1. Travelling Allowances within Australia
Travelling allowances have been adjusted following Taxation Ruling 2003/7 by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the new rates are to be effective on and from 1 July 2003 for each group of officers as outlined in the attached table of 3 categories.

Category A applies to Chief Executive Officers and Senior Executive Service Officers paid a total remuneration package of at least $186,097 pa and Statutory Officers (unless other arrangements are in place) receiving a cash salary of at least $134,920 pa. These officers claim actual expenses which are treated as indicative upper limits listed under 'A' in the attached table.

Category B applies to officers who claim actual expenses which are treated as indicative upper limits under 'B' and are listed in the attached table. These rates apply to the following officers:

• all other SES Officers paid a total remuneration package below $186,097 pa;
• Statutory Officers on a cash salary of at least $101,311 pa and below a cash salary of $134,920 pa

Category C applies to all other officers on a cash salary below $101,311 pa. These officers are to be paid travelling allowances at the rates under 'C' that are listed in the attached table. Refer to Premier's Department Circular No. 2003-30 'Review of meal, travelling and related allowances'.

All non-SES officers, including Senior Officers and employees in receipt of a Skill Shortage allowance are eligible to be paid the travelling allowance as specified in 'C' in accordance with the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award 2002. Actual expenses are paid where reasonably and properly incurred costs 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.

1.1 Part-time members of Government boards
The amounts available to part-time chairpersons and members of Government boards for travel within Australia, depend on the category of the board as categorised in 'Guidelines for board and committee members' appointment and remuneration' under Publications > Boards and Committees)

Advisory committees will continue to claim actual expenses with a daily indicative upper limit as specified in 'C'. The relevant Minister has discretion to decide which rate should apply for members of governing boards and advisory boards. As the total annual salary of part time board members may not be known to the Minister (the Minister may only be aware of the payments associated with the particular board and not any other work the part time board member may have) it will be necessary to ensure that the board members are aware of the limits set in Taxation Ruling 2003/7 and keep any receipts necessary for their tax records.

1.2 Meal Allowances for travel not involving an overnight stay for officers have been increased to the following rates:

Description  Amount
Capital cities and high cost
country centres (See Table)

Breakfast $17.70
Lunch $19.75
Dinner $34.05 

Tier 2 and other
country centres (see Table)

Breakfast $15.75
Lunch $18.05
Dinner $31.15

It might be noted that the ATO regards meal allowances for one-day journeys as assessable income for employees and requires these amounts to be taxed and shown on employees' group certificates.

1.3 Classes of Air Travel

• The entitlement for business class air travel (Premier's Department Circular No. 99-60 Official Travel - Consolidation of Guidelines) will be increased from $96,487 pa and above to $101,311 pa and above from 1 July 2003.

2. Overseas Travelling Allowances

2.1 Less than 35 days in one location
Chief Executive Officers are reminded that the appropriate Minister must approve all official overseas travel by officers (Premier's Department Circular 99-60).

Agencies who have officers travelling overseas on official business may subscribe directly to ECA International to obtain daily travelling allowances in the currency of the country being visited:

To receive an application form please contact ECA International.

The contact details are:
Suite14 Level 1
88 Cumberland Street
The Rocks NSW 2000

Contacts:
Telephone: (02) 8272 5300
Fax: (02) 8272 5301

The travel allowance rates for meals and incidentals are calculated using cost of living information from the relevant country. The rates are intended to be a fair and reasonable recompense for the expenses incurred when travelling overseas.

Sets of travel allowance information are compiled by ECA International once a year. The cost for a global set of travel rates remains at $1,457.50, and for individual countries at $145.75. The new global set of travel rates are effective from 15 September 2003.

Agencies that have shared corporate services can purchase the rates for use by the shared services business unit. There is no additional cost for this access provided all other copyright provisions are met.

Due to copyright provisions relating to accessing this information, the Premier's Department, is no longer able to provide these overseas travel rates. The Department will however, continue to advise on overseas travel policy issues.

