Part 1
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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This Determination sets travel and expense rules for senior Commonwealth office holders (judges, secretaries, agency heads, etc.), defining travel classes by tier, daily allowances by location and tier, accommodation treatment, and mileage and upgrade rules. It also governs accompanied travel approvals and prohibits private use of frequent-flyer points earned on Commonwealth-funded trips.
The aim: reimburse legitimate work travel while limiting cost, preventing double-dipping, and requiring employer certification for higher-cost perks to protect public funds.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Remuneration Tribunal (Official Travel) Determination 2018.
This instrument is the Remuneration Tribunal (Official Travel) Determination 2018.
This instrument takes effect at the start of 26 August 2018.
This instrument is made under subsections 5(2A) and 7(3) and (4) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
This instrument supersedes Determination 2017/15: Official Travel by Office Holders.
In this instrument:
Act means the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
agency, of an office holder, means:
(a) the agency to which the office holder is attached; or
(b) if the office holder is not attached to an agency—the portfolio Department.
commercial accommodation means accommodation in a commercial establishment such as a hotel, motel or serviced apartment.
de facto partner of a person has the meaning given by the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
employing authority, in relation to an office holder, means:
(a) if the office holder holds a principal executive office for which there is an employing body—the employing body; or
(b) otherwise—an entity exercising a power or performing a function in relation to the office holder’s employment or remuneration.
Note: For the Minister’s power to declare the employing body for a principal executive office, see section 3B of the Act.
home base, in relation to an office holder, means the town or city in which the office holder’s principal place of residence is located.
office means an office held by an office holder.
office holder: see subsection 8(1).
office locality, in relation to an office holder, means the geographic location of the office holder’s usual place of work on official business.
official business, in relation to an office holder, means business pertaining to or required by the duties of the office holder’s office.
Table 3A means the table of class of travel in section 10.
Table 6A means the table of rates of travel allowance for travel to capital cities in section 26.
Table 6B means the table of rates of travel allowance for travel to country centres in section 27.
Table 6C means the table of meal and incidental components of travel allowance for high cost centres in section 28.
Table 6D means the table of meal and incidental components of travel allowance for other country centres in section 29.
Table 6E means the table of group 2 country centres in section 30.
travel tier of an office holder: see subsection 8(2).
This instrument sets out the provisions that apply when: (a) an office holder (other than a holder of a part‑time office) is required to travel for official business away from their office locality; or (b) a holder of a part‑time office is required to travel for official business away from their home base.
(1) This instrument applies to a person (an office holder) who holds one of the following: (a) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Judicial and Related Offices—Remuneration and Allowances) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (b) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Full‑time Public Office) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (c) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Part‑time Public Office) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (d) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Departmental Secretaries—Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (e) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Specified Statutory Offices—Remuneration and Allowances) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (f) an office to which Determination 2018/07: Principal Executive Office—Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies. (2) An office holder’s travel tier is the travel tier specified in the instrument that applies to the office. (3) This instrument has effect, in relation to an office holder, subject to the instrument that applies to the office.
Note: Some instruments mentioned in subsection (1) contain provisions that exclude, limit or modify the application of this instrument in relation to particular offices.
(1) This instrument is intended to be administered in accordance with the principles in this section. (2) Office holders are not expected to gain or lose financially as a result of travelling on official business. (3) Office holders must only incur expenses, or commit the Commonwealth to meet expenses, where funds are lawfully available to do so. (4) Travel may only be undertaken where its purpose is consistent with the duties of the office holder. (5) When making travel arrangements, office holders are to consider the following: (a) the necessity of travel and potential alternatives to travel, such as teleconferencing or videoconferencing; (b) the total cost of travel, including value for money; (c) any travel‑related administrative guidelines put in place by their agency; (d) the flexibility to maintain an appropriate balance between work and home responsibilities, as well as safety and security.
An office holder who travels on official business is entitled to travel at the class of travel set out in the following table (Table 3A) for the office holder’s travel tier. However, the office holder may choose to travel at a lower class if that would be more convenient or appropriate.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Table 3A—Class of travel</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Travel tier of office</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Class of travel—within Australia</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 3</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Class of travel—overseas</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Tier 1</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Highest available</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>First class or business class</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Tier 2</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Business class</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Business class</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Tier 3</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Economy class</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Economy class</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Accompanying travel (1) An office holder may upgrade the office holder’s class of travel in order to accompany a person travelling at a higher class of travel if it is demonstrably in the interest of the Commonwealth to do so. Lengthy flight (2) An office holder who is entitled to travel economy class may upgrade to business class (for domestic and international travel) if the duration of the flight exceeds 5 hours.
