Salaries And Allowances Act 1975 Determination Of The Salaries And Allowances Tribunal For Members Of University Governing Councils
Signed on 20 November 2025
- E Prof M Seares AO - CHAIR
- Dr M Schaper - MEMBER
- Mr O Whittle - MEMBER
SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES TRIBUNAL
Preamble
Show morePREAMBLE
Statutory context
- In accordance with section 6(1)(ea) of the Salaries and Allowances Act 1975 (the Act), the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal (the Tribunal) is required to inquire into and determine, on an annual basis, the remuneration provided to members of University Governing Councils. These apply only to the four public universities based in Western Australia (namely, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia).
- The Tribunal’s last Determination was issued on 21 November 2024.
Inquiry
- The Tribunal has reviewed the operation of the previous Determination and invited submissions from the respective Universities.
- The Tribunal engaged in consultation with the Council of Curtin University, Council of Edith Cowan University (ECU), the Senate of Murdoch University and the Senate of the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Conclusion
- The Tribunal has determined to increase remuneration by 3.5% across all categories. This increase is consistent with the decisions made by the Tribunal across its other jurisdictions in 2025.
- The Tribunal has also supported the request by the Senate of UWA to set remuneration for the Senate at the same rate as the other public universities.
- The Tribunal has decided to support the Council of ECU’s request for equivalent remuneration for student and non-student members of the ECU council. Currently ECU remunerates student members at half of the non-student member rate.
- The Tribunal has maintained the remuneration rate for student members of the Murdoch Senate and Curtin Council, as requested by the respective universities. The Tribunal has also agreed to UWA’s request to not set a remuneration rate for student members of the UWA Senate. The student members of the UWA senate are appointed due to their roles as President of the Student Guild and Postgraduate Student’s Association for which they already receive an honorarium.
- The Tribunal has also updated the wording of the eligibility criteria to provide clarity of the Tribunal’s intention that employees of universities will not receive additional remuneration for sitting on governing council.
- The Tribunal acknowledges that, while it has the power to determine the remuneration for University Governing Council members, any remuneration must be met from within University existing budgets and must be for the fulfilment of University strategic objectives.
- By necessity, any remuneration determined is done in consultation with each University. The Tribunal will continue to liaise with the sector to ensure the fee structure remains relevant for each University.
- Tribunal Member Michael Schaper has abstained from discussions and decisions relating to the remuneration provided to University Governing Councils due to his role as an independent member of the UWA audit and risk committee. Member Schaper receives no remuneration for his role on the audit and risk committee, and his position is not covered by this determination.
The Determination will now issue.
Part 1: Introductory Matters
Show morePART 1 INTRODUCTORY MATTERS
1.1 Short Title
This Determination may be cited as the University Governing Board Members No. 1 of 2025.
1.2 Commencement
This Determination comes into operation on and from 1 January 2026.
1.3 Content and intent
(1) Pursuant to section 6(1)(ea) of the Salaries and Allowances Act 1975 (‘the Act’) this determination provides for the salary, allowances and other benefits to be paid, provided or reimbursed to a person holding any of the following offices:
(a) Member of the Council of Curtin University;
(b) Member of the Kalgoorlie Campus Council of Curtin University;
(c) Member of the Council of Edith Cowan University;
(d) Member of the ECU South West Campus (Bunbury) Advisory Board;
(e) Member of the Advisory Board of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (ECU);
(f) Member of the Senate of Murdoch University; or
(g) Member of the Senate of the University of Western Australia.
(2) This Determination fulfils the Tribunal’s obligations under section 8 of the Act with respect to offices identified in section 6(1)(ea).
1.4 References to Dates
(1) In this Determination, a reference to “a year” or “per annum” relates to a calendar year.
(2) Where benefits or entitlements are provided with specific reference to “a year” or “per annum”, these cease on and from 31 December each year and, unless otherwise specified in this Determination, no unexpended amount can be carried over to later years.
