AN160268 – Public Service Award 1992

55. - WEEKEND ABSENCE FROM RESIDENCE

(1) An officer who is temporarily absent from his or her normal headquarters on relieving duty or travelling on official business outside a radius of three hundred and twenty (320) kilometres measured from the normal headquarters and is necessarily absent from his or her residence and separated from dependants, shall be granted an additional day's leave for every group of three (3) consecutive weekends so absent, provided that each weekend shall be counted as a member of only one group. Provided that:

(a) the relief duty or travelling on official business is within Australia and the officer is not directed to work on the weekend by the employer;

(b) an additional day's leave shall not be allowed if the employer has approved the officer's dependants accompanying the officer during the period of relief or travelling;

(c) additional leave under this subclause shall be commenced within one (1) month of the period of relief duty or travelling being completed unless the employer approves otherwise;

(d) the annual leave loading provided by Clause 23. - Annual Leave of this Award shall not apply to any leave entitlements under this clause.

(2) Officers who are temporarily absent from their normal headquarters on relieving duty or travelling on official business outside a radius of three hundred and twenty (320) and up to four hundred (400) kilometres measured from the normal headquarters, may elect to have the benefit of concessions provided by subclause (3) of this clause in lieu of those provided by subclause (1) of this clause. Kalgoorlie, Albany and Geraldton shall be regarded as being within a radius of four hundred (400) kilometres for the purpose of this subclause in the case of an officer resident in the Metropolitan Area.

(3) Officers who are temporarily absent from their normal headquarters on relieving duty or travelling on official business within a radius of three hundred and twenty (320) kilometres measured from the officer's headquarters, and such relief duty or travel would normally necessitate the officer being absent from his or her residence for a weekend, shall be allowed to return to such residence for the weekend. Provided that:

(a) An officer who is directed to work on a weekend by the employer shall not be entitled to the concessions;

(b) All travelling to and from the officer's residence shall be undertaken outside of the hours of duty prescribed by Clause 20. – Hours of this Award.

(c) An officer who has obtained the approval of the employer for dependants to accompany the officer during the period of relief or travelling shall not be entitled to the concessions provided by this subclause;

(d) When an officer is authorised by the employer to use his or her own motor vehicle to travel to the locality where the relief duty is being performed or when travelling on official business the officer shall be reimbursed on the basis of one half (½) of the appropriate rate prescribed by subclause (3) of Clause 47. - Motor Vehicle Allowance of this Award for the journey to the officer's residence for the weekend and the return to the place of relief duty: Provided that the maximum amount of reimbursement shall not exceed the cost of the rail or bus fare by public conveyance which otherwise would be utilised for such journey and payment shall be made only to the owner of such vehicle;

(e) When an officer has been authorised by the employer to use a government motor vehicle in connection with the relief duty or travelling on official business, the officer shall be allowed to use that vehicle for the purpose of returning to his or her residence for the weekend;

(f) An officer who does not use his or her own vehicle or a government motor vehicle as provided by paragraphs (d) and (e) of this subclause, shall be reimbursed the cost of the fare by public conveyance by road or rail for the journey to and from the officer's residence for the weekend;

(g) An officer who does not make use of the provision of this subclause shall be paid travelling allowance or relieving allowance as the case may require in accordance with the provisions of Clause 50. - Relieving Allowance or Clause 54. - Travelling Allowance of this Award.

(h) Officers who return to their residence for the weekend in accordance with the provisions of this subclause shall not be entitled to the reimbursement of any expenses allowed by Clause 50. - Relieving Allowance and Clause 54. - Travelling Allowance of this Award during the period from the time when the officer returns to his or her residence to the time of departing from such residence to travel to resume duty at the place away from the residence.