Trade Commissioners Regulations (Amendment) (Cth)
REGULATION UNDER THE TRADE COMMISSIONERS ACT 1933-1973.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of Australia, acting with the advice of the
Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the
Dated this fifteenth day of October, 1974.
JOHN R. KERR
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
LIONEL BOWEN
Special Minister of State for and on behalf of the
Minister of State for Overseas Trade.
Amendment of the Trade Commissioners Regulations
The Trade Commissioners Regulations are amended by adding at the end thereof the following regulation and Schedule:—
“ 23. In addition to the allowances, costs, expenses and other
amounts to which a Commissioner is entitled or which may be paid to him in
pursuance of the preceding provisions of these Regulations, the allowances,
costs, expenses, fares and other amounts described in the Schedules of
Determinations made by the Governor-General under the
“ SCHEDULE Regulation 23.
Schedules of Determinations made by the Governor-General under the
Trade Commissioners Act 1933 or that Act as amended and in force at the relevant time
Schedule 2
Higher Duties Allowance
1. Where a Commissioner is absent from duty or from his territory and approval is given by the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister, for his duties to be performed by a Commissioner of a lower classification, the Acting Commissioner shall be paid higher
* Notified in the
Statutory Rules 1958, No. 52, as
amended by Statutory Rules 1958, No. 74; 1959
Schedule
duties allowance to increase his salary to the appropriate rate within the next higher salary range.
2. The abovementioned allowance shall be deemed to be salary for the purpose of assessment of the rate of payment of living allowance, travelling allowance, rent allowance or the rate of rent deduction,where applicable.
Schedule 3
Assistance with Living Expenses in Australia
1. Where the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister is satisfied that a married Commissioner in Australia isunable to occupy a suitable unfurnished residence at his headquarters, he may be paid an allowance of:—
(a) the amount by which the amount that he is required to pay for rent of a furnished residence exceeds theappropriate rent prescribed in Table A to this Schedule; or
(b) the amount by which the amount that he is required to pay for accommodation and means for himself and family exceeds theappropriate sum specified in Table B to this Schedule for rent and food or one half of the cost of the tariff charged for accommodation and food, whichever is the less; or, where it isshown the allowance payable under this paragraph causes hardship the amount of an allowance at such rate as the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister approves.
2. An unmarried Commissioner who occupies temporary boarding accommodation at his new place of headquarters may be paid a ‘ settling in ’ allowance equal to the different between the cost of temporary boarding accommodation and the appropriate contribution shown in the Table to this. Schedule; provided that:—
(a) the allowance may not continue for longer than twenty-one days unless otherwise determined by the Minister in the light of exceptional circumstances; and
(b) the cost of the temporary boarding accommodation is considered appropriate under the circumstances.
Rent ($A per week) | ||
Actual Salary ($A per annum) | Married | Single |
Under 3,001 | 12.00 | 7.00 |
3,001-3,500......................................................................................... | 12.50 | 7.30 |
3,501-4,000......................................................................................... | 12.90 | 7.60 |
4,001-4,500......................................................................................... | 13.40 | 7.90 |
4,501-5,000......................................................................................... | 13.90 | 8.20 |
5,001-5,500......................................................................................... | 14.40 | 8.50 |
5,501-6,000......................................................................................... | 14.80 | 8.80 |
6,001-6,500......................................................................................... | 15.30 | 9.10 |
6,501-7,000......................................................................................... | 15.80 | 9.40 |
7,001-7,500......................................................................................... | 16.20 | 9.70 |
7,501-8,000......................................................................................... | 16.70 | 10.00 |
8,001-8,500......................................................................................... | 17.20 | 10.30 |
8,501-9,000......................................................................................... | 17.70 | 10.60 |
9,001-9,500......................................................................................... | 18.10 | 10.90 |
9,501-10,000....................................................................................... | 18.60 | 11.20 |
10,001-10,500...................................................................................... | 19.10 | 11.50 |
10,501-11,000...................................................................................... | 19.50 | 11.80 |
11,001-11,500...................................................................................... | 20.00 | 12.10 |
11,501-12,000...................................................................................... | 20.50 | 12.40 |
12,001-12,500...................................................................................... | 21.00 | 12.70 |
12,501-13,000...................................................................................... | 21.50 | 13.00 |
13,001-13,500...................................................................................... | 22.00 | 13.30 |
13,501-14,000...................................................................................... | 22.50 | 13.60 |
14,001-14,500...................................................................................... | 23.00 | 13.90 |
14,501-15,000...................................................................................... | 23.50 | 14.20 |
15,001-15,500...................................................................................... | 24.00 | 14.50 |
15,501-16,000...................................................................................... | 24.50 | 14.80 |
16,001-16,500...................................................................................... | 25.00 | 15.10 |
16,501-17,000...................................................................................... | 25.50 | 15.40 |
Over 17,000.......................................................................................... | 26.00 | 15.70 |
Schedule
Actual Salary ($A per annum) (a) | Single Officer | Board and Lodging ($A per week) (b) | ||||
Officer and wife | Officer wife and 1 child | Officer wife and 2 children | Officer wife and 3 children | Officer wife and 4 children | ||
3,401-3,600............ | 18.00 | 29.65 | 32.50 | 34.90 | 37.30 | 39.70 |
3,601-3,800............ | 18.50 | 30.50 | 33.50 | 36.00 | 38.50 | 41.00 |
3,801-4,000............ | 19.00 | 31.35 | 34.50 | 37.10 | 39.70 | 42.30 |
4,001-4,400............ | 19.50 | 32.90 | 36.20 | 38.90 | 41.60 | 44.30 |
4,401-4,800............ | 20.00 | 34.45 | 37.90 | 40.70 | 43.50 | 46.30 |
4,801-5,200............ | 20.50 | 36.00 | 39.60 | 42.50 | 45.40 | 48.30 |
5,201-5,600............ | 21.00 | 37.55 | 41.30 | 44.30 | 47.30 | 50.30 |
5,601-6,000............ | 21.50 | 39.10 | 43.00 | 46.10 | 49.20 | 52.30 |
6,001-6,400............ | 22.00 | 40.65 | 44.70 | 47.90 | 51.10 | 54.30 |
6,401-6,800............ | 22.50 | 42.20 | 46.40 | 49.70 | 53.00 | 56.30 |
6,801-7,200............ | 23.00 | 43.75 | 48.10 | 51.50 | 54.90 | 58.30 |
7,201-7,600............ | 23.50 | 45.30 | 49.80 | 53.30 | 56.80 | 60.30 |
7,601-8,000............ | 24.00 | 46.85 | 51.50 | 55.10 | 58.70 | 62.30 |
8,001-8,400............ | 24.50 | 48.40 | 53.20 | 56.90 | 60.60 | 64.30 |
Over 8,400............. | 25.00 | 49.95 | 54.90 | 58.70 | 62.50 | 66.30 |
Schedule 4
Assistance with Transit Expenses in Australia
1. Where a Commissioner in Australia has vacated his residence prior to embarking for overseas and is required to stay overnight at a hotel, he shall be paid Travelling Allowance as prescribed in Regulation 6 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations.
2. In addition, payment of hotel expenses for accommodation and meals of his wife and family may be approved by the Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister.
