General Questions

1. What is GORPS?

The Graded Other Rank Pay Structure (GORPS) is the final phase of the Remuneration Reform Project (RRP) and affects approximately 38,600 permanent and reserve members encompassing 187 distinct employment categories. During 2008, the Services and the Directorate of Military Salaries and Allowances - Policy (DMSA(P)) presented several submissions to the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) in a number of hearings, culminating on 7 Nov 08 when the DFRT approved the GORPS, with effect 4 Sep 08.

2. What does this mean for me?

The DFRT decision represents a significant achievement in ADF Other Ranks pay reform and will:

• Consolidate the current 16 pay groups into 10 pay grades, but with the same total range of salary placement;
• Increase pay differentials between pay grades;
• Increase remuneration particularly at CPL and SGT ranks (key separation points where trade experience and supervisory skills are important);
• Create Family Groups for like-ADF employment categories;
• Align the WO pay structure with the OR pay structure, by establishing a consistent 10 pay grade structure;
• Reduce the number of increments for Warrant Officer from two to one;
• Apply the same GORPS pay treatment to Reserve members for the same application of skill and therefore contribution to generating capability; and
• Create a new trainee pay structure, as well as introducing a new Trainee Allowance for ARA members.

Pay Grades

Members should confirm on the Army GORPS website what their new pay grade should be. If this is not correct please see your unit pay office staff.

Placement of Employment Categories

4. Why are Army employment categories grouped into families?

To facilitate an integrated ADF approach to pay placement, the GORPS case proceeded on the basis that each category belonged to an ADF employment family. The families represent an articulation of the broad capability value of the employment categories contained within them. This ensured a consistent ‘like basic trade pay for like basic trade employment' across the three Services.

My new GORPS salary

5. How do I find out what the changes to my salary are?

Find out how much you are going to be paid by:

• Going to your Corps document on the GORPS website
• Locate your skill grade and your new pay grade
• Use the ADF Pay rates table to find your new pay grade

6. My GORPS pay grade is lower than my current pay grade does this means my salary will reduce?

The mapping of the 16 pay groups to 10 pay grades meant that some of the old pay groups needed to be compressed with others into the new structure. This does not necessarily mean that your new salary is lower. In most cases members will see an increase in salary. In some instances however, as a result of the new structure, some skill grades have been reduced in salary, Army has ensured that any member in this situation will receive a non reduction provision (NRP) in the form of an allowance, until their post GORPS salary catches up either through promotion or Skill Grade movement.

7. Should I tell government agencies about my new salary?

Yes. If you, your partner or dependents are in receipt of Centrelink benefits (Family Tax Benefit Parts A or B, or Child Care Benefits, Austudy, Youth Allowance etc), that are means tested on your salary, or your combined salaries. If your new GORPS salary is going to be higher than you estimated at the start of the financial year and you do not tell Centrelink, it's possible that your continued benefits may be higher than they should be for the means tested salary you earn. This may mean that you may have to pay back to Centrelink any overpayments. If you make child support payments, you should also declare your increased salary to the Child Support Agency so that any adjustments to your support payments can be made.

8. Where do I find the pay rate structure prior to the implementation of GORPS?

The pre-GORPS pay rates can be found under "Finding your new salary" on the GORPS website here: Army GORPS website

Back Pay issues

9. Can I salary sacrifice my back pay into super?

No, a salary sacrifice arrangement is only effective with respect to earnings for the employee's future services for their employer. The back pay that members will receive as a result of GORPS does not meet this requirement for prospectivity as members have already earned the entitlement to be paid the back pay amount from 4 September 08, and relates to services that members have already made.

10. Is my back pay tax-free if I deployed for a period of time between 4 September 2008 and implementation?

Yes, backdated salary adjustments are taxed proportionately for time in tax free zone. For example if the period for backdated salary arrears is 100 days and the time a member spent in the tax free zone was 50 days then half the arrears would be tax free.

11. Why haven't I received any back pay for GORPS?

Not all members will receive back payment for GORPS. If the GORPS placement puts a member into a lower pay grade, they will receive Non Reduction Provisions to ensure they do not receive a debt; therefore, no increase will be received.

12. I only received a small amount of back pay. Why isn't it more?

This is determined by what pay grade the member was previously on, the new GORPS pay grade and if the member was previously in receipt of any HDA for a higher pay grade, tax offsets etc. Pay Office staff will be able to advise.

