9.1.1 Purpose
9.1.2 Most
economical means of travel
9.1.3 Air
as the most economical means of travel
9.1.3A Member
choice – what the Commonwealth will pay
9.1.4 Normal
departmental liability
9.1.5 Cost
of air travel for working out normal departmental liability
9.1.6 Class
of travel
9.1.7 Baggage
entitlement – general
9.1.8 Extra
baggage
9.1.9 Door-to-door
travel
9.1.10 Travel
costs not otherwise payable under this Chapter
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This Part describes a member's basic entitlements for these aspects of their travel at Commonwealth expense. |
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a. |
The means of their travel. |
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b. |
The class of their travel. |
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c. |
What the Commonwealth will pay for. |
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d. |
What baggage they can take with them. |
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1. |
The member is entitled to travel by the most economical means of public transport available to the Commonwealth. |
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2. |
The CDF will determine the most economical means of travel after considering all these criteria. |
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a. |
The availability of various means of travel. Examples: Coach, rail or air travel or rental vehicles. |
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b. |
The fares and allowances for the member and any dependants. |
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c. |
The estimated value of the member’s salary and salary-related allowances for the travel time. |
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3. |
This value is worked out in this way. Fortnightly salary + allowances 80 where 80 is the number of hours worked in a fortnight (8 hours a day x 10 days). This formula applies whether travel occurs in or out of working hours. Example: A member has to travel between Perth and Alice Springs. To fly would cost an airfare and several hours' salary and allowances. Rail would cost two fares and several days' salary and allowances. Once the total costs are compared air is shown to be the most economical means of public transport. Non-example: A member has to travel between Darwin and Alice Springs. Rail, coach and air are all available options. However, no comparison needs to be made as clause 9.1.3 provides that air is to be used. |
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4. |
Defence will not provide coach travel for individual members or dependants if air or rail travel is available. However, the CDF could grant a member's request to travel by coach if both these conditions are met. |
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a. |
The cost is the same or less. |
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b. |
The time taken would not involve extra travelling leave. |
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5. |
If the travel is leave travel, salary and salary-related allowances means all salary and allowances payable for recreation leave. These allowances are not included. |
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a. |
Rent allowance. |
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b. |
Hardship allowance. |
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c. |
Overseas living allowance. |
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See: Chapter 5 Part 2, Recreation leave. Chapter 9 Part 4, Leave travel |
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Persons who can make the decisions under subclause 9.1.2.2 and subclause 9.1.2.4 on behalf of the CDF: Supervisor
not below WO2(E)/APS 4, in the member's direct chain
of command or supervision. Director/Commanding
Officer not below MAJ(E)/APS 6 in the member's
direct chain of command or supervision. Commanding
Officer (no rank limitation) – Navy |
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1. |
Air travel is the most economical means for any of these journeys. |
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a. |
To or from Darwin (except RAAF Base Tindal to or from Darwin). |
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b. |
To or from Tasmania. |
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c. |
Between a remote location and the nearest capital city. Note: The list of remote locations can be found at Annex 4.4.A. |
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d. |
To or from Canberra when travelling on temporary duty. Exception: Travel between Canberra and Nowra or Jervis Bay. For these trips, self-drive hire car is the most economical means of travel. This is because there is no economical air or rail service. |
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e. |
Between a place in an external territory and a place in Australia. |
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f. |
If surface transport would involve an overnight journey and dependants include either of the following. |
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i. |
A child under three years old. |
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ii. |
Two children under seven years old. |
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g. |
If surface transport would involve a journey of at least two nights and dependants include either of the following. |
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i. |
A child under seven years old. |
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ii. |
Two children under 10 years old. |
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2. |
The CDF may decide that air travel is the most economical means of travel if any of these criteria are met. |
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a. |
The difference in the cost of travel is small and there is a saving in travelling time. |
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b. |
Air travel is justified given the official duties and expenses of the member travelling. |
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c. |
Medical or compassionate reasons mean that travel by surface transport would be inefficient. |
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Persons who can make the decisions under subclause 9.1.3.2 on behalf of the CDF: Supervisor
not below WO2(E)/APS 4, in the member's direct chain
of command or supervision. Director/Commanding
Officer not below MAJ(E)/APS 6 in the member's
direct chain of command or supervision. Commanding
Officer (no rank limitation) – Navy |
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If a member is approved to travel by their own means, the Commonwealth will pay the lesser of these amounts. |
