PART 3 – TRAVEL EXPENSES

1. Payment of travel expenses: Where an office holder travels on official business which requires an overnight absence, travelling expenses will be met in accordance with the provisions in this Part.

2. Day travel: Where travel on official business does not require an overnight absence, no travelling allowance is payable.

3. Accompanied accommodation costs: Where the Commonwealth meets the travel costs of the office holder’s spouse or partner accompanying him/her in accordance with clause 2.4 (Accompanied Travel), if evidence is provided that there is a difference in cost between a single and double room in the commercial accommodation used, the amount of the difference shall be added to the amount of travelling allowance that would otherwise be paid.

4. No double payment: Where the office holder claims or receives travelling allowance or reimbursement of travelling expenses under any other source or entitlement for the same travel, no payment of travelling allowance or expenses will be made under this Determination.

Travel within Australia – Allowance

1. Travelling Allowance: For each overnight absence on business travel within Australia, the office holder, where he or she stays in commercial accommodation, will be paid travelling allowance at the relevant rate in Table A1.A of Schedule A, unless the provisions in clauses 3.6 or 3.7 apply. Subject to those provisions, the full amount will be paid to the office holder for each overnight absence regardless of the time of departure from, or arrival at, his or her office locality or home base.
2. Part Payment of Travelling Allowance: The full amount of travelling allowance in Table A1.A of Schedule A will not be paid in the following circumstances:
   1. Accommodation paid for: Where the cost of accommodation is met by an entity other than the office holder, travelling allowance payable is the relevant ‘Total’ amount shown in Table A2.A of Schedule A for the travel Tier applying to the office.
   2. Meals paid for: Where the cost of a meal or meals is met by an entity other than the office holder, the amount of travelling allowance should be reduced by the relevant meal amount(s) referred to in Table A2.A of Schedule A.
3. Non-commercial accommodation: Where an office holder does not stay in commercial accommodation, but stays in accommodation such as the home of a family member or friend, a rate of one third of the specified travelling allowance is payable (rounded upwards to the nearest dollar).
4. Unavoidable higher accommodation cost: Where an employer certifies that an office holder is required to obtain high cost accommodation, an additional payment may be made to the office holder in accordance with the following: