Intelligence Services (Director-General) Determination 2018

Administered by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Legislation au C2018G00056 In force Gazette

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Intelligence Services (Director-General)

 

Determination 2018

 

 

Intelligence Services Act 2001

 

 

I, JULIE BISHOP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, make this Determination under section 21 of the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

 

 

Dated  16  January 2018

 

 

 

 

Julie Bishop

 

Minister for Foreign Affairs

 

 

1        Name of Determination

 

This Determination is the Intelligence Services (Director-General) Determination 2018.

 

2        Commencement

 

This Determination is taken to have commenced on 18 December 2017.

 

3        Revocation

 

The Intelligence Services (Director-General) Determination 2014 is revoked.

 

4        Definitions

 

In this Determination:

 

Act means the Intelligence Services Act 2001;

 

ASIS means the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.

5        Application

 

This Determination sets out the remuneration and other conditions of appointment of Paul Bruce Symon as the Director-General of ASIS.

 

6        Total remuneration, including base salary

 

(1)   For subsection 21(1) of the Act, the Director-General is entitled to:

 

(a)   the total remuneration (including the base salary) mentioned in this section;  and

 

(b)   the benefits and entitlements mentioned in sections 9 – 12.

 

(2)   Starting on 18 December 2017:

 

(a)   the total remuneration is $639,230 per year;  and

 

(b)   the base salary is $447,461 per year.

 

(3)   Subject to subsection (4), from 18 December 2017 the total remuneration and base salary for the Director-General of ASIS will increase by the percentage by which the base salary and total remuneration for the office of the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is increased under a determination made by the Remuneration Tribunal under subsection 7(3) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

 

(4)   The Director-General’s base salary must remain at 70% of total remuneration.

 

(5)   Salary is payable by fortnightly instalments in arrears.

 

(6)   For this section, total remuneration is the value, calculated at the total cost to the employer of

 

(a)   salary, allowances, and lump sum payments, other than:

 

(i)                 recreation leave;  and

 

(ii)               compensation for early loss of office;  and

 

(b)   all non-monetary benefits provided at the employer’s expense to or on behalf of the Director-General;  and

 

(c)   all non-monetary benefits that the Director-General elects to receive in cash.

 

7        Salary sacrifice arrangements

 

(1)   The Director-General must take at least 50% of total remuneration as salary.

 

(2)   If the Director-General enters into salary sacrifice arrangements, the arrangement must:

 

(a)   be consistent with relevant taxation laws, and with rulings or guidelines issued by the Australian Taxation Office that apply to salary sacrifice arrangements;  and

 

(b)   be in accordance with the policies and procedures of ASIS on salary sacrifice arrangements to the extent that the policies and procedures are consistent with subsection (1) and with the laws, rulings and guidelines mentioned in paragraph (a).

 

8        Superannuation salary and superannuation support

 

(1)   The Director-General’s salary for superannuation purposes is the amount of the base salary under section 6.

 

(2)   The Director-General’s salary for superannuation purposes is also the Director-General’s annual rate of salary for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976.

 

(3)   The Director-General’s total remuneration is taken to include the value of superannuation support provided in respect of the Director-General.

 

(4)   The value of superannuation support provided by the Commonwealth in respect of the Director-General is the minimum level of employer superannuation contribution that would reduce to zero the charge percentage for the Director-General under section 23 of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.

 

(5)   The value attributable under subsection (4) to superannuation support in respect of the Director-General is a non-salary component of total remuneration, and must not be the subject of an election to take an equivalent amount of salary.

 

9        Travelling allowance and related expenses

 

(1)   The Director-General has the entitlements given to an office holder at the Tier 1 rate by Part 2 of the Remuneration Tribunal Determination 2017/15.

 

(2)   If the Director-General becomes ill while on official business overseas, the Director-General is entitled to payment of the cost of any necessary medical or hospital treatment of the illness.

 

(3)   If the Director-General is given essential emergency dental treatment while on official business overseas, the Director-General is entitled to payment of the amount by which the cost exceeds the cost of equivalent treatment in Australia.

 

(4)   The Director-General is entitled to reimbursement of up to $225 for the cost of equipment required to undertake international travel.

 

(5)   The entitlement mentioned in subsection (4) may be claimed once in an entitlement period that runs for three years.

 

(6)   The Director-General is entitled to reimbursement of excess baggage charges that are incurred primarily because of a requirement to carry Commonwealth property while travelling.

 

10    Leave entitlements

 

(1)   The Director-General is entitled to the following types and amounts of leave of absence:

 

(a)   public holidays that are observed by the Australian Public Service in the ACT;

 

(b)   paid recreation leave of 22 days per year of full-time service;

 

(c)   paid long service leave as prescribed under the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976;  and

 

(d)   other paid and unpaid leave, including sick and carers leave will be in line with the arrangements applying within ASIS, with the approval of the Minister;

 

(e)   the payment in lieu of recreation leave and long service leave, on cessation, shall be calculated on total remuneration minus the value of the superannuation support provided to the Director-General.

