This circular is to modify the procedures applying to the setting of the allowances for overseas travel by Chief Executive Officers, Senior Executive Officers and full-time Statutory Officers.

The overseas daily travel allowances have in the past been issued by the Public Employment Industrial Relations Services WEIRS) and have been based upon the rates payable to officers in the Australian Public Service.

It has now been decided that it would be more efficient if NSW public sector bodies obtained the relevant rates direct rather than through PEIRS.

If departments have sufficient staff travelling overseas they may wish to subscribe directly to the Australian Government Publishing Service, which issues rates fortnightly on microfiche (Personnel Management Manual Volume 9; Contact: (06).195.4485). The microfiche provided by the Australian Government currently costs $100 per annum. Alternatively, for those agencies with too little overseas travel for that subscription to be cost effective, the Industrial Relations Unit of the Premier's Department (Ph 228.4381 or 228.3457) can provide departments with details on the updated rates.

The remuneration levels for Chief Executive Officers, Senior Executive Officers and full-time Statutory Officers for determining appropriate daily allowance rates are detailed below:

• Chief Executive Officers as set out in Schedule 3A of the Public Sector Management Act 1988.
  Department Head Rate
• Senior Executive Officers on Level 5 and above, and Statutory Officers receiving a cash salary of $88,334 p.a. or above.
  Department Head Rate
• All other Senior Executive Officers and Statutory Officers and Other Senior Officers on a salary above or equal to $65,759 p.a. or below $88,334 p.a. Executive Rate

The daily allowance in the case of each of the two rates is designed to include the cost of meals and incidental expenses. Items in the category of incidental expenses would include, for example, laundry and dry cleaning, taxi fares (other than for official business), newspapers and magazines, private telephone calls, cinema and similar entertainment costs, etc.

However, as previously advised, should any office holder consider that they have been disadvantaged by the operation of these allowances, they may claim all-inclusive actual expenditure.

Where an officer`s itinerary includes "free meals", for example, meals provided at conferences, sen-tinars or at foreign government sponsored meetings, departments are required to make a judgment as to whether an officer's daily allowance should be discounted for unpaid meals.

Please bring this memorandum to the attention of all Departments, sub-Departments or Statutory Authorities coming within or associated with your administration.

R.G. Humphry
Director-General.

Date: 23.9.93