3. Where a Commissioner is required to stay more than one night at an hotel he may be paid an allowance equal to the amount by which the amount that he is required to pay for accommodation and meals for himself and his family exceeds the appropriate sum specified in the Table in Schedule 3 for board and lodging or one half of the cost of the tariff charged for accommodation and food, whichever is the less; or where it is shown the allowance payable under this paragraph causes hardship an allowance at such rate as the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister approves.
4. The allowance specified above may also be paid when a Commissioner returns to Australia and is in transit prior to arrival at his headquarters.
Schedule 7a
Outlay Allowance
1.Outlay Allowance is paid to Commissioners to assist them in meeting establishment costs associated with long-term duty overseas.
2. A Commissioner proceeding on long-term duty may make a single election before his departure to receive one of the rates of outlay allowance set out below:—
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(a) The options shown for a married Commissioner apply only where the Commissioner is accompanied by his wife at Commonwealth expense; and
(b) The options shown for a single Commissioner are applicable in all other cases.
(a) Includes Higher Duties Allowance.
(b) The scale rate for a family with more than four children is to be assessed by the addition of the difference between the scale rates for three and four children for each additional child.
Schedule—
3. The amount received by the Commissioner as Outlay Allowance is to be repaid to the Commonwealth in full, by means of equal fortnightly deductions from emoluments (salary, local allowance etc.) payable to the Commissioner during the first twelve months of his posting. Should a Commissioner’s posting terminate for any reason prior to full repayment of the allowance, appropriate arrangements are to be made to acquit any unrepaid portion of the allowance within a maximum period of 12 months from commencement of posting.
4. Where a Commissioner who is overseas on a long-term posting is transferred, to meet departmental requirements, to a post in another overseas country in expectation of a further posting of at least 12 months, the Commissioner may elect to receive a further Outlay Allowance. The maximum amount of outlay allowance a Commissioner may elect to receive in respect of his cross posting shall be the relevant maximum amount shown in paragraph 2 above less the amount he still has to repay in respect of his first posting. The total amount received as Outlay Allowance inrespect of both first and second postings must be repaid in full by the completion of the first 12 months of the second posting.
5. Outlay Allowance may be paid to a Commissioner when the formalities associated with the Commissioner’s movement have been substantially completed. The Commissioner may elect to receive payment of the Outlay Allowance on the following basis:—
(a) full payment before departure for the post, or
(b) full payment on arrival at the post, or
(c) part-payment before departure and balance immediately on arrival at post.
6. Where an amount is paid to a Commissioner in anticipation of movement from Australia or from a post which does not then eventuate it will be necessary for the Commissioner to repay the amount in full to the Commonwealth.
7. Any Commissioner who received Outlay Allowance under the conditions which existed immediately prior to the introduction on 22 May 1973 of the provisions in paragraphs 1 to 6 above shall continue to receive Living Allowance at the Category (a) or (a1) or (a2) or (a3) rate as shown in Schedule7. Payment of the appropriate category (b) rate of Local Allowance will commence on the first anniversary of the date upon which payment of category (a) or (a1) or (a2) or (a3) rate commenced.
8. Commissioners who receive Outlay Allowance in terms of paragraphs 1-6 above shall receive Living Allowance at the category (b) rate as specified in Schedule 7 from the day of arrival at the post if no period is spent on settling-in conditions immediately on arrival, or on the day from which settling-in conditions cease if a period is spent on settling-in conditions immediately on arrival at post.
Schedule 9
Special Child Allowance
Where a Commissioner is stationed at any overseas post in pursuance of a direction to perform duty at that post for a period of not less than 18 months, and the Commissioner chooses to educate his children in Australia, a Special Child Allowance is payable in respect of each child so involved subject to the conditions outlined in this Schedule. This eligibility is also extended to a Commissioner stationed at an overseas post other than Britain who chooses to educate his children in Britain.
1. Unless the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister otherwise determines:
(i) Special Child Allowance is payable in the case of a child who:—
(a) has attained the age of 9 years but has not attained the age of 20 years (except where paragraph 4. (iii) (c) applies);
(b) is in Australia or Britain or is being sent to Australia or Britain for the purpose of undergoing full-time education at a primary or secondary school or college.
(ii) Special Child Allowance is not payable:—
(a) in the case of a child whose parents are divorced or separated unless the Commissioner has custody of the child and the child forms part of the Commissioner’s domestic establishment.
2. Unless the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister otherwise determines the rate of Special Child Allowance payable is dependent on the living conditions of the child in Australia or Britain.
(i)
Category A: Where a child attends boarding school the allowance payable isthe cost of basic tuition and boarding fees, entrance fees, laundry, sport and other compulsory charges subject to a maximum payment of $A1,590 per school year. Payment will be made against accounts or receipts for costs involved. In the case of payments against accounts, receipts are to be sighted subsequently by the officer certifying the claim.Schedule—
continued (ii)
Category B: Where a child attends day school, an allowance at the rate of $A780 per annum is payable. Payments will be made in equal fortnightly amounts where possible.(iii)
Category C: Where a child attends boarding school and upon the return to Australia of the Officer or his wife continues at that school as a day student in accordance with the rules in paragraphs 11-15, the allowance payable is the actual cost of all compulsory charges levied, by the school for normal day tuition. Payment will be made as for Category A.
3. Where the eligibility for payment of Special Child Allowance at either rate is established for part of an academic year the maximum payment of the allowance is to be proportionate to that part of the academic year.
4. Unless the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister
otherwise determines Special Child Allowance is payable
(i)
In respect of a child attending boarding school: the beginning of the school term during which the Commissioner proceeds overseas; or(ii)
In respect of a child attending day school: the date of departure of the parents; or(iii) The date the child arrives in Australia or Britain;
to: —
A.
(a) Payment of Special Child Allowance may continue for up to two years beyond the end of the year in which the officer returns to Australia;
(b) Payment may continue only in respect of children undergoing secondary education at the time of the officer’s return to Australia;
(c) Application is limited to children at school in Australia. Extension does not apply to children being educated under Special Child Allowance in Britain;
(d) To be eligible for extended payments a child must have been attending the school for a minimum of three terms prior to the officer’s return, or in the case of a child in the first year of secondary education, from the beginning of the school year;
(e) Where the child is at school away from the centre where the officer undertakes his home posting Category A (boarding school) rates may continue to be paid for the duration of the extension. Category B (day school) rate only may continue where this is already being paid;
(f) Where the child is at school in the centre to which the officer returns for his home posting Category A rates ofallowance may continue to be paid up to the end of the term in which the officer returns, and a rate to be determined based on private day school costs thereafter.
B.
(a) Payment of Special Child Allowance may continue until the end of the school year in which the officer or his wife returns to Australia, or if the child is in the second last year of secondary school until the end of the year following the year of return to Australia.
(b) Provisions (b) to (f) above will also apply to overseas serving officers in respect of the extension for a child in his second last year of secondary school.
C.
The end of the academic year in which the child attains the age of 20 years, whichever is the earlier.
