Keypoints

Attachment: 2010 SOORT Administrative Guidelines

The Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Tribunal (SOORT) has made its annual Determination for the CES and SES. The Report and Determination were published in the Government Gazette of 19 November 2010. The Determination takes effect from 1 October 2010. It is available from SOORT’s website: www.remtribunals.nsw.gov.au.

In summary, SOORT has determined a general increase to CES and SES remuneration packages of 4%. All increases are subject to certification of an officer’s satisfactory performance by the officer’s CEO or, in the case of CEOs, the relevant Minister. There has been no adjustment to Recruitment and Retention Allowance levels.

SOORT has also made its Determinations for the Judges, Magistrates and Related Group and the Public Office Holders Group. The Determinations were published in the Government Gazette on 19 November 2010 and are available from the Tribunal’s website.

The attached Administrative Guidelines provide information on how to implement the SOORT Determination for the CES and SES.

The Guidelines also make clear that a Recruitment and Retention Allowance request will only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

Premier’s Memorandum 2000-24 sets out the process that must be followed for the reappointment of CES and SES officers. It is a requirement that a rigorous review of the performance of an SES officer must be conducted at least six months prior to the expiration date of their appointment. Following a review, a director general may decide to reappoint the officer, or to advertise the position.

If the decision is made to reappoint and it is recommended that the officer receive a further Recruitment Allowance (where they were previously in receipt of a Recruitment Allowance), the basis for the new Allowance is that the current state of the labour market, in relation to the experience and skills required for the SES position, is similar to that which existed when the officer was originally recruited. This needs to be clearly documented in the report prepared by the officer’s performance review panel. There is no need to address each of the Recruitment Allowance criteria in this instance. The review panel’s report is to be submitted with the request for the approval of the new Recruitment Allowance.

There is no change to the treatment of a Retention Allowance.

Brendan O’Reilly
Director General