The Remuneration Tribunal and the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) share responsibility for the remuneration arrangements for most Secretaries.

The Tribunal determines the general classification structure for the office of Secretary and the classification of each individual office. This is published in the Remuneration Tribunal (Departmental Secretaries—Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions) Determination (the Secretaries determination). The latest determination is on the Secretaries page. The Secretary of PM&C, in consultation with the President of the Tribunal and the Australian Public Service Commissioner, assigns each Secretary to a specific pay point in the classification structure determined by the Tribunal. The current instrument of assignment is on the PM&C website.

The Tribunal directly determines the remuneration of the offices of Secretary of the Department of the Treasury and Secretary of PM&C.

Conditions

Official travel

The general provisions for domestic and overseas travel by office holders are in the Remuneration Tribunal (Official Travel) Determination (the travel determination). Secretaries are entitled to Travel Tier 1 travel provisions.

Travel within Australia - Schedule A of the travel determination sets out the travelling allowance rates payable for the various Australian cities and towns. There is no payment where the travel does not involve an overnight absence.

Overseas travel – the travel determination also provides for overseas meals and incidentals rates to be paid in accordance with the rates published annually by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in its taxation ruling dealing with reasonable travelling allowance amounts. The Taxation Determinations can be found on the ATO website for the relevant year.

Motor vehicle travel - motor vehicle allowances are also contained in the travel determination.

Geographic relocations

Where a new appointee relocates from their home locality to take up a Secretary appointment, they are entitled to payment of relocation costs at Commonwealth expense. Provisions are in the Secretaries determination.

Leave

Provisions relating to annual leave, personal leave, miscellaneous leave and leave for training and development purposes are in the Secretaries determination.

Early loss of office

The Tribunal has determined a level of financial compensation for a holder of a public office where there is early loss of office (some exclusions apply). Secretaries may also be entitled to compensation where they are not given 3 months' notice of a decision not to reappoint them as a Secretary at the expiration of their current term.

Secretary loss of office provisions are set out in the Secretaries determination.