5. The following criteria will be applied in determining whether as overseas serving officer is an ‘Officer of the Overseas Service’:—
(a) A substantial period in a service where overseas postings form a regular, normal and significant part of the pattern of careers of officers in that service;
(b.) Has undertaken at least two overseas postings;
(c) Is eligible for a further posting within three years;
(d) Is accepted by the Permanent Head as being suitable for further overseas service;
(e) The Department intends to repost the officer within three years; and
(f) Is not excluded by reason of the factors listed in paragraph 6 (a)-(d) below.
Schedule
—continued
6. Officers who are appointed as Trade Commissioners to filla specialist position for a single term e.g. Trade Commissioner (Minerals) Tokyo, will not be regarded as Officers of the Overseas Service. Other exceptions will be Trade Commissioners who:—
(a) Have expressed a wish to have a home posting of three or more years, or who do not intend to accept another overseas posting within three years;
(b) Are appointed to positions in Australia the occupancy of which normally entails a minimum period of three years;
(c) The Permanent Head has decided will not be eligible for further overseas posting within at least the next three years; or
(d) Have been posted home for personal or family medical reasons, unless medical opinion states that they will be at for further posting within three years.
7. Eligibility for continued payment of Special Child Allowance may cease:—
(a) on promotion or transfer outside the ‘Overseas Service’; or
(b) where an Officer of the Overseas Service declines more than one posting.
In the above cases the Department will examine the officer’s eligibility for continuation of extended Special Child Allowance.
8. Fees paid prior to the school term in which the officer is posted are ineligible for reimbursement.
9. When a child attending boarding school leaves the boarding school during an academic year the Commissioner will be required to refund either:—
(i) The excess allowance paid from the proportional entitlement for that part of the academic year during which the child attended boarding school; or
(ii) Such lesser amount as the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister determines.
10. When a child attending day school spends more than twelve (12) weeks in any calendar year outside Australia or Britain whichever is the country in which school is attended, the rate payable during such period, will be as determined by the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister.
11. Where it is necessary for a child in respect of whom Special Child Allowance is payable to travel from an overseas post to Australia or Britain for the purpose, of commencing his attendance at school, the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister may authorise to the Commissioner the whole or part of the fare payable in respect of the child’s journey.
12. When achild, in respect of whom allowances are payable under this Schedule, obtains a Commonwealth secondary or technical scholarship, the following provisions shall apply:—
(a)
Living Allowance portion of Scholarship. No adjustment to the amount of allowance payable under this Schedule is to be made on account of the amount of living allowance received under the scholarship;(b)
Textbook and Equipment Allowance portion of Scholarship. In respect of one half of this allowance no adjustment will be made to the amount of allowance payable under this Schedule, in respect of the balance the provisions of sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) below apply;(c)
Fees Allowance portion of Scholarship. An officer is not entitled to receive reimbursement under the provisions of both the scholarship and this Schedule in respect of the same expenses; and(d) When claiming payment under the provisions of this Schedule, an Officer is required to inform the Department whether or not his child holds a Commonwealth scholarship, and to provide details of any claim for reimbursement which has been made under such scholarship.
SCHEDULE—
Schedule 10
Overseas Rent Deductions
1. Where a Commissioner occupies at a post a residence owned or leased by the Commonwealth, there shall be deducted from the Commissioner’s salary a contribution for rent in accordance with the Table in Schedule 3.
2. In U.S.A. and Canada, if the rent payable by the Commonwealth includes cost of heating and other services, an amount shall be added to the Commissioner’s rate of deduction as shown in the Table in Schedule 11, paragraph (g).
Schedule 14
Allowance for use of Private Car on Official Business
A—Overseas;
1. Where local conditions necessitate the use by a Commissioner of his private car for official purposes, there shall be payable a car allowance in accordance with the rates specified in the Table in this Schedule.
2.Payment of car allowance will be subject to certification by the Trade Commissioner that:—
(a) An official car is not available; and
(b) The business undertaken is official.
3. In Singapore and Tokyo, a Commissioner may be paid mileage allowance at the rate shown in the Table in this Schedule for use of his private car between home and office.
4. U.S.A. and Canada—Subject to the approval of the Officer in Charge of the Post a Trade Commissioner may use his private car to travel on duty. Approval to use a private vehicle for official purposes outside a radius of 50 miles from headquarters should only be granted in special circumstances.
5. The Head of Mission in Singapore or his delegate may authorise the reimbursement to a Commissioner of parking fees, to a limit of $84.00 per day, for an officer’s private car in the Chancery building, where official transport to and from work is not available, subject to officers sharing use of any such car if necessary to the maximum reasonable extent.
6. Commissioners in Thailand using their own motor vehicles to and from work may be reimbursed actual expenditure on parking fees up to a maximum of Baht 100 per month.
B—Australia:
1. The Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister, may grant permission for a Commissioner to use his private car in lieu of normal transport when travelling on official duty within Australia.
2. An allowance may be paid at the rate of:—
12.1 cents per mile for cars with an engine of 8 cylinders; or
8.9 cents per mile for cars with an engine of 6 cylinders; or
8.3 cents per mile for cars with an engine of 4 cylinders;
provided that such allowance does not exceed the cost of normal transport for the journey.
3. Any excess travelling time involved will be the responsibility of the Commissioner.
4. Where a Commissioner, with prior approval, transports in his private car:—
(a) a person or persons; or
(b) materials weighing not less than 2 cwt; or
(c) hauls a trailer or caravan,
the cost of which transport would have normally been paid by the Commonwealth, he may be paid an additional 1cent per mile provided the total cost does not exceed the cost of normal transport for the journey.
SCHEDULE—
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Schedule 15
Reimbursement of Education Costs
1. Eligibility for payment of child allowance will establish entitlement to payment of excess education costs in the country of posting provided the child is of an appropriate age and approval for such assistance appears in schedule 8 for the country of posting. Unless otherwise specified in schedule 8, approval for assistance in accordance with this schedule is established by the specification of at least one ‘approved school’ in Section 4. Special conditions apply at posts in Britain, Canada and the United States of America and these conditions are specified in paragraphs 8 to 10.
2. Provided an approved school is specified for the country of posting, payment in accordance with this schedule may be made in respect of a school, other than the approved school, provided the total payment does not exceed that which would have been made in respect of the approved school.
3. Excess fees incurred in respect of children aged 3 years or over for attendance at recognised kindergartens may be paid by the Commonwealth where the curricula are directed toward educational preparation for primary school. Establishments primarily of a child minding or play centre nature are not acceptable for payment purposes under this provision.
4. The Commonwealth will meet actual expenditure shown on accounts or receipts in respect to items listed in (a) below to the extent that the total of such costs per annum exceeds the relevant parental contribution specified in (b) below and to the extent that such costs are compulsory charges levied by the school for normal day tuition at secondary level or below:—
(a)
Tuition
Registration and entrance fees Government taxes
Heating
Book rental
Stationery fees
Sports fees
Cultural visits
Compulsory Accident insurance fees
Meals taken compulsory at school
Transport to and from school by compulsory school bus.
(i) Costs of transport by private vehicle may be included as indicated in sub-paragraph (b) below;
(ii) Costs of school uniforms and clothing may not be included;
(iii) Costs of special language lessons may be approved for inclusion in certain circumstances on submission of details to the Department.