(1) An office holder may be entitled to be accompanied by the office holder’s spouse or de facto partner for purposes relating to official business at Commonwealth expense when travelling within Australia or overseas in accordance with this instrument. (2) Accompanied travel may occur only if the office holder’s employing authority certifies in writing that it is demonstrably in the interest of the Commonwealth, given the purpose of the travel, for the office holder to be accompanied by the office holder’s spouse or de facto partner. (3) If the office holder’s spouse or de facto partner accompanies the office holder, the spouse or de facto partner may travel at the same class of travel as the office holder.
Office holders are encouraged to use their agency’s travel‑related preferred provider arrangements where these exist.
Frequent flyer points accrued at the Commonwealth’s expense are not to be used for private purposes.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This instrument is the Remuneration Tribunal (Official Travel) Determination 2018.
This instrument takes effect at the start of 26 August 2018.
This instrument is made under subsections 5(2A) and 7(3) and (4) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
This instrument supersedes Determination 2017/15: Official Travel by Office Holders.
In this instrument:
Act means the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
agency, of an office holder, means:
(a) the agency to which the office holder is attached; or
(b) if the office holder is not attached to an agency—the portfolio Department.
commercial accommodation means accommodation in a commercial establishment such as a hotel, motel or serviced apartment.
de facto partner of a person has the meaning given by the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
employing authority, in relation to an office holder, means:
(a) if the office holder holds a principal executive office for which there is an employing body—the employing body; or
(b) otherwise—an entity exercising a power or performing a function in relation to the office holder’s employment or remuneration.
Note: For the Minister’s power to declare the employing body for a principal executive office, see section 3B of the Act.
home base, in relation to an office holder, means the town or city in which the office holder’s principal place of residence is located.
office means an office held by an office holder.
office holder: see subsection 8(1).
office locality, in relation to an office holder, means the geographic location of the office holder’s usual place of work on official business.
official business, in relation to an office holder, means business pertaining to or required by the duties of the office holder’s office.
Table 3A means the table of class of travel in section 10.
Table 6A means the table of rates of travel allowance for travel to capital cities in section 26.
Table 6B means the table of rates of travel allowance for travel to country centres in section 27.
Table 6C means the table of meal and incidental components of travel allowance for high cost centres in section 28.
Table 6D means the table of meal and incidental components of travel allowance for other country centres in section 29.
Table 6E means the table of group 2 country centres in section 30.
travel tier of an office holder: see subsection 8(2).
This instrument sets out the provisions that apply when: (a) an office holder (other than a holder of a part‑time office) is required to travel for official business away from their office locality; or (b) a holder of a part‑time office is required to travel for official business away from their home base.
(1) This instrument applies to a person (an office holder) who holds one of the following: (a) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Judicial and Related Offices—Remuneration and Allowances) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (b) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Full‑time Public Office) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (c) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Part‑time Public Office) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (d) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Departmental Secretaries—Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (e) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Specified Statutory Offices—Remuneration and Allowances) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (f) an office to which Determination 2018/07: Principal Executive Office—Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies. (2) An office holder’s travel tier is the travel tier specified in the instrument that applies to the office. (3) This instrument has effect, in relation to an office holder, subject to the instrument that applies to the office.
Note: Some instruments mentioned in subsection (1) contain provisions that exclude, limit or modify the application of this instrument in relation to particular offices.
(1) This instrument is intended to be administered in accordance with the principles in this section. (2) Office holders are not expected to gain or lose financially as a result of travelling on official business. (3) Office holders must only incur expenses, or commit the Commonwealth to meet expenses, where funds are lawfully available to do so. (4) Travel may only be undertaken where its purpose is consistent with the duties of the office holder. (5) When making travel arrangements, office holders are to consider the following: (a) the necessity of travel and potential alternatives to travel, such as teleconferencing or videoconferencing; (b) the total cost of travel, including value for money; (c) any travel‑related administrative guidelines put in place by their agency; (d) the flexibility to maintain an appropriate balance between work and home responsibilities, as well as safety and security.
