1. Travelling Allowances within Australia

 Travelling allowances, which are to be treated as indicative upper limits for claiming actual travel expenses, have not been adjusted as there has been a fall in the CPI (minus 0.3 per cent between September 1996 and September 1997) and the following rates are to continue to be effective on and from 1 March 1998 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 $105,375 pa or above are able to claim actual expenses at the following indicative upper limits: 

Capital Cities
(including Canberra)
Elsewhere
After 35 Days

$238.00 per day
$133.00 per day
$119.00 per day

All other SES officers, Statutory Officers and other officers on a cash salary above or equal to $79,215 pa or below $105,375 pa are able to claim actual expenses at the following indicative upper limits:

Capital Cities
(including Canberra)
Elsewhere
After 35 Days

$204.00 per day
$127.00 per day
$102.00 per day

All other officers on a cash salary below $79,215 pa are to be paid travelling allowances at the following rates:

Capital Cities
(including Canberra)
Elsewhere
After 35 Days

$171.85 per day
$122.40 per day
$61.20 per day

The new classification of Senior Officers will continue to be paid travelling allowances at the all other officers rates in accordance with the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment 1997) 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 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 $74,731 pa to $79,215 pa, effective from 1 March 1998.

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 3558) 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 $105,375 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 $79,215 pa or below $105,375 pa.

Executive Rate
(Part B - Senior Executive Service Officers)

Officers on a cash salary below or equal to $79,215 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.

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 in one set of accommodation to compensate for the higher costs associated with transitory living arrangements and the costs of settling into long term accommodation. Once an officer is in one set of accommodation then after 35 days their allowance will be reduced.

2.3 Transition arrangements

The reduction in daily allowance will not apply to an officer already overseas staying in one location until after 35 days from when this circular comes into effect on 1 March 1998.

C Gellatly
Director-General