1.5 Pro rata payments
The amount of a person’s entitlement to remuneration specified in this Determination shall be apportioned on a pro rata basis according to the portion of a year that the person holds office.
1.6 Terms used
In this Determination, unless the contrary intention appears –
Committee Chairperson means Chairperson of a designated committee of a University Governing Council.
Committee Member means a Member of a designated committee of a University Governing Council.
Remuneration means salary, allowances, fees, emoluments and benefits (whether in money or not).
Tribunal means the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal.
Part 2: Remuneration
Show morePART 2 REMUNERATION
2.1 Eligibility Criteria
(1) Members are ineligible to receive any remuneration fees if they are:
- On the public payroll, including all current full time State, Commonwealth and Local Government employees, as well as full time employees of Western Australian statutory authorities, which includes the public universities;
- Members of Parliament;
- Current and retired judicial officers;
- Former Member of Parliament and less than 12 months has passed since sitting in parliament.
(2) Part time employees of State, Commonwealth and Local Government public services, including Western Australian statutory authorities are eligible for remuneration fees only if the member can clearly demonstrate that the work of the Governing Council will happen in their own time.
(3) University Governing Councils may create Committees from within the membership of the Council, such as Audit and Compliance Committees, that are eligible for remuneration at the Committee Chairperson/Member rates described in Part 2.2. In doing so the Governing Council must:
- Designate each Committee as being eligible for remuneration at the higher level through the policies and procedures of the university; and
- Ensure that each Committee has sufficient scope and workload to justify the higher level of remuneration.
2.2 Remuneration
(1) Members of certain University Governing Councils are eligible to receive remuneration fees specified in the Table below, subject to the eligibility criteria in Part 2.1.
(2) Each member is entitled to the remuneration applicable to one category only, the remuneration levels are not cumulative.
(3) If an eligible member has entered into an arrangement with an employer which provides that the remuneration payments are to be paid to the employer as part of the member’s conditions of employment, payment will be made to the employer.
(4) Remuneration payments will be subject to PAYG tax under Australian Taxation Office legislation. Employer superannuation guarantee contributions, levies and payroll tax are additional to the amounts shown below and will be payable by the University.
| Chancellor | Pro Chancellor | Committee Chairperson | Committee Member | Committee Member (student) | Council Member (non-student) | Council Member (student) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council of Curtin University | $90,418 | $45,209 | $39,558 | $22,604 | $11,302 | $16,953 | $8,477 |
| Senate of Murdoch University | $90,418 | $45,209 | $39,558 | $22,604 | $11,302 | $16,953 | $8,477 |
| Council of ECU | $90,418 | $45,209 | $39,558 | $22,604 | $22,604 | $16,953 | $16,953 |
| Senate of UWA | $90,418 | $45,209 | $39,558 | $22,604 | $0 | $16,953 | $0 |
| Kalgoorlie Campus Council of Curtin University | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| ECU South West Campus Advisory Board | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Advisory Board of the Academy of ECU | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Part 3 Expenses
Show morePART 3 EXPENSES
3.1 General
(1) All members of a Governing Council may, upon application to the University, be reimbursed for reasonable out of pocket expenses for which they are not otherwise reimbursed.
(2) The expenses must have been incurred while performing Council-approved duties.
(3) Reimbursements should not be used so that a member receives any personal benefit from the reimbursement.
(4) Each University should develop guidelines on what is considered an approved expense.
(5) Any reimbursements must be approved by the Council or by an appropriate approving authority of the University.
(6) All claims for reimbursement must be supported by documentation such as receipts.
3.2 Reimbursement of Expenses
(1) Travel expenses to and from approved University events may be claimed, subject to the approval of the Governing Council, and shall not exceed the rates outlined in the reimbursement of travel expenses, located on the Public Sector Commission website under “Remuneration of Government Boards and Committees”.
(2) A University may approve professional development expenses for members to be covered/reimbursed subject to the approval of the University Governing Council.
(3) Any other reasonable out of pocket expenses may be approved subject to the relevant approvals of the University Governing Council.
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