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a. |
The normal departmental liability. |
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b. |
The actual cost of the travel. |
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1. |
Normal departmental liability is what the Commonwealth would pay for a journey made by a member and any dependants authorised to travel to a place at Commonwealth expense. It includes these costs. |
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a. |
The cost of travel to the place by the most economical means. |
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b. |
The costs of travel to and from the relevant airports, railway stations and coach terminals. |
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c. |
Any taxes or levies on the travel. |
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Normal departmental liability does not include goods and services tax (GST) on the fare. |
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2. |
This table shows what happens when a member travels by means that are not the most economical means. |
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Item |
If the member travels by means that are… |
then the Commonwealth will pay… |
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1. |
cheaper than the most economical means |
only the actual cost of their journey. |
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2. |
more expensive than the most economical means |
up to the amount of the normal departmental liability. |
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3. |
A member may travel as a passenger in a private vehicle or non-commercial aircraft when they are entitled to travel at Commonwealth expense. In this case, they are entitled only to meal and travel allowance up to what the Commonwealth would have paid for a journey by the most economical means. Note: The passenger may be travelling in a private vehicle belonging to another member. In this case, the member may have the rate of vehicle allowance increased for the distance they carry the passenger. See: Part 6, Vehicle allowance |
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4. |
A member who travels on personal frequent flyer points will not be reimbursed the cost of their fare. |
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5. |
The Commonwealth will not pay any amount based on normal departmental liability for a child under two years old who is transported by private vehicle. |
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6. |
A member might choose to travel by a less direct route than the most direct route available. In this case, they must pay any excess costs to the Collector of Public Moneys in the Department of Defence. |
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7. |
The following conditions apply to travel documents. See: Clause 9.0.3, Definitions. |
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a. |
The Commonwealth may give a travel document to a specific person and permit them to use it for travel. |
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b. |
If a travel document is used by a person who has not
been permitted to use it under p |
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c. |
The Commonwealth may seek to recover the cost of any
travel taken without its permission under p |
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8. |
The Commonwealth will not pay for an escort that a carrier requires to accompany a member's child. This a matter for the member to pay. |
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1. |
The cost of air travel for working out normal departmental liability is the fare that meets both these conditions. |
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a. |
It is the fare quoted in the domestic fare matrix ('NDL column') issued to the Department of Defence by Qantas. |
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b. |
It is at the class of travel that the member and any dependants are entitled to for the journey. |
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Note: NDL means normal departmental liability. See: Clause 9.1.4. |
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2. |
For a child under two years old, a normal departmental liability will not apply unless the child is required to occupy an individual airline seat. |
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1. |
A member and their dependants may be provided with travel at the class listed in the table for the member's rank, duties and flight when travelling by air. |
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Item |
A member who is... |
and is travelling... |
is entitled to travel by… |
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1. |
Brigadier or higher |
a. on a Canberra–Sydney flight when they are accompanying a dignitary |
business class. |
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b. on a Canberra–Sydney flight when the flight is part of a continuous longer flight |
business class. |
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c. on another Canberra–Sydney flight |
economy class. |
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d. on another domestic flight |
business class. |
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2. |
any of the following: a. Warrant Officer of the Navy b. Regimental Sergeant Major Army c. Warrant Officer of the Air Force |
a. on a Canberra–Sydney flight when travelling on Defence business and accompanying a dignitary |
business class. |
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b. on a Canberra–Sydney flight when travelling on Defence business and the flight is part of a continuous longer flight |
business class. |
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c. on another Canberra–Sydney flight when travelling on Defence business |
economy class. |
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d. on another domestic flight when travelling on Defence business |
business class. |
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e. on any other domestic flight Example:
A member travels from |
economy class. |
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3. |
Colonel or lower |
on a domestic flight |
economy class. |
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4. |
staff officer required to travel with 3 star or higher on journey |
on a domestic flight |
business class. |
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5. |
a Victoria Cross for Australia recipient travelling for representational duties |
on a domestic flight |
business class. |
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6. |
