Executive vehicle allowances in Queensland: understand the package, not just the headline salary
By Brian AJ Newman, LLB, Employment and Human Rights Advocate | Reviewed 12 November 2026
An executive vehicle allowance is not necessarily an extra benefit on top of every other travel payment. Queensland’s Executive Remuneration Package – Motor Vehicles and Allowances Directive 13/13 explains how the allowance operates for executives within its coverage, including important limits on claiming mileage and how leave can affect payment.
First establish which rules apply
The official catalogue lists 13/13 as current. Its text dates from September 2013 and refers to the Public Service Act 2008. The catalogue explains that older directives continue unless repealed or replaced, but only for entities to which they applied before 1 March 2023.
Its stated coverage concerns chief executives, senior executives and specified contract employees receiving an executive vehicle allowance as part of their remuneration. It is not a general vehicle allowance for every Queensland government employee.
Current executive arrangements also involve newer employment-conditions directives and the employee’s contract. Neither an executive job title nor a remuneration figure, alone, establishes that every provision of this older directive applies. Ask the agency to confirm the applicable instruments, contract terms and allowance treatment in writing.
An allowance is different from a government car
The directive’s default is a vehicle allowance, subject to the relevant authority’s determination and its transitional provision.
The provisions about purchasing private use of a government-owned vehicle must be read carefully. Clause 7.2 addresses executives who already had that arrangement when the directive took effect in 2013. It continued only until the existing lease expired, with no replacement vehicle at the end of that lease. Those pages should not be presented as an open invitation to obtain a new privately used government car today.
Avoid double counting travel payments
For a covered executive receiving the allowance, the directive says a motor vehicle allowance under a directive is not also payable for official business undertaken in the executive’s private vehicle. Before submitting mileage, establish which allowance and travel rules apply to the journey.
Do not assume that a vehicle component means every parking or other travel expense is automatically covered or reimbursable. Ask payroll or the authorising officer about the specific expense and approval requirements.
Leave and salary calculations need separate checks
The directive provides for half payment of the allowance during half-pay leave and no payment during leave without pay. Its definition also addresses proportional treatment for part-time executives.
The allowance is not treated as ordinary salary for every purpose. The directive excludes it from specified superannuation, annual-leave-loading and contract service or separation calculations, while distinguishing the payout of accrued recreation or long-service leave. That distinction is a reason to obtain an itemised calculation, not to assume that every termination payment is treated identically.
Questions to ask before accepting or changing a package
Is the vehicle allowance included in the quoted total remuneration, or shown separately?
What current directive and contract provision govern it?
How will part-time work, half-pay leave or unpaid leave change payment?
Which private-vehicle claims are excluded because the allowance is already paid?
How will the allowance be treated in each relevant leave or separation calculation?
Who can approve a variation, and where will that approval be recorded?
A useful written explanation separates salary, superannuation, vehicle allowance and any other component. It should also identify the rules for changes rather than relying on a single headline package figure.
Official source
This is general education, not individual employment, remuneration, tax or legal advice. Confirm current coverage and contract terms before relying on a payment or submitting a claim.
The official documents are linked rather than embedded because permission to reproduce the complete documents has not been cleared.
~bajn~
Comments