4.6 Delegations

Policy

The power of the Director-General, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, as Accountable Officer to delegate the incurring of expenditure, is found in section 36A of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977.

Whilst the Director-General, as accountable officer, may undertake such delegations, the Minister still remains responsible for the proper management and control of all financial transactions effected under such delegations.

Except where specifically stated in this schedule, staff members are not allowed to authorise their own expenditure or expenditure incurred on their behalf.

The Director-General may formally delegate authority to appropriate personnel within the Office of the Minister or Office of a Parliamentary Secretary, to approve the following expenditure:

1. expenditure of a periodic/recurrent nature;
2. expenditure related to the normal operations of the Office of the Minister;
3. expenditure for the purchase of routine office requisites;
4. petty cash expenditure; and
5. purchase of office equipment.

The Director-General must establish, in liaison with the Office of the Minister, the appropriate level of delegations of authority for the effective operation of the Office.

These delegations are to the person and not the position. They are not transferable. Delegation limits include GST. The Minister must personally authorise all expenditure incurred directly for himself/herself as well as all expenditure incurred in respect of the Office of the Minister for entertainment and travel.

A Parliamentary Secretary may authorise their own expenditure up to a limit of $10,000. A Parliamentary Secretary may request a delegation for a staff member in their Office.

The Premier's Chief of Staff may authorise travel allowance claims for Premier's Office staff, but may not authorise their own expenditure.

The Director-General may formally delegate authority to appropriate personnel within Ministerial Services, to approve expenditure in respect of a Ministerial Office for:

1. a periodic/recurrent nature;
2. costs of expenditure related to the normal operations of the Office of the Minister;
3. expenditure for the purchase of routine office requisites; and
4. purchase of office equipment.

These delegations are as detailed in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet's Financial Management Practice Manual and are to a position, rather than an individual.

In addition, the Executive Director of Ministerial Services has the delegated authority to approve expenditure of up to $100,000 on behalf of a Minister when that Minister is unavailable (eg. due to travel or illness) and the expenditure of the Minister requires processing. Where practical, the Minister must personally authorise their own expenditure not more than 45 days after the Director of Ministerial Services has approved the expenditure on their behalf. Documentation regarding the need for the Director of Ministerial Services to approve expenditure on behalf of the Minister must be attached.

Losses and special payments will require the approval of Department of the Premier and Cabinet officers under the Department of the Premier and Cabinet delegations.

Procedures

New delegations will be required on the change of a Minister.

The term 'periodic/recurrent expenditure' means expenditure on services of a repetitive, periodic or standard nature rendered under legislation, contractual or administrative arrangement or approval, for which it is neither accepted practice nor necessary to issue a requisition or official order for the rendering of such service. Examples of such expenditure are:

1. computer service charges;
2. insurance renewal premiums;
3. workers' compensation payments;
4. motor vehicle registration fees;
5. telephone, telegram or bulk postage charges;
6. subscriptions for magazines and journals and contributions to professional and research bodies, etc.;
7. electricity and gas charges;
8. water and cleansing charges;
9. rates;
10. rent;
11. laundry and cleaning services;
12. travelling or transfer allowances or expenses for officers or employees; and
13. expenditure ancillary to salaries and wages including pay-roll tax and employer's superannuation contributions.

See Appendix 14 - Administrative Delegation form (PDF, 291 KB)

Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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