Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 13 September 2011:

(1)   What was the total cost of allowances for government employees or contractors working at sea for the 2010-11 financial year.

(2)   What is the daily allowance for working at sea.

(3)   How many days in total were spent at sea in the 2010-11 financial year.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Resources and Energy has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Geoscience Australia

(1)   $77,563.78

Note: APS only

(2)   Marine Survey allowance of $15.81 per day (paid after an employee's first 24 hour period at sea).

Extra Duty Field Allowance is not paid as a daily allowance and is applicable to all field work regardless of location. It is calculated based on the number of hours worked outside normal working hours and is capped (per field trip) at 27.5 hours for employees at APS levels 1-6, and 12.5 hours for those at Executive Level 1-2.

For APS levels 1-6, this allowance is paid at 1.6 times the employee's ordinary hourly rate of pay. For employees at Executive Level 1-2, this allowance is paid at 1.6 times the hourly rate of the maximum Pay Point of an APS6 Salary.

Vessel Based Shift Provision is not paid as a daily allowance. To be eligible for this provision, all or part of a shift must have been worked at sea. The whole shift is then subject to a 15% penalty rate payment.

(3)   299.