INCLUDING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, STATUTORY APPOINTEES, OTHER OFFICERS, AND PART-TIME MEMBERS OF BOARDS, COMMITTEES

1. Travelling Allowances within Australia

Travelling allowances, which are to be treated as indicative upper limits for claiming actual travel expenses, have been adjusted in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the following rates are to be effective on and from 1 January 1999 for each group of officers.

Chief Executive Officers as set out in Schedule 3A of the Public Sector Management Act 1988; Senior Executive Service Officers in the level 5 SES range and above, and Statutory Officers (unless other arrangements are in place) receiving a cash salary of $109,591 pa or above are able to claim actual expenses at the following indicative upper limits:

Capital Cities
(including Canberra)

Elsewhere

After 35 Days

$242.30 per day
$135.40 per day
$121.15 per day

All other SES officers, Statutory Officers and other officers on a cash salary above or equal to $86,576 pa (note: the arrangements that apply to Senior Officers and Skill Shortage allowance employees are at the top of page 2) or below $109,591 pa are able to claim actual expenses at the following indicative upper limits:

Capital Cities
(including Canberra)

Elsewhere

After 35 Days

$207.70 per day
$129.30 per day
$103.85 per day

All other officers on a cash salary below $86,576 pa are to be paid travelling allowances at the following rates:

Capital Cities
(including Canberra)

Elsewhere
After 35 Days

$171.85 per day or actual expenses
$122.40 per day or actual expenses
$61.20 per day

All non-SES officers, including Senior Officers and Skill Shortage allowance employees are eligible to be paid the travelling allowance as specified for 'all other officers' in accordance the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment 1997) Award. Actual expenses are paid where reasonably and properly incurred expenses exceed the allowance.

Officers in agencies who are covered by enterprise awards/agreements are able to claim the travelling allowance as specified for 'all other officers' unless an agreement specifically excludes the Award.

In regard to the rates paid to part-time chairpersons and members of Government Boards, as categorised in Premier's Memorandum No. 93-43, the discretion rests with the respective Minister as to whether Category B - Governing Boards and Category C - Advisory Boards are to be paid at the Chief Executive, Senior Executive or existing public sector rate. Category D - Advisory Committees will continue to claim actual expenses with an indicative upper limit at the lower public sector rate.

Meal Allowances for travel not involving an overnight stay for all of the above officers will continue to be at the current public sector rates. These rates are:

• Breakfast - $9.60
• Lunch - $12.45
• Dinner - $22.65

Classes of Air Travel

The salary entitlement for business class air travel (Premier's Memorandum to Ministers No 90-41 Classes of Air Travel) has been increased from $79,215 pa to $86,576 pa, effective from 1 January 1999.

2. Overseas Travelling Allowances

2.1 Less than 35 days in one location

Where departments have staff regularly travelling overseas they may wish to subscribe directly to the Australian Government Publishing Service, which issues rates fortnightly on a computer disk (Overseas Allowances and Conditions); Contact: 132447 (toll free) or (02) 6295 4861. This service currently costs $150.00 per annum. Alternatively, for those agencies with too little overseas travel for the subscription to be cost effective, the Premier's Department (phone 9228 5510 or 9228 5559) will continue to provide departments with telephone details on the updated rates. Copyright laws preclude the Department from providing any photocopies of these rates.

The remuneration levels for various officers for determining appropriate daily allowance rates are detailed as follows:

Position

Category

Chief Executive Officers as set out in Schedule 3A of the Public Sector Management Act 1988; and Senior Executive Officers in the level 5 SES range and above, and Statutory Officers receiving a cash salary of $109,591 pa. or above
Department Head Rate

(Part A - Secretaries of Departments)

All other Senior Executive Officers, Statutory Officers and other officers on a cash salary above or equal to $86,576 pa or below $109,591 pa.
Executive Rate

(Part B - Senior Executive Service Officers)

Officers on a cash salary below $86,576 pa.
(Part C - Other Officers)

When a part-time chairperson or member is required to travel overseas, they are to be paid allowances at the discretion of the Minister, with payment being within the above three (3) categories.

The daily allowance rates are designed to include the cost of meals and incidental expenses but not the cost of accommodation, which is paid on the basis of actual reasonable expenses incurred. Incidental expenses would include, for example, laundry and dry cleaning, taxi fares (other than for official business), newspapers and magazines, private telephone calls and gratuities.

Where the travelling allowance payable to an officer is insufficient to cover actual expenses incurred, the Chief Executive/Minister, where appropriate, may approve the payment necessary to meet those expenses. Justification for the expenses must be in respect of the entire period of travel overseas and not only in respect of particular segments of the journey.

Where an officer's itinerary in Australia or overseas includes free meals', for example, meals provided at conferences and seminars, departments are required to make a judgement as to whether an officer's daily allowance should be discounted for such unpaid meals.

For further details please see the Personnel Handbook Chapter 7, section 10 - Overseas Travelling Allowances.

2.2 Reduction in daily allowance after 35 days in one location

The daily meal and incidental allowance rates should be reduced to 70 per cent of the daily rates after a person has been in the one location overseas for a period in excess of 35 days.

The intention is that officers should be paid the full daily allowance for the first 35 days. Once, however, an officer is in one set of accommodation then after 35 days their allowance will be reduced.

C Gellatly
Director-General