SCHEDULE—
continued
(b)
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5. When a child leaves school during a term or school year, the officer or employee will be required to refund to the Commonwealth the refund due from the school in respect of the uncompleted portion of the term or year.
6.The period of application of the payment, formula is twelve monthly intervals after arrival at the post and the relevant amount of parental contribution is to be deducted on a pro-rata basis where claims cover periods of less than one school year.
7.
(i) Costs of compulsory school transport may be included for reimbursement purposes.
(ii) At posts in Arab Republic of Egypt, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon. Malaysia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and Yugoslavia, when a Commissioner provides or incurs the cost of school transport for his child (or children), an amount of $A50 p.a. per child may be added to other approved costs for the purposes of reimbursement subject to a limitation of $A50 p.a. in total where 2 or more children are carried simultaneously in the one car.
(iii) At the Hague, the actual costs of school bus transport or the actual cost of public transport that is used in lieu, provided that the amount in respect of public transport shall not exceedthe cost of the American School or the International Schools of The Hague School Bus Transport may be added to other approved costs for the purposes of reimbursement
(iv) At Trinidad, the actual costs of transport, up to a maximum, monthly total of $TT35 per family, may be accepted for reimbursement purposes.
(v) In Philippines, Santiago and Singapore the actual cost of School bus transport and in Tokyo, Japan the actual cost of School bus transport for the American School, St Mary’s International School and the Sacred Heart International School, may be accepted for reimbursement purposes.
(vi) Costs inclined for school transport in Sweden arranged by the Parent-Teachers Association of the Anglo-American School may be reimbursed up to a limit of Kr
. 1800 per child per school year. The head of post may authorise reimbursement of cost of transport other than that arranged by the Parent-Teachers Association at the Anglo-American School provided that:—— the arrangement is similar to that provided by the Parent-Teachers Association;
— the arrangement is the most economical consistent with considerations of safety and time taken;
— use is made of public transport where practicable;
— the cost does not exceed the limit of Kr. 1800 per child per school year set for transport arranged by the Parent-Teachers Association.
(vii) In Thailand the actual costs of school bus transport are acceptable for reimbursement purposes. Official transport may be used in other circumstances where practicable.
8. Commissioners in London, incurring specified education costs in excess of the appropriate parental contribution specified in paragraph 2, may be reimbursed up to a maximum of the difference between the parental contribution and Pounds Stg. 80 per term per child in Kindergarten, Pounds Stg. 105 per term per child in Primary School and Pounds Stg. 150 per term per child in secondary school years.
9. Commissioners posted to North America may be reimbursed, in accordance with paragraph 1, the cost of full-day instruction at a private day school up to a maximum of $US750 or $Can.750 per annum less the parental contribution for a maximum period of three years, subject to the following:—
(a) The child is at least 3 years 9 months of age and not more than 7 years of age;
(b) Satisfactory evidence is provided that instruction in preparation for primary education is given at the private school selected; and
(c) That such instruction for at least 3 hours per day at a State free public school, is not available;
(d) The provisions of paragraph 3 (b) of the schedule apply to cover the costs of transporting children whose attendance at private kindergartens has been approved.
Schedule—
continued
10.(a) Where a Commissioner at a Post in the United States America, is required to live in a district where the standard of the available public school is, in accordance with the criteria laid down in Section 4 of this Handbook, considered by the Head of Post to be unsuitable for Australian children, the Headof Post may authorise reimbursement of excess educational costs incurred in respect of private schooling in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 1-3 above, subject to a limit in respect of each child undergoing primary or secondary education of the difference between $US1640 and the parental contribution.
Details of all approvals given under this sub-section are to be forwarded to Canberra.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1)
(i) The costs incurred in the use of a school bus for a child where attendance at a private school on Manhattan has been approved may be reimbursed up to a limit of $US200 per half year with effect from the commencement of the second semester of the 1972-73 school year in the U.S.A.
(ii) Ifan officer in the above circumstances regularly provides or incurs the cost ofschool transport, other than a school bus, an amount of $A50 p.a. may be added to education costs incurred for purposes of assessing reimbursable education costs, subject to a limit of $A50 p.a. where two or more children, are carried simultaneously.
(2)
(i) The costs incurred in the use ofa school bus may be included in the figure of $US1640 p.a. (referred toin (a) for purposes of reimbursement).
(ii) Ifa Commissioner regularly provides or incurs the cost of school transport, other than (i) above, for his child or children, an amount of $US25 per annum per child may be included (within the figure of $US1640) for the purposes of reimbursement, subject to a limit of $US25 per annum in total where two or more children are carried simultaneously in the one car.
(e)
11. Summer school fees charged by the approved schools, Tokyo, may be included in reimbursement calculations.
12. The costs of school lunches for those children who are not eligible to receive the free provision from the City of Stockholm authorities are acceptable for reimbursement purposes.
13. Commissioners in Indonesia may be reimbursed the cost of sending their children to summer schools conducted in the longvacation by the approved school.
14. The actual cost of required text-books may be accepted for reimbursement purposes for Commissioners in the Philippines.
Schedule 19
Language Proficiency Allowance
1. Subject to the next succeeding paragraphs, there shall be payable to a Commissioner a Language Proficiency Allowance in accordance with the annual rates specified in Table ‘B’ to this Schedule.
2. Payment of the allowance is dependent on the passing of a prescribed examination in accordance with Table A and will be payable from the date of the examination.
3. The full allowance is payable only whilst on duty in a country where the language is in general use.
4. Subject to paragraph 5 (c), when a Commissioner is elsewhere than in a country in which the language, in respect of which Proficiency Allowance would be payable, is in general use, he may be paid 50% of the allowance.
5. Continuity of payment of the allowance will be dependent on retention of proficiency in the language on which the allowance is based. The following rules will apply in this respect:—
(a) Passing the proficiency test will confer eligibility for the remainder of the current posting;
SCHEDULE—
(b) Continuity of payment of the 50% allowance will be subject to passing a proficiency test at intervals of not more than two years. The test isalso to be applied at the commencement of each subsequent posting to a country where the language concerned is in general use;
(c) The 50% allowance will cease if a Commissioner spends six years continuously away from a post at which the language is in general use;
(d) Proficiency Allowances for two languages, at full or 50% rate as appropriate, may be paid concurrently.