 

11    Compensation for loss of office

 

(1)   If the Director-General’s appointment is terminated before the end of the period specified in the instrument of appointment, the Commonwealth may elect to offer suitable alternative employment (including in a Commonwealth authority or company).

 

(2)   If the Commonwealth does not offer suitable alternative employment, the Commonwealth will pay the Director-General one-third of one month’s salary for each month of service remaining, in lieu of obligations such as provision of notice or payment instead of notice or redundancy pay, and subject to:

 

(a)   a minimum payment of four months’ salary;  and

 

(b)   a maximum payment of one year’s salary.

 

(3)   For subsection (2), the Commonwealth:

 

(a)   may calculate the Director-General’s remaining service by taking into account any period of continuing Commonwealth service in alternative employment;  and

 

(b)   may require the Director-General to sign a release in return for the payment.

 

(4)   However, the Director-General is not entitled to compensation for loss of office if:

 

(a)   the Director-General has served the full term of appointment;  or

 

(b)   the Director-General’s appointment was terminated before the end of the period specified in the instrument of appointment for reasons of unsatisfactory performance;  or

 

(c)   the Director-General’s appointment was terminated before the end of the period specified in the instrument of appointment on account of mental or physical incapacity, and the Director-General is entitled to receive invalidity retirement benefits under Commonwealth superannuation legislation.

 

(5)   For subsection (2);

 

salary means the base salary mentioned in section 6.

 

 

12    Other entitlements

 

(1)   The Director-General is entitled to:

 

(a)   a mobile telephone service;

 

(b)   a corporate credit card for use for payment of entitlements and official expenses;

 

(c)   membership of the Qantas Club;

 

(d)   business cards;

 

(e)   Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Package as applicable to Senior Executive Service Officers in ASIS;

 

(f)    a secure briefcase;  and

 

(g)   a B-class security container at the Director-General’s home.

 

 

 

Overview

The Intelligence Services (Director-General) Determination 2018, enacted under section 21 of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, was introduced to address the need for setting out the remuneration and other conditions of appointment for the Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). This determination, made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, on 16 January 2018, outlines the total remuneration, benefits, and entitlements for the Director-General, including salary, superannuation, travel allowances, and other benefits. The policy objective is to ensure that the Director-General's compensation and conditions align with the responsibilities and demands of the role within the framework of the Intelligence Services Act 2001. This determination also specifies that the Director-General's base salary must remain at 70% of the total remuneration, with adjustments based on the percentage increase in the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's remuneration under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

Scope and Application

The Intelligence Services (Director-General) Determination 2018 applies specifically to Paul Bruce Symon in his capacity as the Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). The determination sets out the remuneration and conditions of appointment for the Director-General, including base salary, total remuneration, superannuation arrangements, travelling allowances, leave entitlements, compensation for loss of office, and other benefits. This Determination is made under section 21 of the Intelligence Services Act 2001 and took effect on 18 December 2017, superseding the previous 2014 determination. The total remuneration for the Director-General is set at $639,230 per year, with the base salary at $447,461 per year, and both figures subject to future adjustments based on the Remuneration Tribunal's increases for the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. The Director-General’s salary must remain at 70% of total remuneration, with salary payable by fortnightly instalments in arrears. The benefits and entitlements outlined in the Determination are designed to support the Director-General's role and responsibilities effectively within the national security framework.

Key Provisions

The Intelligence Services (Director-General) Determination 2018 provides specific provisions regarding the remuneration and conditions of appointment for the Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). Under section 6, the Director-General is entitled to a total annual remuneration of $639,230, which includes a base salary of $447,461. This remuneration is subject to increases based on changes to the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's salary, as determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. Furthermore, the Director-General must take at least 50% of the total remuneration as salary and must adhere to any salary sacrifice arrangements that comply with taxation laws and ASIS policies (section 7). The Director-General is also entitled to various benefits, such as travel allowances, leave entitlements, and compensation for loss of office under specific conditions (sections 9-12). The Act imposes several obligations on the Director-General and the Commonwealth. The Director-General is required to ensure that any salary sacrifice arrangements comply with relevant taxation laws and ASIS policies (section 7). Additionally, the Commonwealth must offer suitable alternative employment if the Director-General's appointment is terminated before the end of the specified period, or alternatively, pay compensation based on the remaining service period (section 11). The Director-General is also entitled to various allowances and entitlements, such as travel allowances, leave, and other benefits as specified in the Determination (sections 9-12). These provisions ensure that the Director-General is adequately compensated and supported in their role. Breaches of the provisions outlined in the Determination may lead to various consequences. While the Determination does not explicitly state specific offences or penalties for non-compliance, violations of the remuneration and conditions of appointment could potentially lead to legal challenges or disputes regarding the entitlements and obligations. The Commonwealth may face financial liabilities if it fails to adhere to the compensation or remuneration provisions. Additionally, any failure to comply with the legal requirements regarding salary sacrifice arrangements could result in tax-related consequences or penalties as per Australian taxation laws. It is important for both the Director-General and the Commonwealth to adhere to the provisions to avoid potential legal or financial repercussions.

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Area of Law
National Security Law
Instrument
Determination
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Compensation for loss of office
Salary sacrifice arrangements

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.