Consultation - Remuneration of Departmental Secretaries
The Remuneration Tribunal invites views on whether remuneration arrangements for Departmental Secretaries are appropriate.
Review of remuneration for Departmental Secretaries
The Remuneration Tribunal is undertaking a review of remuneration arrangements for Australian Public Service Departmental Secretaries.
Remuneration for Departmental Secretaries has evolved over several decades in response to changes in work value, complexity and APS-wide remuneration structures. Current arrangements have not been comprehensively examined for nearly 15 years, and the Tribunal considers a full review both timely and appropriate.
The Tribunal recognises the strong public interest in the remuneration of senior public officials and is committed to ensuring arrangements remain fair, transparent and aligned with contemporary expectations.
Review process
The Tribunal intends to complete this review by mid-2027.
The review will follow an evidence-based approach. This includes analysis of work value, statutory responsibilities, relevant comparator offices, historical remuneration settings and APS structural developments.
The Tribunal will consult, consider responses from interested parties, and apply contemporary governance and remuneration principles to ensure any decisions are robust, transparent and consistent across senior Commonwealth offices.
Consultation Paper – Departmental Secretaries
The consultation paper outlines the existing Secretary remuneration framework, provides an overview of how remuneration has developed over time, and seeks feedback on whether the current arrangements remain appropriate, effective and fit for purpose.
The Tribunal invites written responses on matters including:
- the overall level and structure of remuneration
- remuneration relativities with other senior public offices
- the suitability of associated terms and conditions, including non-remuneration benefits.
Responses will directly inform the Tribunal’s consideration of whether remuneration arrangements for Departmental Secretaries remain appropriate.
Responses close at midnight AEST on 10 June 2026.
How to submit a response
You must submit your response by email to SecretaryReview@RemTribunal.gov.au.
To help you prepare your response, we recommend that you:
- read the consultation paper
- prepare your response in Word or PDF format
- read the guidelines for responding to consultation
- read the privacy policy
- read the public consultation privacy collection statement.
If you have any issues submitting your response, you can contact the Tribunal’s Secretariat on (02) 6202 3930.
Confidentiality
Responses to consultation will be treated as confidential and will not be published with attribution or in full. However, extracts from responses may be used and/or responses may be summarised without attribution and used in Tribunal reports and statements. If you do not wish your response to be used for either of these purposes, please clearly state this in your covering email and within the response itself.
Responses may be the subject of a request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Detailed information on freedom of information can be found on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.