Language | Country | Examinations | |||
Grade C | Grade B | Grade A | Grade A + | ||
Afrikaans.......... | South Africa | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | ||
Arabic............... | Bahrain | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
Arab Republic of Egypt | |||||
Lebanon | |||||
Burmese........... | Burma | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
Chinese............. | China, People’s Republic of | British FO Lower or UN Chinese IV or United States Foreign Service Institute Standard S1R2 | British FO Intermediate, or End of Course, RAAF School of Languages, or U.S.F.S.I. Standard S2R2 | British FO Higher, or U.S.F.S.I. Standard S3R3 | British FO Advanced, or U.S.F.S.I. Standard S4R4 |
Hong Kong | |||||
Malaysia | |||||
Singapore | |||||
Danish.............. | Denmark | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | ||
Dutch................ | The Netherlands | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
Finnish.............. | Finland | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
French.............. | Arab Republic of Egypt | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
Belgium | |||||
Khmer Republic | |||||
Canada | |||||
France | |||||
Laos | |||||
Lebanon | |||||
New Caledonia | |||||
Republic of Vietnam | |||||
Switzerland | |||||
German............. | Austria | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
Germany | |||||
Switzerland | |||||
Greek (Modern) | Greece | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
Hebrew............. | Israel | Intermediate | Higher | .. | |
Hindi................ | India | .. | Intermediate | Higher | .. |
Indonesian........ | Indonesia | .. | British FO Intermediate, or end of Course, RAAF School of Languages | British FO Higher, or RAAF School of Languages Grade A Proficiency Examination | .. |
Italian............... | Italy | .. | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher, or Final at University of Florence (Advanced Course) | .. |
Switzerland | |||||
Japanese........... | Japan | British FO Lower, or United States Foreign Service Institute Standard S1R2 | |||
British FO Intermediate, or U.S.F.S.I. Standard S2R2 | British FO Higher, or U.S.F.S.I. Standard S3R3 | British FO Advanced, or U.S.F.S.I. Standard S4R4 | |||
Khmer.............. | Khmer Republic | .. | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | .. |
SCHEDULE—
Language | Country | Examinations | |||
Grade C | Grade A | Grade A+ | |||
Korean.............. | Korea | British FO Intermediate, or Final, after 2 year course at Yonsei Lang School | British FO Higher | .. | |
Laotian............. | Laos | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | .. | |
Malay............... | Malaysia | .. | British FO Intermediate, or Ministry of Education, Public, Standard II | British FO Higher, or Ministry of Education, Public Standard III | .. |
Singapore | |||||
Norwegian........ | Norway | .. | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | |
Polish................ | Poland | .. | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | |
Portuguese........ | Brazil | .. | Intermediate | Higher | |
Portugal | |||||
Russian............. | U.S.S.R. | .. | British FO Intermediate, or End of Course, Army School Beaconsfield | British FO Higher or British Civil Service 2nd Class Interpretership | .. |
Serbo-Croatian.. | Yugoslavia | .. | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | .. |
Sinhala.............. | Sri Lanka (Ceylon) | .. | British FO Intermediate, or Ceylon Admin. Service Grade III | British FO Higher | .. |
Spanish............. | Argentina | .. | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | |
Chile | |||||
Mexico | |||||
Peru | |||||
Philippines | |||||
Spain | |||||
Swahili.............. | Kenya | .. | British FO Intermediate, or Government of Tanzania Lower | British FO Higher, or Government of Tanzania Higher | .. |
Tanzania | |||||
Swedish............ | Sweden | .. | British FO Intermediate, or University of Stockholm Swedish 2 | British FO Higher | .. |
Tagalog............. | Philippines | .. | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | |
Thai.................. | Thailand | British FO Intermediate, or End of Course, RAAF School of Languages | British FO Higher | .. | |
Turkish............. | Turkey | British FO Intermediate | British FO Higher | .. | |
Urdu................. | Pakistan | .. | Intermediate | British FO Higher | .. |
Vietnamese....... | Republic of Vietnam | .. | British FO Intermediate, or End of Course RAAF School of Languages | British FO Higher | .. |
Democratic Republic of Vietnam | |||||
SCHEDULE—
Language | Proficiency Allowance—$A per annum | |||
(as appropriate tograde of prescribed examination passed) | ||||
Grade C | Grade B | Grade A | Grade A+ | |
Afrikaans......................................... | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Arabic............................................. | .. | 450 | 900 | .. |
Burmese.......................................... | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Chinese........................................... | 150 | 450 | 900 | 1,200 |
Danish............................................. | 150 | 300 | .. | |
Dutch.............................................. | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Finnish............................................ | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
French............................................. | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
German........................................... | 150 | 300 | .. | |
Greek (Modem)............................... | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Hebrew............................................ | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Hindi............................................... | 300 | 550 | .. | |
Indonesian....................................... | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Italian.............................................. | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Japanese.......................................... | 150 | 450 | 900 | 1,200 |
Khmer............................................. | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Korean............................................ | .. | 450 | 900 | .. |
Laotian............................................ | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Malay.............................................. | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Norwegian....................................... | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Polish.............................................. | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Portuguese....................................... | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Russian............................................ | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Serbo-Croatian................................. | 300 | 550 | .. | |
Sinhala............................................ | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Spanish............................................ | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Swahili............................................ | 300 | 550 | .. | |
Swedish........................................... | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Tagalog............................................ | .. | 150 | 300 | .. |
Thai................................................. | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Turkish............................................ | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Urdu................................................ | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Vietnamese...................................... | .. | 300 | 550 | .. |
Schedule 20
Reimbursement of Excess Medical Expenses and Excess Dental Expenses
When a Commissioner is stationed at an overseas post on short term appointment and he incurs medical costs in respect of himself, the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister may approve the reimbursement of such costs as is necessary to meet those expenses.
1. (i) When a Commissioner is stationed at an overseas post on long term appointment and he incurs, in respect of himself or his family at the post, medical costs which are excessive by Australian standards, he may be partially reimbursed in respect of the costs incurred. Any reimbursement shall be subject to a contribution by the Commissioner and shall have regard to the maximum benefits payable consequent upon membership of an organisation approved under the Hospital Benefits Regulations and National Health (Medical Benefits) Regulations.
(ii) Where a Commissioner is stationed at a post in Canada or the United States of America on a long term posting the following services are to be regarded as admissible expenditure for reimbursement purposes:—
(a) Compulsory pre-school medical examination for children of Commissioners;
(b) Annual medical check up examination of a Commissioner and/or his family.
2. (i) When a Commissioner is on long term posting overseas and he incurs, in respect of himself or his family unavoidably, excess costs for dental treatment, he may be partly reimbursed for such costs in accordance with the following:—
SCHEDULE—
(ii)
(iii) A dental health certificate in the form of Table A, Page 36, Section 4, and including an up-to-date dental chart, is to be available to the Commonwealth Medical Officer at the time of the medical examination, in the case of children, the certificate should show if there is an obvious malocclusion, or any indication that orthodontic treatment may be necessary. The Department will reimburse the cost of examination and dental certificate.
(iv)
(a) all the amounts provided in local allowance and, when appropriate, child allowance (see table B, Page 36, Section 4); and
(b) a further amount of $A100 per family unit or $A50 per single Commissioner; a year for this purpose is to be the year commencing on the date or anniversary of the Commissioner’s arrival at post.
(v)
(vi) Treatment of the nature listed in this sub-paragraph will be accepted for reimbursement, subject to sub-paragraph (vii) below, without the requirement of prior reference to Australia for approval:—
- necessary fillings and extractions;
- palliative dressings, prophylaxis and x-rays associated with the foregoing;
- exploratory x-rays preceding the prescription of treatment;
- emergency provision, replacement or repair of dentures.
(vii) Treatment of the nature listed in this sub-paragraph will be accepted for assistance purposes only if prior to commencement of treatment the Department has given approval for the treatment to be so accepted:—
- except for emergency treatment, all treatment proposed within three months of departure from Australia, or during the last three months of the overseas posting;
- purely cosmetic or decorative dentistry;
- corrections of congenital malformations;
- prosthetic services, except in cases of emergency;
- all treatment other than that specified in paragraphs (vi) or (x)costing in excess of $A150 for a family unit or $A75 a single Commissioner.
