In 2012 new arrangements regarding the remuneration of Commonwealth departmental secretaries came into effect. This paper sets out the new system and notes the previous arrangements.

Conclusion

The 2011 amendments to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 changed longstanding arrangements for the setting of secretaries’ remuneration and other conditions of employment. Under the amendments the Remuneration Tribunal and the Secretary of DPMC have joint responsibility for determining secretaries’ remuneration, and the Tribunal also determines a classification structure for secretaries and other conditions of employment. The Tribunal has taken the opportunity to recast the classification of secretaries for remuneration purposes and to significantly increase secretaries’ remuneration profile.