I am writing to advise you of the publication of the Manual of Delegations to Department Heads 2001.

The Public Employment Office in the Public Sector Management Act 1988 ("the Act") and the Public Sector Management (General) Regulation 1996 ("the Regulation") has a number of functions which are now to be further delegated to Department Heads.

The new Manual encompasses all eighteen existing delegations along with a further five delegations. These new delegations allow the Department Head to approve:

• not advertising a position in the Public Service Notices or Press in major restructures of organisations (section 31(2) of the Act);
• reduction in salary of officers in certain circumstances (section 52(3) of the Act);
• payment of a skill shortage allowance to positions at or above Clerk Grade 12 but not Senior Officers, covered by the Crown Employees (Senior Officers 1997) Award or equivalent, where there is difficulty in attraction or retention affecting service delivery (section 63(1) of the Act);
• payment of a job evaluation allowance in circumstances outlined in Premier's Department Circular 97-35 Implementation of Job Evaluation Outcomes (section 63(1) of the Act); and
• employer sponsored transfers involving Public Authorities and Departments (section 100A of the Act).

This publication replaces the Manual of Delegations to Department Heads 1997.

You should be aware that compliance with these delegated powers will continue to be monitored and your organisation may, on occasion, be required to report on the approvals granted.

The delegations are to commence from Monday 27 August 2001. The Manual also provides that the Department Head may delegate these functions within their Department provided a record is maintained of officers to whom these functions have been delegated.

The Manual has been published in electronic form only and may be accessed through the Premier's Department website at http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au under Publications. This approach is consistent with the Connect.NSW strategy and will facilitate timely update of the Manual.

Limited numbers of disk copies in Word 6 format are available on request to those agencies that do not yet have Internet access. Requests giving mailing address should be forwarded to: The Office Manager Administration Unit, Public Sector Management Office fax (02) 9228 3577.

Should you have any enquiries please contact your Department's client contact officer by telephoning 9228 3572.

C. Gellatly
Director-General

Supersedes M95-08 re Skill Shortage Allowance
Superseded by C2004-37