2020 Annual Determinations

SOORT’s 2020 annual determinations for Public Service senior executives (PSSEs) and the Chief and Senior Executive Service (SES) made under the Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Act 1975 (SOOR Act) provide for no increase effective on and from 1 July 2020. The determinations are available on the NSW Remuneration Tribunals website - http://www.remtribunals.nsw.gov.au/statutory-and-other-offices/current-soort-determinations

Public Service senior executives

PSSEs are employed in one of four bands specified in the Government Sector Employment (Senior Executive Bands) Determination 2014. Under section 40(1) of the GSE Act, the remuneration package of a PSSE must be within the range determined under the SOOR Act for the band in which the executive is employed.

SOORT’s annual determination for PSSEs is made under Part 3B, section 24O of the SOOR Act and applies to executives to whom Division 4 of Part 4 of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 (GSE Act) applies (other than those subject to the transitional arrangements in Schedule 4 to the GSE Act).

The Tribunal has determined that there shall be no increase in the minimum and the maximum of the remuneration ranges payable to PSSEs. There is also no increase in the remuneration packages for those senior executives named in the determination. Human Resources and Payroll Administrators should refer to page 10 of the determination for specific details.

Employers should be mindful of the intent of the Government’s wages policy if considering any adjustments in the remuneration of executives within the discretionary range or otherwise within the band. The intent of the Government’s wages policy is that there be a 12 month pause in wage increases for public sector employees.

Chief and Senior Executive Service

SOORT’s annual determination is made under Part 3A of the SOOR Act and applies to a small number of executives who continue to receive a remuneration package equivalent to the remuneration package of the executive immediately before the repeal of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 (unless the remuneration package is increased as a result of a determination of the SOORT made under Part 3A of the SOOR Act). The determination applies to any executive who continues to be covered by the provisions under Schedule 4 of the GSE Act.

The SOORT determination does not affect existing Recruitment Allowances. Employees in receipt of these allowances continue to receive them in accordance with Schedule 4, clause 8B of the GSE Act, at the quantum for which they were originally approved.

The SES determination also applies to executives employed in the NSW Police Force Senior Executive Service who continue to be eligible for remuneration packages as determined under Part 3A of the SOOR Act.

2020-21 NSW Public Service Senior Executive Remuneration Management Framework

The NSW Public Service Senior Executive Remuneration Management Framework (Framework) applies to PSSE bands 1, 2 and 3. The discretionary ranges and the formulas for each job evaluation methodology have not been changed as there is no increase to remuneration packages in the 2020 SOORT determination (See Part 3.2 and Appendix 1).

Further information

Employees should contact their agency’s HR contacts in the first instance for further information about the application of the SOORT’s annual determinations. Agency HR contacts can contact the Public Service Commission with any enquiries using the contact details at the end of this Circular.

Kathrina Lo
Public Service Commissioner