13. My GORPS back payment is not the same as my peers, is something wrong?

Every individual member has differing circumstances. Members should not compare their adjustments with peers. Each adjustment will be dependent on any previous HDA, tax offsets etc. Pay Office staff are able to advise

Reading your Salary Variation Authority (SVA)

14. I don't understand how to read the pay codes that are on my SVA?

The new GORPS pay rates will have a different definition on your SVA from previous pay rates.

For example, CPL Pay Grade 5 Increment 2, CPL 05/02, will now be CPL 9E/02.
Here, the 9 represents the Other Ranks Pay Groups, E represents Pay Grade 5, A to J being Pay Grades 1 to 10.

Please see the following document:

New GORPS Pay Codes

Non Reduction Provisions

15. When will the non-reduction provision for GORPS expire?

NRP for GORPS won't have an expiry date. Essentially, you remain eligible for NRP until any increment increases, pay grade movement or promotion renders it unnecessary.

ADFPAY availability

16. Will ADFPAY be available to make changes to my pay account during implementation?

ADFPAY will be unavailable during specific periods when GORPS is being implemented. This means that, any new pay related action that members process through PSS will not take effect until ADFPAY is fully functioning. Members should refrain from using PSS during the downtimes which can be found at:

http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/MilitaryPayrollSystems/ - PMKeyS - Military Payroll Systems Website

Reservists

17. Are Reservists included and when will Reservists be paid?

Yes, Reservists are included in GORPS. It is the intention that Reservists will be paid from August 09 and more information will follow on this.

Warrant Officers

18. What are the changes to the Warrant Officer structure?

• 10 Grades. The current Warrant Officer structure has eight pay grades. The introduction of a 10-grade structure allowed a much simpler transition between WO2 and WO1 and provides for a more equitable on-promotion pay increase over the current arrangement.
• Tiering. WO1 Tier A pay grades continue to be informed by the placement of their WO2 placement. Many WO1's will see salary increases as a result of their category being approved for pay grade increases in the GORPS. WO1 Tier B and C pay grades have been realigned to pay grades 7 and 8, resulting in additional remunerative outcomes of $835 and $279 pa respectively.
• Increments. The new structure reduces the previous increments at WO2 and WO1 Tier A level from two to one. This will apply to all current and future Warrant Officers. The top increments have been removed, and another increment has been added BELOW the current on-promotion rate. This change reduces the level of intrusion by Warrant Officers in Tier A into Tier B and C pay points as well as alleviating incursion into the Officer pay structure.
• Non-reduction provisions. Should it be necessary, non-reduction provisions (NRP) will apply to ensure that current salary is protected. However, as a result of pay grade changes in your parent category, many WO1's will move right in the structure and NRP will not be needed.

Trainees

19. What are the changes for trainees?

Trainees were also reviewed in conjunction with GORPS with new structures for progression from Recruit School to Initial Employment Training (IET), long-term trainees (six month and 12 month junctures), and the introduction of an $8,000 pa Trainee Allowance for the ARA. Revised trainee pay will took effect from payday 8 Jan 09. Trainees received the new Trainee Allowance from pay day 5 Feb 09, and those entitled to the new increments, from pay day 19 Mar 09. A Trainee Allowance for ARes is being examined.

Discharge

20. What happens if I discharge after GORPS implementation, but before new pay grades have been implemented?

The DFRT approved date for GORPS is 4 Sep 08. Any soldiers discharging after this date, but prior to implementation in Apr 09 will have their discharge salary readjusted automatically. As such, soldiers should not close their Net Pay Deposit bank account prior to the readjustment taking place. Superannuation payments will also be adjusted by ComSuper following the implementation of the new 10-graded structure. However, members should liaise closely with ComSuper following implementation

Commissioning

21. I commissioned after 4 Sep 08 – what will happen with my pay?

If you are on Non-Reduction Provisions, your backpay (if entitled) will be calculated and your salary adjusted in line with your GORPS placement.

If you are on Transitional Pay Rates, your backpay (if entitled) will be calculated and paid. A review of placement offers is currently being conducted as members' GORPS placements are identified, and should be completed before GORPS roll-out so they can be re-placed in the Transitional Pay Rates.