Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report – 2021 Financial Statements Note 12 – Key Management Personnel

The key management personnel of the RBA are the Governor and Deputy Governor, non-executive members of the Reserve Bank Board, non-executive members of the Payments System Board and the Assistant Governors, who are the senior staff responsible for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the RBA. There were 20 of these positions in 2020/21 (unchanged from 2019/20). A total of 23 individuals occupied these positions for all or part of the financial year (21 in the previous year).

The positions of Governor and Deputy Governor are designated as Principal Executive Offices in terms of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, which provides for the Remuneration Tribunal to determine the applicable remuneration for these positions. Within the parameters determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, the Reserve Bank Board Remuneration Committee, comprising three non-executive members, makes a recommendation on remuneration for these positions for the approval of the Board, which is the ‘employing body’ for the positions. In accordance with provisions of the Reserve Bank Act, neither the Governor nor the Deputy Governor takes part in decisions of the Reserve Bank Board relating to the determination or application of any terms or conditions on which either of them holds office. In June 2020, the Remuneration Tribunal determined that no adjustment would be made at that time to the remuneration of offices in its jurisdiction, including Principal Executive Offices. Accordingly, the remuneration reference rates for these positions of Governor and Deputy Governor were unchanged in 2020/21 at $1,061,210 (superannuable salary of $774,683) for the Governor and $795,910 (superannuable salary of $581,014) for the Deputy Governor. Remuneration of each of the Governor and Deputy Governor in 2020/21 was at the applicable reference rate. No performance payments were made to either the Governor or Deputy Governor in 2020/21.

Fees for non-executive members of the Reserve Bank Board and the Payments System Board are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. The Governor determines the rates of remuneration of the Assistant Governors. For staff generally, remuneration aims to be market competitive and designed to attract and retain appropriately skilled people. Remuneration levels for employees are externally benchmarked.

The disclosure of key management personnel remuneration is based on AASB 124 – Related Party Disclosures, as shown below. The figures are disclosed on an accruals basis and show the full cost to the consolidated entity; they include all leave and fringe benefits tax charges.

Short-term benefits include salary and, for relevant executives, lump-sum performance payments and motor vehicle, car parking and health benefits (including any fringe benefits tax on these benefits).

Post-employment benefits include superannuation and, in the case of executives, an estimate of the cost to provide health benefits in retirement. Other long-term employee benefits include long service leave and annual leave, as well as the effect of revaluing previously accrued leave entitlements in accordance with AASB 119 (see Note 10).

There were no loans or other related party transactions with Board members or other key management personnel during 2020/21 and 2019/20. Transactions with Board member-related entities that occurred in the normal course of the RBA's operations were incidental and conducted on terms no more favourable than similar transactions with other employees or customers; any vendor relationships with such entities were at arm's length and complied with the RBA's procurement policy.