(viii) Costs which will be used in assessing claims under this Schedule will be the costs of reasonable treatment at an appropriate standard in the city or country concerned. Such costs are indicated for example, (i) for the U.S.A. by the relevant Veterans’ Administration schedule of maximum fees. (For reimbursement purposes reasonable charges are accepted as including those which fall within a range of 30 per cent of the Veterans’ Administration’s schedule of costs); and (ii) in Canada by the Ontario Dental Association’s schedule of fees.
(ix)
(x)
(xi) For treatment approved under sub-paragraph (x) the Department will reimburse reasonable costs incurred in excess of the assessed Australian costs for similar treatment. Where a Commissioner meets the assessed Australian costs of orthodontic treatment or of crown or bridge work, undertaken in any year of posting, the assistance under sub-paragraphs (v) to (viii) is also approved with respect to the same year, the personal contribution required under sub-paragraph (iv) (b) for the latter assistance will be reduced by $A50 per
Schedule—
family unit or $A25 per single Commissioner for either orthodontic treatment or crown and bridge work, so that if both orthodontic treatment and crown or bridge work are carried out in that year no contribution is required.
(xii)
(xiii) Where a Commissioner or dependent incurs dental expenses under circumstances which subsequently lead to a payment of damages covering those expenses to the Commissioner by someone other than the Department, the Commissioner is to repay to the Department such expenses reimbursed under this Schedule as do not exceed the amount of damages received.
3.
(a) all fees paid for a medical service and/or hospital treatment may be included, less a deduction equal to the maximum rate recoverable under a medical and hospital benefits fund and the National Health Act;
(b) return fares are reimbursable at the standard appropriate to the circumstances, for the Commissioner and/or dependant or dependants as necessary for a journey between place of residence and place of medical examination or treatment;
(c) the amount to be reimbursed to a Commissioner in accordance with sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) above in any period of twelve months shall not, unless the Minister otherwise approves, exceed $200 in respect of each person embraced by this paragraph;
(d) fares for medical examination or treatment to a location outside the country where the Commissioner is performing duty may be included for reimbursement purposes only with the prior approval of the Minister;
(e) a Commissioner may not be reimbursed expenses under this paragraph in relation to medical treatment of a disease if the Commonwealth is liable, under Section 11 of the Commonwealth Employees Compensation Act 1930-1967, to pay a sum in respect of the cost of the medical treatment for the disease and, if after a Commissioner has received reimbursement of expenses under this Section, the Commonwealth becomes so liable, the amount paid to him as reimbursement of expenses under this paragraph is recoverable from the Commissioner as a debt due to the Commonwealth;
(f) a payment by way of reimbursement under this paragraph will be made only, unless otherwise approved by the Minister, if the Commissioner or dependant, as the case may be, complied with the normal requirements before travel to the overseas post and has undergone such additional vaccinations and innoculations as may be recommended by the Commonwealth Medical Officer, and in the opinion of the medical officer conducting the medical examination the Commissioner or dependant, as the case may be, was fit to proceed overseas on posting and evidence was not found of any of the diseases listed in the Table. In normal circumstances medical examination of a dependant will be a necessary prerequisite to assistance under this paragraph. In considering cases not so covered the Minister will have regard inter alia, to evidence that that disease was contracted overseas during the period of the Commissioner’s duty overseas;
(g) unless otherwise determined by the Minister, reimbursement in respect of treatment within Australia will be made only:—
(i) where the Commissioner or dependant has, within one month of return to Australia, submitted himself for medical examination by a Commonwealth Medical Officer, and has, within a reasonable time (as a rule not more than six months), undergone whatever examinations and associated tests may be prescribed by the medical officer conducting the examination;
(ii) where such examination did not disclose a disease listed in the Table and Commissioner or dependant, as the case may be, has undergone a further medical examination, including any associated tests required, by a Commonwealth Medical Officer, and the resultant medical opinion is that the reasonable inference is that the disease was contracted overseas; and
Schedule—
continued (iii) where—
(a) a medical service and/or hospital treatment was provided by or on behalf of or as a result of directions given by a Commonwealth Medical Officer; or
(b) a Commonwealth Medical Officer certifies that the medical service and/or hospital treatment was appropriate in the circumstances;
(h) for the purposes of this paragraph a medical officer of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine shall be deemed to be a Commonwealth Medical Officer.
Where the Minister considers the fare or fees paid by a Commissioner for medical services or hospital treatment are, in all the circumstances of the case, excessive, the Minister may reduce the amount to be reimbursed to an amount considered reasonable.
Trypanosomiasis (African)
Trypanosomiasis (South American) (Chagas’ Disease)
Kala-agar (Leishmaniasis)
Cutaenous Leishmaniasis (Oriental Sore)
Coccidiosis
Toxoplasmosis
Amoebiasia
Black Water Fever
Louse Borne Relapsing Fever Schistosomiasis
Tick Borne Relapsing Fever Paragonimiasis
Rat Bite Fever Fasciolopsiais
Epidemic Typhus Heterophyidiasis
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Opisthorchiasis
South African Tick Fever Metagonimiasis
Tsutsugarmushi Fever Cestode infections including Taenia solium
Plague Hymenolepis nana
Cholera Filariasis
Bartonellosia Onchocerciasic
Bacillary Dysentery Dracontiasis
Shigellosis Loiasis
Melioidosis Trichinosis
Leprosy
Yellow Fever Blastomycoses
Phlebotomus Fever Coccidioidomysocis
Rift Valley Fever Rhinosporidiosis
West Nile Fever
Colorado Tick Fever
Rabies
Smallpox
Schedule 22
Evacuation from Post
1. Where an emergency necessitates the closure of a post and/or evacuation of personnel, the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister may in respect of a Commissioner, his wife and family, approve the payment of such fares, allowances and other expenses as are considered reasonable and necessary in the particular circumstances. The following general conditions will apply.
2. The Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister, may, where he considers circumstances warrant it and to the extent that he considers reasonable, authorise to be met at Commonwealth expense:—
(a) excess baggage charges;
(b)charges for packing and storing Commissioners’ personal and household effects; and
(c) charges for garaging and taking care of one private motor vehicle for each Commissioner.
SCHEDULE—
3. Costs under paragraph 2 (b) above will be accepted as a Commonwealth charge only in respect of goods to a value not exceeding the value nominated by each Commissioner for insurance under paragraph (A) of Schedule 27 and only in respect of goods the transport of which between Australia andthe post would have been approved by the Minister.
4.Costs under paragraph 2 (c) above will be accepted as a Commonwealth charge only to an amount not in excess of the costs which would have been charged in respect of a car accepted as appropriate to the Commissioner’s level for the purposes of Local Allowance calculations.
