these which has only ever accommodated .
    [Show full text]
  • Herald Issue 711 02 April 2014
    PB COOK ISLANDS HERALD2 April 2014 $2 (incl VAT) Cakes for all ocassions! Edgewater Cakes Enquiries call us on 25435 extn 7010 Sunset BarBQs at the Shipwreck Hut Saturday Seafood menu with Jake Numanga on the Ukulele 6pm Tuesday Sunset BBQ with Garth Young on Piano 6pm Thursday Sunset Cocktails with Rudy Aquino 5.30pm-7.30pm Reservations required 22 166 Aroa Beachside Inn, Betela Great Food, Great Entertainment Goldmine Model, Thecla Always the best wearing a necklace and selection, best bracelet from Goldmine price & best service at Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Drawn: 27/3/14 Draw num: 932 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:29/3/14 Draw num: 3411 SUPP: OZLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:1/4/14 Draw num: 1050 Next draw: SUPP: LETTER TO TEARIKI HEATHER DEAR DPM TEARIKI HEATHER, Can you please make the effort to transparently clarify some more questions related to your company T&M Heather Ltd’s involvement with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the $64 million Te Mato Vai project? 1. Can you confirm the work being carried out by T&M Heather Ltd behind the former Sheraton site in Vaimaanga is for the CCECC and the TMV, also was this work contestable by a public tendering process? 2. Can you confirm that the aggregate stockpiled at Black Rock by T&M Heather Ltd is for the CCECC water project or is it for the proposed reinstatement of the roads in town? 3. Can you confirm that there was no tender advertised for the contract awarded to T&M Heather Ltd to crush and supply this material? How much is this contract worth, $100,000 - $300,000 or more? Did your company receive a substantial cash advance prior to any work being started to supply the material? 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Cook Islands Maori Tradition, Culture, By-Laws and the Establishment of the Cook Islands Marine Park
    Cook Islands Maori Tradition, Culture, By-laws and the Establishment of the Cook Islands Marine Park Legal Analysis Report Part B By Janet Maki Commissioned by Te Ipukarea Society April 2014 2 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Scope of report – terms of reference .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Terms and Definitions .............................................................................. 5 2 EXISTING COOK ISLANDS CULTURE AND TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................................... 5 APPROACHES FOR THE SUCCESSFUL ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARINE PARK 2.1 The effect of legislation and international obligation 6 2.2 Statutory recognition of “Custom” and Traditional Leaders ........................................... 10 2.2.1 The Constitution .............................. 13 2.2.2 House of Arikis Act 1966 ......................................................................................................... 13 2.2.3 Cook Islands Amendment Act 1952 ....................................................................................... 14 2.2.4 Cook Islands Amendment Act 1954 ................................................................... 15 2.2.5 Environment Act 2003 ................................................................... 15 2.2.6 Marine Resources Act 2005 (“MRA”) ............................................................................................. 16 2.2.7
    [Show full text]