Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Safe Work Australia

The remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment of the CEO and the Chair of Safe Work Australia are set by determinations made under subsections 7(3) and (4) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 (Cth).

The CEO, Ms Michelle Baxter, was appointed on a full-time basis on 1 November 2015 for a period of five years.

The Chair of Safe Work Australia, Ms Diane Smith-Gander AO, was appointed on a part-time basis on 5 February 2016 for a period of three years. Diane was reappointed Chair in February 2019 for a further three years.

Senior Executive Service employee terms and conditions of employment

SES employee terms and conditions of employment are set by way of individual determinations made under section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999(Cth).

SES employees received a pay increase of two per cent on 12 January 2019, in line with the pay increase provided to the agency’s non-SES employees.

Executive remuneration

During the reporting period ended 30 June 2019, Safe Work Australia had six executives who meet the definition of key management personnel (KMP).

There were no other highly paid staff for 2018–19.

Non-SES remuneration

As at 30 June 2019, all non-SES employees were covered by the terms and conditions of the Safe Work Australia Enterprise Agreement 2019–2022 (the enterprise agreement).

Performance pay

Agency employees do not receive performance bonuses or performance pay. Annual performance ratings provide non-SES employees with the possibility of pay point advancement.

Salary ranges by classification level

Allowances and non-remuneration benefits

In 2018–19, eight Safe Work Australia employees had individual flexibility arrangements. These arrangements were used to match salaries on commencement in the agency, recognise additional responsibilities they were required to take on for specified periods, or to provide competitive remuneration for the specialised skills they bring to their roles. No employees had arrangements to receive performance pay during the reporting report.

Allowances and non-remuneration benefits provided to non-SES employees under the enterprise agreement include:

• pay point advancement for meeting the criteria of the Performance and Development Scheme
• access to flexible working conditions
• temporary performance loading for performing work at a higher classification for more than three continuous weeks or more
• flexible remuneration and salary packaging
• Christmas close down from 12.30 pm on the last working day before Christmas Day until the first working day in January
• time off in lieu for Executive Level employees
• workplace responsibility allowance
• maternity, maternal, supporting partner, primary carer, parental, adoption and foster care leave
• community and Indigenous Australian languages allowance
• overtime meal allowance
• loss, damage and indemnity allowance
• travel allowance and motor vehicle allowances
• relocation assistance
• access to an Employee Assistance Program
• support for professional and personal development including the Study Assistance Scheme, and
• emergency duty and additional child care costs.

The enterprise agreement provides a full list of non-remuneration benefits.

Employment arrangements of SES and non-SES employees