Conditions - Frequently Asked Questions

Tribunal determinations have force of law until revoked by the Tribunal or disallowed by the Parliament

1. What Travelling Allowance (TA) should board/committee members be paid?

2. What are the overseas TA rates?

3. The office holder is travelling overseas on official business. A meal is provided or paid for by another entity. What adjustment should be made to the office holder's TA as a result?

4. In respect of board/committee work, should public servants receive departmental TA or the TA rate determined for members of the board/committee by the Tribunal?

5. What does the Tribunal determine in respect of spouse travel?

6. What if an office holder’s TA is not sufficient to cover accommodation costs?

7. Is TA remuneration?

8. What is considered reasonable travelling time in the Condition of Payment of Daily Fees?

9. Can an office holder receive TA if they have to travel from an outer suburb to a meeting location?

1. What Travelling Allowance (TA) should board/committee members be paid?

Tribunal determinations specify the tier of travelling allowance (TA) applying to each office (Tier 1, 2 or 3). Tier 2 applies to part-time Offices Not Specified.

Conditions of payment may differ from Public Service TA arrangements. Refer to the Official Travel Determination.

2. What are the overseas TA rates?

Tier 1 = First Class international airfares
Tier 2 = Business Class international airfares
Tier 3 = Economy Class international airfares

Accommodation should be at a standard reasonably equivalent to that provided for the office holder in Australia.

Rates for meals and incidentals are in accordance with the overseas meals and incidentals rates published annually by the Australian Taxation Office in its taxation ruling dealing with reasonable travelling allowance amounts.

3. The office holder is travelling overseas on official business. A meal is provided or paid for by another entity. What adjustment should be made to the office holder's TA as a result?

It would be appropriate to reduce the reasonable daily overseas meal allowance amounts determined by the Australian Taxation Office by 50 per cent where dinner has been provided or paid for by an entity other than the office holder, or 25 per cent in the case of either breakfast or lunch. Alternatively, it would also be permissible for office holders to comply with any relevant administrative guidelines put in place for employees in their agency.

4. In respect of board/committee work, should public servants receive departmental TA or the TA rate determined for members of the board/committee by the Tribunal?

The TA rate is determined by the Tribunal

5. What does the Tribunal determine in respect of spouse travel?

The Tribunal only determines in respect of the office holder, not his/her spouse. The Travelling Allowance Determination provides that where the Commonwealth meets travel costs of a spouse or partner, an office holder is to be paid an amount as is vouched as the difference between the cost of a single and double room.

Generally, accompanied travel may only occur when the office holder’s employing body or minister certifies in writing that it is demonstrably in the interests of the Commonwealth, given the purpose of the travel, for the office holder to be accompanied by their spouse or partner. Matters such as the occasions on which an office holder can be accompanied, number of accompanied trips per year etc, are up to the individual employing body or minister.

6. What if an office holder’s TA is not sufficient to cover accommodation costs?

An alternative is to use the provision in the TA Determination where an entity other than the office holder meets accommodation and meal expenses, and the office holder’s TA is reduced accordingly. So instead of paying TA the employing body meets the office holder’s travel expenses, to ensure he/she is not out of pocket.

7. Is TA remuneration?

No – it is an allowance to meet expenses incurred by the office holder in performing his/her official duties. Paying TA is similar to reimbursing business expenses such as taxi fares for travel to a meeting.

8. What is considered reasonable travelling time in the Condition of Payment of Daily Fees?

A Chairperson has discretion – guidelines suggest  travelling time should only be included in 3 hour period where a meeting requires travel away from metropolitan area of home city/town.

9. Can an office holder receive TA if they have to travel from an outer suburb to a meeting location?

No - Travel usually means interstate travel. For intrastate travel to be captured, it would be expected to be of a considerable distance (possibly involving a flight).