PACMAN Chapter 17 Part 5 Division 2: During deployment

This Division covers the conditions of service for a member during deployment for service on warlike operations six months or longer.

		TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.B, item 162.
1.	Deployment allowance is paid during deployment on warlike operations. Its purpose is to recognise the military and environmental hazards a member may experience.
2.	The deployment allowance rate is based on the threat levels assessed by the Minister for military threats and environmental hazards in the operational area. In deciding the threat levels, the Minister must consider a range of criteria about the operational situation and environmental conditions.
3.	In one operational area, there may be different deployment allowance rates for different locations.
4.	Deployment allowance is payable for all these periods.
		a.	A day or part-day of service in the operational area.
		b.	A day of recreation leave or war service leave accrued in the operational area.
5.		Deployment allowance has these features.
		a.	It is exempt from income tax instalments.
		b.	It is exempt for Family Tax Benefit purposes.
		c.	It is assessable income for social security purposes.
		Exception: Deployment allowance is not assessable for members of the Reserve Forces.
		See: Chapter 17 Part 9, Allowances and leave

		TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.B, item 163.
	A member getting deployment allowance may be entitled to some of these other allowances in the following situations.

Item	Allowance	Additional information
1.	Separation allowance	If applicable, separation allowance may be payable. See: Chapter 6 Part 1 Division 1.
2.	Hardship allowance	Hardship allowance is not payable at the same time as deployment allowance. However, the member may be entitled to hardship allowance on any day the member is not entitled to deployment allowance. See: Clause 16.2.4, Amount of hardship allowance.
3.	Travel costs	Travel costs are only payable to a member on any day the member has to pay for their own meals while on deployment. See: Chapter 13 Part 3, Travel costs for short-term duty overseas.

A member is not required to contribute for accommodation and meal expenses while on overseas deployment.

1.	While on deployment, a member accrues leave in addition to basic recreation leave. This table lists each type of leave that can accrue during deployment and describes how it accrues.

Item

Type of leave

Accrual method

Additional recreation leave (for field, seagoing and flying service)

Accrued under normal provisions,

see Chapter 5 Part 2 Division 3.

War service leave

Allows members to recuperate from warlike service.

Accrues at the rate of one and a half days for each completed month of service in the operational area.

War service leave is taken immediately on return to Australia and before other types of leave.

Payment instead of war service leave is available if for Service reasons, the leave cannot be granted.

See: Chapter 5 Part 6, War service leave

2.	Members on warlike deployment are not granted extra recreation leave. As a member on a warlike deployment gets deployment allowance and war service leave, extra recreation leave under Chapter 5 Part 2 Division 4 is not granted for the same period.

The purpose of relief out-of-country travel fare assistance is to help the member have time away from the difficulties of a deployment.

1.	Subject to operational constraints, a member may be granted relief out-of-country travel fare assistance, for return travel to an approved destination, if all these conditions are met.
	a.	The member is assigned to the deployment for six months or more.
	b.	The member travels to a destination approved under clause 17.5.23.
	c.	The member is outside the operational area for seven consecutive days or longer. Example: A member leaves the operational area during four days of recreation leave, two stand-down days and a public holiday.
	d.	The travel is planned to occur at regular intervals during the deployment, if practicable. Note: Members must plan the travel to obtain value for money, consistent with the obligations imposed on them by the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.
2.	The number of times a member may be granted relief out-of-country travel fare assistance depends on the period that they are on deployment for, as described in the table.

Item	If it is intended that the member be deployed for this period...	they may be granted up to this many trips for the deployment...
a.	less than six months	0
b.	six months but less than nine months	1
c.	nine months but less than 12 months	2
d.	12 months but less than 15 months	3
e.	15 months but less than 18 months	4
f.	18 months or more	5

3.	The member is entitled to relief out-of-country travel fare assistance up to these limits.
	a.	The cost of return travel to the approved destination under these conditions.
		i.	It is economy class.
		ii.	It is on the cheapest available airline that offers a reasonable standard of safety and security.
		iii.	It does not include any avoidable stopovers.
	b.	The member is not entitled to travel costs while on relief out of country travel fare assistance.
4.	Allowable offset arrangements for travel to other destinations are advised at the start of each deployment. Those destinations must still meet the purpose of relief travel. Cost is limited to the cost of travel to the approved destination.
5.	If it is intended that a member stay on deployment for 12 months or more, the member may apply as an offset to combine two trips to Australia that they are entitled to under the table in subclause 2, for one of these purposes.
	a.	To assist the member and their dependants to use relief out-of-country travel fare assistance to reunite, in Australia or in an approved destination.
	b.	If the member has no dependants (or does not wish to reunite with them), to travel on relief out-of-country travel fare assistance to Australia or another country that is more expensive to travel to than the standard approved destination.
	Note: The offset can only be used to purchase fares. The alternative location must still be approved under subclause 17.5.23.

	TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.B, item 164.
	The Director Service Conditions may approve a destination for relief out-of-country travel fare assistance that meets both these requirements.
	a.	A safe environment for rest and recreation.
	b.	Adequate rest and recreation facilities.

The Lead Joint Command or Joint Logistics Command will apply mail and telephone provisions separately for each deployment

	TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.B, item 165.
	The Australian Active Service Medal may be awarded for warlike service.

PACMAN AL4 (February 2009) Chapter 17 – Part 5 Division 2 – 1