15–16

PART 5—MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Table 18: Remuneration by classification as at 30 June 2016
Classification
Salary range
APS1 $43,283–$47,841
APS2 $48,985–$54,321
APS3 $55,796–$60,222
APS4 $62,186–$67,518
APS5 $69,359–$73,547
APS6 $74,914–$86,053
Executive Level 1 $96,035–$103,702
Executive Level 2 $111,820–$126,743
SES Band 1 $145,000–$185,400
Note: Under the Enterprise Agreement 2011–2014, where an employee moves to the office from another agency and his or her
salary exceeds the maximum point in the office’s salary range for the relevant classification, the higher salary will be maintained
until the difference has been absorbed by the office’s salary rates.
Purchasing
The office is committed to achieving the best
value for money in procurement activity and
uses procurement practices that are consistent
with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.
This includes the use of the Commonwealth
Contracting Suite to prepare approaches to
market and manage procurement processes.
These practices are supported by the
Accountable Authority Instructions and
internal policy and guidance material.
To improve efficiency in procurement, the
office used established procurement panels
where possible. The office supports small
business participation in the Commonwealth
Government procurement market. Small and
Medium Enterprises (SME) and Small Enterprise
participation statistics are available on the
Department of Finance’s website. The office’s
procurement methods aim not to discriminate
against small and medium-sized enterprises.
Our policies and processes highlight the
requirement to first access the Supply Nation
website to check whether there are any
Indigenous businesses that can provide the
goods and services required. The office will seek
to enter into arrangements with Indigenous
business where possible and ensure that the
arrangement adheres to the value for money
and best fit principles. All procurements entered
into are done on the basis of value for money
and best fit.
Procurement plans are published on AusTender
as they become known, to facilitate early
procurement planning and to draw attention
to our planned activity. All procurements that
are in excess of $10 000 are published on
AusTender as soon as practical.
Consultants
The office engages consultancy services when
a specific expertise is not available internally
or when independent advice is required.
During 2015–16, seven new consultancy
contracts were entered into, involving total actual
expenditure of $0.152 million (including GST).
In addition, three ongoing consultancy contracts
were active during the 2015–16 year, with total
expenditure of $0.139 million. These contracts
covered financial services, IT development and
mediation services.
No contracts were let containing provisions
that do not allow the Auditor-General to
have access to the contractor’s premises,
and no contracts were entered into that
104 | COMMONWEALTH OMBUDSMAN ANNUAL REPORT | 2015–16