Division 4: Travel on posting

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 143.

9.2.15   Purpose
9.2.16   Rail as the most economical means of travel
9.2.17   Air as the most economical means of travel
9.2.18   Coach as the most economical means of travel
9.2.19   Reimbursement of personal expenditure on travel
9.2.20   Members travelling without dependants
9.2.21   Delayed or interrupted posting travel
9.2.22   If a member's adult dependant is also a member
9.2.23   Cost limits on travel on posting and removal to certain destinations

9.2.15   Purpose

 

This Division sets out a member's entitlements to travel, baggage and accommodation expenses on their removal on posting.

9.2.16   Rail as the most economical means of travel

 

This table sets out entitlements and conditions when a member travels on posting and rail is the most economical means of travel.

Note: These entitlements are in addition to the basic entitlement in Part 1 of this Chapter.

 

Item

If the member…

then

1.

travels by rail as the most economical means

a.  they are expected to transfer baggage with their furniture and effects. If the baggage is carried by rail, the restrictions in clause 9.1.7 apply.

b.  they will be reimbursed reasonable costs for their and any dependants’ accommodation or meals.

     Note: This is how reimbursement is worked out.

          i.    For meals at the accommodation where they are staying temporarily, reimbursement is limited to the normal charge for standard meals.

        ii.    For meals bought somewhere else, reimbursement will be for the lesser of these two costs: the actual cost or the rate set out for temporary accommodation allowance.
See: Chapter 7 Part 4 for these rates.

c.  they will not be reimbursed costs of accommodation or meal costs on top of any travelling allowance they may be paid.

2.

chooses to travel by air rather than rail

a.  air travel may be approved for all or part of the journey.

b.  approval will not be given until the member has paid any additional cost of travelling by air rather than by rail.

c.  they must pay any excess baggage costs.

3.

chooses to travel by private vehicle rather than rail

a.  they and their dependants may be authorised to travel.

b.  they may be entitled to vehicle allowance up to the cost of first class rail travel. Their rank does not matter.

c.  in working out the cost of rail travel, any cost of sleeping berth accommodation is added to the cost. This is if it is available and not included in the fare.

d.  travelling time will be as if the journey was by rail. If it is on a working day, any excess travelling time should be taken as leave.

9.2.17   Air as the most economical means of travel

 

This table sets out entitlements and conditions when a member travels on posting and air is the most economical means of travel.

Note: These entitlements are in addition to the basic entitlement in Part 1 of this Chapter.

 

Item

If the member…

then

1.

travels by air as the most economical means

a.  when they travel with their dependants, their baggage entitlement is increased by:
i.   one piece for each adult dependant, and
ii.  up to two pieces for children.

Note: This additional entitlement should be used to transport cutlery, linen, curtains and similar items. The aim is to help the family take up Service accommodation as soon as possible.

b.  when they travel without dependants, they may take this additional excess baggage.

i.   Up to three pieces for these journeys: to or from Darwin; between a remote location and the nearest capital city; and between a place in an external territory and a place in Australia.

ii.  One piece of baggage to other places.

c.  they will be reimbursed reasonable costs for their own and any dependants’ accommodation or meals.

2.

chooses to travel by private vehicle rather than air

a.  they and their dependants may be authorised to travel.

b.  they may be entitled to vehicle allowance up to the cost of air travel.

c.  travelling time will be worked out using the definition of allowable travelling time in clause 9.6.7. If it is on a working day, any excess travelling time should be taken as leave.

9.2.18   Coach as the most economical means of travel

 

This table sets out entitlements and conditions when a member travels on posting and coach is the most economical means of travel.

Note 1: Coach travel will not usually be the most economical means.

See: Part 1 subclause 9.1.2.4, Most economical means of travel.

Note 2: These entitlements are in addition to the basic entitlement in Part 1 of this Chapter.

 

Item

If the member…

then

1.

travels by coach as the most economical means

a.  they may be entitled to travelling allowance and meal allowance.

b.  they will be reimbursed reasonable costs for their and any dependants’ accommodation or meals.

c.  they must pay any excess baggage costs.

2.

chooses to travel by private vehicle rather than coach

a.  they and their dependants may be authorised to travel.

b.  they may be entitled to vehicle allowance up to the cost of coach travel.

c.  travelling time will be as if the journey was by coach. If it is on a working day, any excess travelling time should be taken as leave.

9.2.19   Reimbursement of personal expenditure on travel

 

A member eligible for travel at Commonwealth expense may travel at their own expense. If they do, they will be reimbursed their actual travel costs, but only up to the limit of the amount that the Commonwealth would have paid for the journey.

9.2.20   Members travelling without dependants

 

A member who has dependants but travels on posting without them has the same entitlements as a member on temporary duty.

See: Division 2, Travel on temporary duty.

9.2.21   Delayed or interrupted posting travel

 

Travel on posting may be delayed because the road is cut. In this case, the CDF may authorise payment of additional allowances and reimbursements for meals and accommodation.

Example: A flood or landslide.

 

Persons who can make the decision under clause 9.2.21 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

9.2.22   If a member's adult dependant is also a member

 

If a member’s spouse or interdependent partner is also a member, the family unit has only one entitlement on each occasion of a posting.

9.2.23   Cost limits on travel on posting and removal to certain destinations

1.

Commonwealth assistance may be limited when a member travels on removal to either of the following destinations.

 

a.

A seagoing ship or a Navy aircraft squadron.

 

 

b.

A personal location for which removal benefits were provided.

 

1A.

If removal costs are limited, then related travel costs are limited in the same way.

See:

Chapter 6 Part 6 Division 4, Postings or deployments, for removal to a seagoing ship or a Navy aircraft squadron

Chapter 6 Part 6 Division 3, Removal to a personal location where benefits are provided

 

2.

The removal and travel costs will be combined in assessing any excess costs.

3.

The member must pay for any excess costs.

 

PACMAN                                                         AL5 (March 2011)                               Chapter 9 – Part 2 Division 4 – 1