ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATORY

DISCRETIONARY ALLOWANCES FOR STAFF (OTHER THAN RESEARCH ASTRONOMERS) RECRUITED OVERSEAS

1. Removal Expenses

(a) Baggage and Personal Effects:

The Board will meet the cost of transporting the employee's personal baggage and effects by sea accepted by a shipping company as baggage from and back to the overseas place of duty, subject to a maximum allowance of 1016kg (20 cwt) packed so as not to exceed 2.83 cubic metres (100 cubic feet) in volume. When the employee is accompanied by his/her family, he/she may be allowed an additional 305 kg (6 cwt) packed so as not to exceed 0.85 cubic metres (30 cubic feet) in volume.

The Board will also bear the cost of accompanied baggage in excess of the free airline allowance up to a limit of:

25.5 kg per person over 2 years of age

15.5 kg per child under 2 years of age

When an appointee and his/her dependents travel by air the residue of the above mentioned should be conveyed by sea.

(b) Furniture and Household Effects:

The furniture and household effects of an employee who is a householder may be conveyed from and back to his/her overseas residence at the Board's expense subject to a maximum allowance of 3556 kg (70 cwt) packed so as not to exceed 19.81 cubic metres (700 cubic feet) in volume, including packing. This arrangement applies only if the employee is to occupy unfurnished accommodation for the term of the appointment. If the employee is to occupy furnished accommodation the allowance is not to exceed 889 kg (17.5 cwt) packed so as not to exceed 4.95 cubic metres (175 cubic feet) in volume, including packing.

The terms and conditions in 4(a) and (b) above include the costs of professional packing and insurance. No arbitrary limit is placed on the capital sum to be insured but claims may be refused which appear to be unreasonable.

On completion of the fixed-term appointment, removal expenses to the next place of employment will be met up to the cost of removal back to the place of recruitment.

(c) Relocation Allowance

A taxable relocation allowance of $6000 will be paid on taking up appointment. If the employee leaves within six months of taking up appointment the relocation allowance will be refundable on a pro rate basis.

2. Air Fares

The Board will pay the equivalent of the cost of economy-class air fares for the employee and, if married and accompanied by them, for a spouse and dependent children under the age of 18, to enable him/her to take up the appointment. A similar payment for the cost of travel to the next place of employment, up to the cost of returning to the place of recruitment, will be made on completion of the appointment.

3. Hotel Expenses on first taking up Appointment

If the employee incurs hotel expenses prior to taking up permanent accommodation, the AAO will cover reasonable costs for a limited period, normally not exceeding twenty-eight nights. The allowance is the difference between actual hotel costs for accommodation at a standard approved by the Director and what is assessed as a reasonable contribution from the employee

4. Health Insurance

There is a government funded medical scheme in Australia called Medicare. Some countries have reciprocal arrangements with the Australian Government and their nationals are eligible to join Medicare and have cover for emergency medical treatment. Staff whose countries have no reciprocal agreements must make their own arrangements for health cover, as must those who wish cover for more than emergency treatment. Cover to suit individual needs may be obtained from a private health fund and the Board will meet the difference between the cost of the cover and the cost of top private cover in a domestic health fund (HCF Health Insurance). (The Personnel Officer should be consulted first.)

5. Motor Vehicle Allowance

The Board will make a once only payment of A$1,300 to offset the losses occasioned by the sale and purchase of motor vehicles on moving to and from Australia provided evidence is produced of the sale of a family motor vehicle in the three months preceding taking up the appointment with the Board, or within a reasonable time thereafter. This allowance is only payable to staff appointed for more than two years and in the event of resignation before the end of two years, the employee will be liable to repay the full amount of the allowance unless the Director, under special circumstances, determines otherwise.

6. Taxation

Several countries have double taxation agreements with Australia. If an employee is going to be in Australia for less than two years it may be possible to reach an agreement with the Australian Tax Office for an exemption from Australian tax. If so, the employee would be taxed on their Australian income by their home country.

The first step is for the employee to get in touch with the ATO to see whether there is a double taxation agreement with his/her home country. If so, the Personnel Officer will be able to provide information on earlier precedents on which employees can base their submission to the Australian Tax Office.