SUBJ: dEFENCE APS EMPLOYEES - CONDITIONS OF SERVICE (COS) – op ASTUTE

PACMAN version two – chapter 17

SITUATION

THE MINDEF DECLARED SVC ON OP ASTUTE AS NON-WARLIKE (NWL) FROM 12 MAY 06.

MISSION

2. TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE COS FOR OP ASTUTE FOR DEF APS EMPLOYEES. THIS MSG IS TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REF and replaces ALL PREVIOUS SIGNALS.

ELIGIBILITY

3. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE COS, DEF APS PERS MUST HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN NOTICE TO PERFORM DUTIES:

a. IN SPT OF OP ASTUTE, AND

B. BE EMPLOYED WITHIN THE OP ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA.

4. THE OP ASTUTE specified area comprises East Timor and its territorial waters and superjacent airspace.

5. OPERATIONAL SPT ALLOWANCE (OSA). OSA IS PAID FOR THE PERIOD OF DUTY (REF B, CLAUSE 17.10.3) AND IS THE SUM OF:

A. HARDSHIP RATE. – DOLLARS SIXTY FIVE CENTS zero five (AUD 65.05), and

B. ARDUOUS DUTIES RATE. FOR WEEKDAYS DOLLARS one hundred CENTS sixty five (AUS 100.65) AND FOR A SATURDAY, Sunday OR PUBLIC HOLIDAY DOLLARS two HUNDRED AND four CENTS ninety seven (AUD 204.97).

C. THE ARDUOUS DUTY RATE OF oSA FOR A DAY IS REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF ANY ENTITLEMENT FOR THAT DAY FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) OVERTIME,

(2) SHIFT PENALTY PAYMENTS,

(3) RESTRICTION ALLOWANCE,

(4) SPECIAL ENTITLEMENTS FOR DUTY AT SEA.

6. TAX. TAX LIABILITIES FOR THE DURATION OF OPERATIONAL SUPPORT remains an individuals RESPONSIBILITY. DEPENDENT ON THE NATURE OF THE OPERATION being SUPPORTed, the individuals STATUS AND LOCATION, persons MAY OR MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX RELIEF after SPENDing 91 DAYS OR MORE IN THE AREA OF OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. THE MEDICARE LEVY remains PAYABLE. THE AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE should be consulted FOR FURTHER ADVICE. BEFORE ELECTING TO CEASE INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING, persons ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO SEEK INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AND/OR TAXATION ADVICE. IF INCOME TAX WITHHOLDINGS are CEASED FOR the PERIOD OF OPERATIONAL SUPPORT BUT persons DO NOT RENDER 91 DAYS CONTINUOUS FOREIGN SERVICE OR, DUE TO personal STATUS OR PARTICULAR LOCATION ARE EXCLUDED FROM TAX RELIEF, individuals WILL INCUR A SIGNIFICANT TAX LIABILITY AT THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR.

7. MEALs AND ACCN. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MEALS AND ACCN WILL BE PROVIDED AT CWEALTH EXPENSE. APS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN MEALS MAY QUALIFY FOR THE PAYMENT OF TA (INCLUDING INCIDENTALS) IAW NORMAL POLICY.

8. ADDITIONAL ANNUAL LEAVE. THE RATE OF ADDITIONAL ANNUAL LEAVE FOR DUTY IS THE SUM OF:

A. TWO WEEKS A YEAR FOR DUTY IN THE SPECIFIED AREA (on a pro rata basis), AND

B. ONE ADDITIONAL DAYS LEAVE FOR EVERY TEN DAYS THE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO OSA, TO A MAX OF 10 DAYS PER leave YEAR.

C. FOR EXAMPLE, 12 MTH SVC WOULD EARN 20 DAYS ADDITIONAL LEAVE.

9. RELIEF OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL FARES ASSISTANCE (ROCTFA):

A. PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT OF LESS THAN SIX MONTHS DO NOT ATTRACT ROCTFA.

B. FOR PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT OF SIX MONTHS OR LONGER, ROCTFA MAY BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS AND PROVIDED THE employees PLANNED LEAVE INCLUDES BEING OUTSIDE OF THE SPECIFIED AREA FOR AT LEAST SEVEN (7) CONSECUTIVE DAYS. ONE ROCTFA ENTITLEMENT MAY BE APPROVED WHERE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT IS SIX MONTHS BUT LESS THAN NINE MONTHS. FOR PERIODS GREATER THAN NINE MONTHS, REFER TO CLAUSE 17.10.12.

C. THE ROCTFA DESTINATION IS AUSTRALIA AND limited to the previous work location. There is no offset for this entitlement.

10. CLOTHING AND EQUIP. BLOCK SCALE OF CLOTHING AND SOME EQUIP IS AVAILABLE FOR ISSUE.

11. COMPENSATION AND LIFE INSURANCE:

A. APS EMPLOYEES ARE COVERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE SRCA FOR DEATH, INJURY OR ILLNESS EXCEPT WHILE ON LEAVE OUTSIDE THE AO.

B. EMPLOYEES CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR POLICIES TAKEN OUT FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR OPERATIONAL SPT DUTY IN THE AO. LIMITED TO POLICIES PROVIDING COVERAGE WITHIN AN operational ZONE. FURTHER ADVICE ON LIMITS IS TO BE SOUGHT THROUGH PARENT BRANCH.

12. THIS SIGNAL AND SUBSEQUENT SIGNALS WILL BE POSTED ON THe pe page at http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/ AND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DPE/.

13. QUESTIONS. ALL QUERIES REGARDING CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ENTITLEMENTS ARE TO BE FORWARDED THROUGH PARENT BRANCH.

UNCLASSIFIED