5.1 Public sector employees on Government Boards
It should be noted that for the purposes of considering remuneration, the definition of public sector employees is significantly broader than that considered in the Public Service Act 1996. The procedures define public sector employees as employees of:
- federal, state or local governments;
- state or federal semi-government organisations, including statutory authorities, Government Owned Corporations and colleges;
- members of any parliament within Australia and elected fulltime local government representatives; and
- judges, magistrates and other judicial and quasi-judicial officers.
- Paid officials or employees of universities are not included within the definition of public sector employees.
Public sector employees, employed full-time or part-time, who are appointed to Government Boards are generally not entitled to receive remuneration for such appointments, unless otherwise approved by Cabinet. In accordance with the Guidelines, approval for payment of public servants for membership of Government Boards may be sought:
where the employee's chief executive certifies that the appointment is not connected in any way with the employee's employment and the meetings etc are held outside ordinary working hours; or
where deductions are made from the employee's wages when he or she attends meetings or other activities of the board during normal working hours; or
where he or she attends meetings or other activities of the board during other legitimate time off (eg. banked time leave, annual leave).
The reasons for recommending payment to public sector employees must be provided in the Cabinet submission and Executive Council Minute. Accordingly, Cabinet submissions proposing remuneration of a public sector employee should indicate that the chief executive has provided certification as detailed above.
Where membership of a Government Board forms part of a public sector employee's work duties, no remuneration will be payable. In these instances, their appointment to the Board should be accompanied by the specification that no remuneration will be payable as the nominee is a public sector employee.
Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009
Last updated: 22 July, 2009
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