Whole of Government Aid Adviser Review

Media release

London

22 January 2012

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd today welcomed the completion of a review into the pay and conditions offered to public servants engaged overseas as Australian aid advisers.

The review of public servant aid advisers followed last year's Joint Adviser Review, which cut 257 adviser positions and reduced by up to a quarter the average salaries and allowances payable to commercially contracted advisers funded by AusAID.

This review considered the pay and conditions of 63 public servant positions in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Indonesia filled by officials from 11 departments including the Attorney-General's Department, the Department of Finance and Deregulation, Immigration, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport and the Treasury.

It reflects the Government's ongoing commitment to ensure that Australia's aid program is effective and provides value for money. The review found that conditions of service were not consistent across positions, countries, government departments or in comparison to other non-aid overseas postings.

A clear framework for salaries paid to advisers and a standard package of allowances and benefits has now been introduced for all public servants posted overseas under the aid program.

This framework ends special arrangements introduced during the Howard Government and brings the aid advisers broadly in line with other Australian public servants posted overseas.

The review acknowledged the important contribution that advisers make in assisting partner governments to advance economic reform, strengthen law and order and improve the delivery of health and education services.

Media enquiries