An office holder who travels on official business is entitled to travel at the class of travel set out in the following table (Table 3A) for the office holder’s travel tier. However, the office holder may choose to travel at a lower class if that would be more convenient or appropriate.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Table 3A—Class of travel</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Travel tier of office</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Class of travel—within Australia</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 3</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Class of travel—overseas</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Tier 1</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Highest available</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>First class or business class</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Tier 2</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Business class</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Business class</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Tier 3</span></p></td><td style="width:39.22%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Economy class</span></p></td><td style="width:36.96%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Economy class</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Accompanying travel (1) An office holder may upgrade the office holder’s class of travel in order to accompany a person travelling at a higher class of travel if it is demonstrably in the interest of the Commonwealth to do so. Lengthy flight (2) An office holder who is entitled to travel economy class may upgrade to business class (for domestic and international travel) if the duration of the flight exceeds 5 hours.
(1) An office holder may be entitled to be accompanied by the office holder’s spouse or de facto partner for purposes relating to official business at Commonwealth expense when travelling within Australia or overseas in accordance with this instrument. (2) Accompanied travel may occur only if the office holder’s employing authority certifies in writing that it is demonstrably in the interest of the Commonwealth, given the purpose of the travel, for the office holder to be accompanied by the office holder’s spouse or de facto partner. (3) If the office holder’s spouse or de facto partner accompanies the office holder, the spouse or de facto partner may travel at the same class of travel as the office holder.
Office holders are encouraged to use their agency’s travel‑related preferred provider arrangements where these exist.
Frequent flyer points accrued at the Commonwealth’s expense are not to be used for private purposes.
This instrument is the Remuneration Tribunal (Official Travel) Determination 2018.
This instrument takes effect at the start of 26 August 2018.
This instrument is made under subsections 5(2A) and 7(3) and (4) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
This instrument supersedes Determination 2017/15: Official Travel by Office Holders.
In this instrument:
Act means the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
agency, of an office holder, means:
(a) the agency to which the office holder is attached; or
(b) if the office holder is not attached to an agency—the portfolio Department.
commercial accommodation means accommodation in a commercial establishment such as a hotel, motel or serviced apartment.
de facto partner of a person has the meaning given by the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
employing authority, in relation to an office holder, means:
(a) if the office holder holds a principal executive office for which there is an employing body—the employing body; or
(b) otherwise—an entity exercising a power or performing a function in relation to the office holder’s employment or remuneration.
Note: For the Minister’s power to declare the employing body for a principal executive office, see section 3B of the Act.
home base, in relation to an office holder, means the town or city in which the office holder’s principal place of residence is located.
office means an office held by an office holder.
office holder: see subsection 8(1).
office locality, in relation to an office holder, means the geographic location of the office holder’s usual place of work on official business.
official business, in relation to an office holder, means business pertaining to or required by the duties of the office holder’s office.
Table 3A means the table of class of travel in section 10.
Table 6A means the table of rates of travel allowance for travel to capital cities in section 26.
Table 6B means the table of rates of travel allowance for travel to country centres in section 27.
Table 6C means the table of meal and incidental components of travel allowance for high cost centres in section 28.
Table 6D means the table of meal and incidental components of travel allowance for other country centres in section 29.
Table 6E means the table of group 2 country centres in section 30.
travel tier of an office holder: see subsection 8(2).
This instrument sets out the provisions that apply when: (a) an office holder (other than a holder of a part‑time office) is required to travel for official business away from their office locality; or (b) a holder of a part‑time office is required to travel for official business away from their home base.
(1) This instrument applies to a person (an office holder) who holds one of the following: (a) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Judicial and Related Offices—Remuneration and Allowances) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (b) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Full‑time Public Office) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (c) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Part‑time Public Office) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (d) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Departmental Secretaries—Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (e) an office to which the Remuneration Tribunal (Specified Statutory Offices—Remuneration and Allowances) Determination 2018 (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies; (f) an office to which Determination 2018/07: Principal Executive Office—Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions (or any determination that supersedes that determination) applies. (2) An office holder’s travel tier is the travel tier specified in the instrument that applies to the office. (3) This instrument has effect, in relation to an office holder, subject to the instrument that applies to the office.
Note: Some instruments mentioned in subsection (1) contain provisions that exclude, limit or modify the application of this instrument in relation to particular offices.
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.