6Witnesses’ expenses and allowances

6 Witnesses’ expenses and allowances

Expenses for attending a Commission (1) For the purposes of subsection 6G(1) of the Act, the following scale is prescribed for a witness attending a Commission in the circumstances set out in subsection (2) of this section: (a) an initial amount of: (i) if the witness is attending because of the witness’ professional, scientific or other special skill or knowledge—$1,174.90 per day; or (ii) otherwise—$250.00 per day; (b) if attending on a day causes the witness to lose wages, salary or fees otherwise payable to the witness for that day—a further amount equal to what an authorised person considers to be a reasonable loss of wages, salary or fees for that day by the witness; (c) if: (i) the witness is attending because of the witness’ professional, scientific or other special skill or knowledge; and (ii) preparing on a day for the attendance causes the witness to lose wages, salary or fees that are otherwise payable for that day; a further amount equal to what an authorised person considers to be a reasonable loss of wages, salary or fees for that day by the witness. (2) Subsection (1) applies to a witness in either of the following circumstances: (a) the witness attends the Commission in answer to a summons under the Act; (b) the witness attends the Commission without being summoned under the Act, and a member of the Commission decides that the scale in subsection (1) is to apply for the witness. Allowances for travelling expenses and maintenance (3) For the purposes of subsection 8(1) of the Act, the following scale of allowances is prescribed for a witness summoned under the Act to attend a Commission: (a) if the witness’ usual place of abode is more than 50 kilometres from the location of the Commission—an amount worked out, for the witness, by an authorised person as a reasonable allowance for the witness’: (i) travelling expenses for that attendance; and (ii) maintenance while absent from that place of abode; (b) otherwise—a nil amount. Definition (4) In this section:

authorised person means:

(a) the Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department; or
(b) an SES employee, or acting SES employee, in that Department authorised, in writing, by that Secretary for the purposes of this section.