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

Position Category
____________________________________________________________

Chief Executive Officers and Senior Department Head Rate (Part A
Executive Service Officers paid a total - Secretaries of Departments)
remuneration package of $186,097 pa
and above, and Statutory Officers
receiving a cash salary of $134,920 pa
and above
____________________________________________________________

All other Senior Executive Officers Executive Rate (Part B -
paid a total remuneration package Senior Executive Service
below $186,097 pa, and Statutory Officers and Senior Officers) 
Officers on a cash salary of
$101,311 pa and below a cash
salary of $134,920 pa
____________________________________________________________

Officers on a cash salary below (Part C - Other Officers)
$101,311 pa
____________________________________________________________

When a part-time chairperson or member is required to travel overseas, the person is to be paid allowances at the discretion of the relevant Minister, with payment being within the above three (3) categories. Please refer to the possible taxation issues noted in the earlier paragraph - Part-time members of Government boards.

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 website: 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.

(Signed)

C. Gellatly
Director-General

Issued : Workforce Capability ( Public Employment Office)
Contact: Gary McGrath, Project Officer
EMail: [email protected]
Telephone no: 9228 4381 Facsimile: 9228 3102
File no: PSM/01480
Date: 14 October 2003
________________________________________________

Superseded by C2004-25

________________________________________________

A Per day B Per day C Per day
Capital Cities Indicative Indicative Allowance 
Upper Upper
Limit Limit
________________________________________________________

Adelaide $299.15 $248.15 $207.35
Brisbane $369.15 $241.15 $201.35
Canberra $299.15 $226.15 $185.35
Darwin $299.15 $244.15 $202.35
Hobart $299.15 $216.15 $189.35
Melbourne $369.15 $273.15 $235.35
Perth $369.15 $229.15 $202.35
Sydney $369.15 $277.15 $238.35

________________________________________________________

High cost country
centres

Alice Springs (NT) $195.60 $189.15 $170.65
Broome (WA) $220.15 $220.15 $201.35
Christmas Island $204.15 $204.15 $185.35
Cocos (Keeling) Islands $204.15 $204.15 $185.35
Dampier (WA) $195.60 $195.15 $176.35
Devonport (Tas) $195.60 $192.15 $173.35
Exmouth (WA) $196.15 $196.15 $177.35
Gold Coast (Qld) $206.15 $206.15 $187.35
Horn Island (Qld) $212.15 $212.15 $193.35
Jabiru (NT) $274.15 $274.15 $255.35
Kalgoorlie (WA) $195.60 $190.15 $171.35
Karratha (WA) $250.15 $250.15 $231.35
Kununurra (WA) $206.15 $206.15 $183.35
Launceston (Tas) $195.60 $188.15 $169.35
Newcastle (NSW) $195.60 $191.15 $172.35
Newman (WA) $217.65 $217.65 $198.85
Nhulunbuy (SA) $225.15 $225.15 $206.35
Norfolk Island $203.15 $203.15 $184.35
Northam (WA) $195.60 $189.15 $170.35
Paraburdoo (WA) $221.15 $221.15 $202.35
Port Hedland (WA) $213.15 $213.15 $194.35
Thursday Island (Qld) $234.15 $234.15 $215.35
Tom Price (WA) $195.60 $194.15 $175.35
Weipa (Qld) $219.15 $219.15 $200.35
Wilpena (SA) $199.15 $199.15 $180.35
Wollongong (NSW) $195.60 $189.15 $170.35
Yulara (NT) $465.65 $465.65 $446.85 
_________________________________________________________

Tier 2 country centres

Bathurst (NSW) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Bendigo (Vic) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Burnie (Tas) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Cairns (Qld) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Geraldton (WA) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Gosford (NSW) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Halls Creek (WA) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Maitland (NSW) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Marla (SA) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Orange (NSW) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
Wagga Wagga (NSW) $195.60 $185.60 $157.80
_________________________________________________________

Other country centres $195.60 $170.60 $145.80

Daily allowance payable 50% of the 50% of the 50% of the
after 35 days and up to appropriate appropriate appropriate
6 months in the same location rate location rate location rate 
location - all locations