5. In the event of loss of, or damage to, Commissioner’s goods packed or stored at Commonwealth expense under paragraph 2(b) above, Commonwealth liability—
(a) will be acknowledged only in respect of goods covered by normal all risks insurance policy, in circumstances of loss or damage directly or indirectly occasioned by, happening through or in consequence of war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities (whether war be declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation or nationalisation or requisition or destruction or damage to property by or under the order of any government or public or local authority where normal all risks insurance cover is not obtainable and in those cases where loss or damage is either directly attributable to those circumstances, or, but for these circumstances, would have been accepted by the officer’s insurance company under his all risks policy as an admissible claim;
(b) will not apply to items of furniture, personal or household effects, the transport of which between Australia and the post would not have been met by the Commonwealth;
(c) will not exceed a total value of the appropriate maximum limits in paragraph (A) 3 of Schedule 27, in respect of any one Commissioner or family.
6. In the event of loss of or damage to Commissioner’s motor vehicle garaged or taken care of at Commonwealth expense under paragraph 2 (c) above, Commonwealth liability
(a) will be acknowledged only in respect of a motor vehicle covered by comprehensive insurance, in circumstances where normal comprehensive insurance cover is not obtainable and to those cases where loss or damage is either directly attributable to those circumstances or, but for those circumstances, would have been accepted by the Commissioner’s insurance company under his comprehensive policy as an admissible claim;
(b) will apply in respect of only one motor vehicle per Commissioner or family;
(c) will apply only up to an amount not in excess of the value of a vehicle accepted as appropriate to the Commissioner’s level for the purpose of local allowance calculations.
7. Commonwealth liability will be based on the effects listed in the inventory held by the Department.
8. The Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister, has
discretion to determine in the light of actual circumstances the centres to
which personnel or dependants will be evacuated. In exercising this discretion
he will take account of the following considerations
(a) if the emergency is not expected to be of long duration evacuation should, in the absence of countervailing factors, be to other suitable centres in the region;
(b) in the event of evacuation of dependants to Australia the Ministers prior approval must be obtained before the costs of their return to the post may be met from Commonwealth funds.
9. In respect of evacuated dependants living in an hotel the following provisions will apply, subject to review after 28 days by the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister:—
(a) the Commonwealth will meet hotel charges for accommodation including compulsory tax and service charges, table d’hote meals and reasonable laundry charges;
(b) the Commissioner will contribute $10 per week for his wife and $4 per week for each child;
(c) the Commissioner will continue to receive the full married rate of local allowance and, where appropriate, child allowance for the country of posting.
10. Where evacuated dependants occupy accommodation other than in an hotel, each case is to be referred to the Department, for determination, with details of expenses incurred, e.g. rent of contribution to board and/or lodging, servants, laundry, etc.
SCHEDULE—
11. In respect of evacuated single Commissioners and of married Commissioners evacuated with or joining their families and living in an hotel, the following provisions will apply, subject to review after 28 days by the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister:—
(a) settling-in conditions determined under Schedule 5 for the country of evacuation; and, in addition,
(b) the officer will receive in lieu ofnormal long-term living allowance, an allowance equivalent to the sum of the following components in the budget calculations of living allowance for the country from which he was evacuated—
(i) the servant component in full;
(ii) one third of the fuel/utilities component; and
(iii) one quarter of the food component.
Where there is no utilities component, actual utilities costs may be met as eventually determined. Where it has been determined that a rice ration will be paid to servants this will continue to be paid so long as the servants are retained.
12. In the event of an evacuated officer being reposted the provisions of paragraph 11 will automatically cease with effect from the date he takes up his new posting or leaves his evacuation centre, whichever is the earlier.
13 In respect of evacuated Commissioners who move into temporary rented accommodation the following provisions will apply in lieu of those set out in paragraph 1.1 above:—
(a) the Commonwealth will meet the cost of accommodation up to the appropriate “ rent ceiling ” or such other figure as may be determined by the Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister, subject to a contribution by the Commissioner in accordance with the scale of normal living costs at Schedule 3;
(b) the Commissioner will be paid the approved long-term living allowance and, where appropriate, child allowance of the country to which he is evacuated;
(c) the Commissioner may be reimbursed against receipts for admissible continuing expenses incurred at the post during the period of his evacuation.
14. When accommodation is occupied other than at an hotel or in temporary rented quarters, each case is to be referred to the Department for determination with details of expenses incurred, e.g. rent or contribution to board and/or lodgings, servants, laundry, etc.
Schedule 23
Reunion Fares for Children under the age of 21 years
1.
(a) in accordance with the provisions set out in this schedule, assistance will be provided with fares to permit children being educated in Australia (or Britain) to be reunited with their parents at appropriate intervals. The basic intention is to provide for children under 18 for whom Special Child Allowance is payable to be reunited with their parents twice in every 12 months period of separation; once during the long school summer vacation and, having regard to Commissioners’ dates of departure and return, during one other vacation in any one school year. For children over 18 and those for whom Special Child Allowance is not payable, an annual visit is provided. For the purposes of this schedule the school year is defined as commencing on the first day of the first school term and ending on thelast day of the long summer vacation. The Minister or person authorised by the Minister may authorise visits at any time during each 12 months period of separation provided that the Commissioner’s wife is at the post (unless the Commissioner is a widow, widower or divorcee having care of a child) and he is satisfied that the visits are reasonably spaced throughout the period of posting and are of reasonable length. In normal circumstances a visit should be of a minimum duration of two weeks.
(b) Travel is to be by air at either:
(a) student concession and/or excursion rate at economy class where this is available; or
(b) normal economy class where (a) is not available.
(c)
Children in Respect of Whom Special Child Allowance is Paid: Commissioners will be eligible for Government assistance for the appropriate return fare between Australia (or Britain) and the post as defined on two occasions in each period of twelve months service at the post as defined in paragraphs (c) and (f) below where a child is under 18 years of age at the commencement of the school year, and, unless determined otherwise, by the Minister or a person authorised by the Minister, on one occasion where the child is over 18 years at the commencement of the school year. In calculating entitlements the date of termination of a posting may be anticipated.(d) A child who attains the age of 18 years during a school year will remain eligible for any second reunion entitlement which occurs in that school year for which
SCHEDULE—
continued he would have been eligible had he not had his eighteenth birthday. The period of eligibility for annual reunion fares for the child who attains the age of 18 years during a school year will commence from the end of that school year.
(e) In calculating the number of reunion visits to which a Commissioner is entitled for children remaining at school in Australia or starting school in Britain when the officer proceeds overseas, the period of eligibility will commence on the date of the Commissioner’s departure from Australia and shall end when the Commissioner or his wife returns to Australia at the termination of his posting. The extension of a posting by a period of 5 months or more in excess of a completed period of 12 months will give an entitlement to one further visit, provided that for a child who has reached the age of 18 there will only be an entitlement to a visit during a long summer vacation falling within the period of extension.
(f) If a child has resided with its parents overseas and returns to Australia or proceeds to Britain to undertake education in respect of which Special Child Allowance is paid the period of eligibility will commence from the date of the child’s departure from the post and end when the Commissioner or his wife returns from the posting to Australia. Where the total period of eligibility is less than 12 months but of at least 9 months the Commissioner will be entitled to one reunion fare in respect of any school vacation falling in the period provided that the child is under IS years of age.
(g) Entitlements may not be carried over from one twelve month period to another.
