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 5 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 3 years. Diane was reappointed Chair in February 2019 for a further 3 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).

Substantive SES employees received a pay increase of 2% on 12 January 2020. New individual determinations were made in February 2020 with future salary increases aligned to be consistent with the salary increases for non-SES employees as set out in the Safe Work Australia Enterprise Agreement 2019–2022 or any successive agreement.

Executive remuneration

During the reporting period ended 30 June 2020, Safe Work Australia had 6 executives who met the definition of key management personnel (KMP).

The reporting of remuneration for key management personnel is set by the PGPA Rule and Resource Management Guide No. 138 Commonwealth entities executive remuneration reporting guide for annual reports. The methodology for calculating remuneration for reporting purposes produces figures that differ from the remuneration set by the Remuneration Tribunal.

INFORMATION ABOUT REMUNERATION FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES AND OTHER HIGHLY PAID STAFF

All senior executives are included in Table 17 above.

There were no other highly paid staff in 2019–20.

Non-SES remuneration

As at 30 June 2020, all non-SES employees were covered by the terms and conditions of the Safe Work Australia Enterprise Agreement 2019–2022 (the enterprise agreement).

Non-SES employees received a pay increase of 2% on 22 March 2020, 12 months after the commencement of 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

During 2019–20, 3 Safe Work Australia employees had individual flexibility arrangements, and 2 of these arrangements were still active at the end of the reporting period. These arrangements were used to provide competitive remuneration for the specialised skills the employees 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 3 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 of overtime 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 the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• support for professional and personal development including the Study Assistance Scheme, and
• emergency duty and additional childcare costs.

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

Employment arrangements of SES and non-SES employees