an escort for a Victoria Cross for Australia recipient travelling for representational duties |
on a domestic flight |
business class. |
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See: Chapter 9 Part 3 Division 9, Travel for representational purposes |
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1A. |
A member and their dependants may be provided with
travel at the class listed in the table for the member's rank, duties and
flight when travelling by coach or rail. |
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Item |
A member who is entitled to travel by… |
and who holds the rank or duties of... |
is entitled to travel by… |
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1. |
coach |
any rank |
highest class available. |
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2. |
rail |
any rank |
first class. Note:
There is entitlement to a sleeping berth if travel extends over a major
portion of the night or beyond |
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2. |
A member who travels at a lower class than one listed in the table above is not entitled to any difference in cost between the fares. |
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3. |
A dependant of the member who is entitled to travel at Commonwealth expense is entitled to travel by the same means and at the same class as the member. This is unless another rule provides differently. |
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1. |
A member travelling by the most economical means may take baggage up to a maximum weight. This table shows the baggage limits. |
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Item |
If a member travels on… |
and their rank is… |
then their maximum baggage entitlement is… |
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1. |
temporary duty of less than 6 weeks |
any rank |
78 kg. |
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2. |
a. temporary duty of more than 6 weeks, or b. posting, or c. ceasing continuous full-time service |
officer or warrant officer |
260 kg. |
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any other rank |
156 kg. |
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2. |
The maximum entitlement includes the baggage the carrier lets the member take on board as part of the fare. |
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3. |
A carrier may carry only part of a baggage entitlement free of charge. In this case, the CDF may determine how the rest of the baggage is sent. The CDF may approve one these methods. |
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a. |
Sending the remaining baggage by the most economical of these two means. |
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i. |
With the member’s furniture and effects. |
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ii. |
As unaccompanied baggage at Commonwealth expense. |
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b. |
Allowing the member to carry it as excess accompanied baggage at Commonwealth expense. The CDF must consider whether the member needs access to the baggage during the journey or immediately after it. |
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4. |
If the member chooses to travel by means that are not the most economical, the overall baggage limits in the table above will apply. The Commonwealth will pay no more for baggage than it would have paid for the most economical means and class of travel. The cost of any approved excess baggage will be included in working out the cost of travel by the most economical means. |
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5. |
The Commonwealth will not pay the cost of insuring the member’s baggage. Note: If baggage is included with furniture and effects, the insurance that relates to removals applies. See Chapter 6 Part 6, Removals and storage |
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6. |
If a member's adult dependant is also a member, the family unit has only one entitlement each time they are posted. |
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Persons who can make the decisions under subclause 9.1.7.3 on behalf of the CDF: Supervisor
not below WO2(E)/APS 4, in the member's direct chain
of command or supervision. Director/Commanding
Officer not below MAJ(E)/APS 6 in the member's
direct chain of command or supervision. Commanding
Officer (no rank limitation) – Navy |
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1. |
Extra baggage may be taken on removal and posting journeys as set out in this Chapter at: |
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a. |
Chapter 9 Part 2 Division 2, Travel on temporary duty. |
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b. |
Chapter 9 Part 2 Division 4, Travel on posting. |
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2. |
The Commonwealth will pay for transport of Service property or documents the member is required to carry during travel. |
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3. |
Baggage does not include a member’s or dependant’s pets. See: Chapter 6 Part 1 Division 4 for details of assistance with costs of pet relocation. |
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Travel on leave, temporary duty or posting is door-to-door and includes the reasonable cost of transport to and from airports, railway stations and coach terminals. |
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1. |
The CDF may approve payment of the reasonable costs of travel and related expenses, of the kind provided for in Parts 1 to 4 of this Chapter, for a person in any of these classes who would not otherwise be eligible for those benefits. |
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a. |
A member, including a member of the Reserves and a former member. |
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b. |
A cadet. |
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c. |
An applicant for appointment or engagement as a member, in respect of attendance at an enlistment centre or attendance for interview or examination. |
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d. |
A family member of a member or cadet. |
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2. |
For subclause 1, the CDF must consider these matters. |
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a. |
Any relevant Chief Executive Instructions made under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. |
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b. |
Any other relevant matter. |
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Persons who can make the decision under clause 9.1.10 on behalf of the CDF: Assistant Director Entitlements Director Entitlements |