(h) The maximum cost of reunion fares for children being educated in Britain is limited to the cost of fares which would have applied were the child at school in Australia.
(i)
Parent’s Fares in Lieu: As outlined in paragraph 1 (a) above, the purpose of reunion fares is to provide for children to be reunited with the parents, at the post. However, in special circumstances associated with the welfare of a child, the Minister or person authorised by the Minister may authorise return fares for a parent to either Australia or Britain (as the case may be). This will cancel entitlement to one of the biannual reunion visits by all of the Commissioner’s children under eighteen at school in that country, and/or the one annual visit by all his children over eighteen at school in that country. Commonwealth liability for such a fare is not to exceed the cost of return fares of the child or children to the post, calculated according to paragraph (b).
2.
(a) Fares will be paid by the Commonwealth, in full or in part, for a child under 21 years of age, who is ineligible for payment of fares under other provisions, to enable him/her to be reunited with the parents at an overseas post at annual intervals, where the Commissioner is on posting of at least twelve months duration, subject to the following conditions:—
(i) the child must be unmarried, and under 21 years of age at the date of departure on the reunion visit (where a child reaches 21 years of age during the reunion visit the return fare from the post will be met); and
(ii) in normal circumstances the child must reside in Australia or Britain. Each case where a child resides in another country will be decided by the Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister; and
(iii) in order to give reunions at annual intervals, reunion fares will be payable to the following extent and in respect of the following periods of separation of child and parents, commencing from the date of departure overseas of the Commissioner on posting, or the date of separation when the child accompanied the parents overseas for at least 12 months as the case may be.
Separation of up to 21 months—reunion fares once only.
Separation of at least 21 but less than 33 months—reunion fares for a second time.
Separation of at least 33 but less than 45 months—reunion fares for a third time.
Separation of at least 45 but less than 57 months—reunion fares for a fourth time.
This table determines the number of reunion fares payable. However, actual reunion visits may be made as convenient during a Commissioner’s posting, up to the number approved under the eligibility table, subject to
SCHEDULE
—continued the satisfaction of the Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister, that family reunions are reasonably spaced throughout the period of posting.
(iv) where the parents have proceeded on leave to Australia during the period of the Commissioner’s posting, a reunion fare is not payable for the child in that year; and
(v) the period of eligibility for a child who has been entitled to reunion fares under the provisions of paragraph 1 (c) above will commence from the end of the term (including vacation) in which he leaves school.
(b) Where a child’s gross income* exceeds $1350 per annum parents’ contribution to fares will be required according to the following scale:—
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Sample Calculation—
Gross income of child
Parental contribution in respect of $2300
(from Column B)
Parental contribution in respect of $60 (from Column C)
= = 23.20
Total Contribution = $329.80
* Gross income for this purpose is in respect of the 12 month period to the end of the calendar month immediately prior to the month of departure and will include all income in accordance with the requirement for income tax returns, but excluding educational assistance (including living allowance) for secondary or post secondary education.
Schedule 25
Transfer Allowance
Commissioners on long term postings overseas may receive a non-repayable transfer allowance in respect of each transfer to a post to compensate them for unreimbursed expenditure incurred on movement associated with overseas posting.
(a) The rates of transfer allowance payable are:—
(i)
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(ii)
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(iii)
On transfer between posts involving a transitional period in Australia where a normal household is not re-established or on direct transfer between posts (including transfers between two posts in the same country )
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(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Department:
(i) the amount shown for a married Commissioner is to be paid only where the Commissioner is accompanied on posting by his wife at Commonwealth expense;
(ii) the amount shown for a single Commissioner is to be paid in all other cases; and
(iii) the child supplement is to be paid for each accompanying dependent child who is part of the normal domestic establishment of the Commissioner in the country of posting and in respect of whom child allowance is payable under the terms of Section 3 Schedule 8 of the Trade Commissioner Handbook.
(c) Transfer Allowance may be paid to a Commissioner when formalities associated with the Commissioner’s movement have been substantially completed. The Commissioner may elect to receive payment of the transfer allowance on the following basis:—
(i) full payment before departure for post, or
(ii) full payment on arrival at post, or
(iii) part-payment before departure and balance immediately on arrival at post.
(d) If an amount is paid to a Commissioner in anticipation of a movement which does not eventuate it will be necessary for the Commissioner to repay the amount in full to the Commonwealth.
Schedule 27
Insurance of Personal Effects
(A)
1. When furniture and household effects and/or baggage are to be transported to or from Australia or between two overseas countries or within an overseas country, insurance against loss or damage should be effected by the Commissioner, who should produce the insurance policy to the Department when submitting his claims for reimbursement of his insurance premium.
cover is taken out, Commonwealth liability will be limited to reimbursement of a ‘ door-to-door ’ policy up to the maximum rates specified in paragraph 6 covering the period while the goods are in transit and/or store between the residence from which they have been removed and the residence to be occupied.
3. The maximum amount for which the Commonwealth will reimburse the premium for an insurance policy on goods transported overseas is related to a Commissioner’s Living Allowance group as follows:—
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SCHEDULE—
4. The insurance cover provided in paragraph 3 is a maximum figure and is not to be interpreted as necessarily permitting removal of furniture and effects up to that value. The Minister or person authorised by the Minister has the responsibility for ensuring that, irrespective of value, only essential furniture and effects are removed.
5. A Commissioner may take out additional insurance cover at his own expense to cover goods valued in excess of his maximum limit and approved by the Minister or person authorised by the Minister for removal;
6. The Minister or person authorised by the Minister may authorise reimbursement of any insurance premiums up to a maximum rate of $A1.35 per $A100 worth of goods removed in respect of the journey from
(a) Australia to an overseas post or
(b) an overseas post to Australia or
(c) one overseas post to another overseas post.
These rates are related to the marine transit element in a world wide ‘all risk’ insurance policy. Provision ismade for the remainder of the premium in Local Allowance.
7. Liability for damage caused during removal of household effects to electrical/mechanical equipment will be accepted by the Commonwealth only if the damage is specifically excluded from ‘all risks’ insurance coverage and if it is established by the Commissioner that damage is actually due to removal.
(B)
1. Where a Commissioner is transferred for duty overseas at public
expense under the conditions outlined in this Schedule and desires his
furniture and effects or part thereof to be stored in Australia, he may,
subject to written application on the
Department of Supply Form S.F.C
2. In addition to the cover in paragraph (A) 3 above, a Commonwealth indemnity up to a maximum limit of $4,000 will apply to goods during removal to and from store and while stored in Australia. Loss or damage to furniture and effects during transport or storage in excess of this limit is the responsibility of the Commissioner, who may, where necessary, arrange additional insurance to cover any excess at his own expense.
3. Where furniture and effects are stored overseas and are insured in accordance with paragraph (A) 2, the Commonwealth will not bear the risk, and the Commissioner should accordingly ensure that the goods are covered by insurance for the whole period of storage.
4. Where furniture and effects are stored in Australia in the course of removal to or from an overseas Post the Commonwealth will not bear the risk, and the Commissioner should accordingly ensure that the goods are covered by insurance for that period of storage by the ‘all-risks’ or ‘door-to-door’ insurance cover held by him to cover the removal.”.
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