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 2000 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 $110,686 pa or above are able to claim actual expenses at the following indicative upper limits:

Capital Cities Elsewhere  After 35 Days 
$246.65 per day $137.85 per day $123.35 per day 

All other SES officers (levels 1 to 4) and Statutory 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 a cash salary of $110,686 pa are able to claim actual expenses at the following indicative upper limits:

Capital Cities Elsewhere  After 35 Days 
$211.45 per day $131.65 per day $105.75 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 Elsewhere  After 35 Days
$171.85 per day $122.40 per day $61.20 per day
or actual or actual expenses
expenses 

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. 99-3, 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 remain at the current public sector rates. These rates are:

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

Classes of Air Travel
The entitlement for business class air travel (Premier's Department Circular No. 99-60 Official Travel - Consolidation of Guidelines) remains unchanged at a cash salary of $86,576 pa (Circular 99-104). The salary of $80,500 pa specified in Circular No. 99-60 on pages 3 and 4 was incorrect and should be substituted to read - $86,576 pa.

2. Overseas Travelling Allowances

2.1 Less than 35 days in one location
The Commonwealth Department of Workplace Relations and Small Business (DEWRSB) will cease supplying information on overseas allowances from 29 February 2000. Until that date agencies can access the overseas allowance daily rates on the DEWRSB website at http://www.dewrsb.gov.au/group-wr/prod-ser/advices/99/adv3.htm These files are in PDF format and agencies will need Adobe Reader to view them. If your agency does not have access to the internet for these rates please contact (02) 9228 5510 or 9228 5559. Agencies will be advised of the new arrangements for accessing overseas travelling allowances in the near future.

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

Position Category
________________________________________________________________
Chief Executive Officers as Department Head Rate set out in Schedule 3A of the Public Sector Management 
Act 1988; and Senior Executive (Part A - Secretaries of Departments)
Officers in the level 5 SES
range and above, and Statutory
Officers receiving a cash salary
of $110,686 pa. or above
________________________________________________________________

All other Senior Executive Officers Executive Rate
and Statutory Officers on a cash
salary $86,576 pa or below (Part B - Senior Executive Service Officers)
$110,686 pa.
________________________________________________________________

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

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 August 1999 Chapter 7, section 13 - 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

Superseded by C2001-43