Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1)   The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities departmental records indicate that in the 2010-11 financial year the total cost payable to staff for "at sea allowance"1 under the Department's Enterprise Agreement—Clause F30 was $3813.54.

(2)   The daily allowance for "at sea allowance" is $97.86.

(3)   A total of 39 staff days were spent at sea in the 2010-11 financial year.

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1The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is specifically excluded from the “at sea allowance” as employees who are working at sea or transiting to and from Antarctica (either by sea or air) are paid an Antarctic Service Allowance at the daily rate of $144.15 for Head Office employees, and $138.59 for expeditioner employees from the day of departure to the day of return. An additional loading of 40% is paid if they are considered to be working in an especially remote location (on land or at sea). Because the allowance is payable whether an expeditioner is on land or at sea or on duty or off duty, it is not possible for the department to disaggregate the number of days when expeditioners are "working at sea".