Member's Guide to ADF Pay and Conditions in Australia – see Disclaimer – check PACMAN for full details

 

9.8 Defence travel model

 

What is the Defence travel model?

The Defence travel model is a way of paying for your travel. It includes a number of new tools and processes to help you.

 

·          A budget calculator to put together a budget before you travel. 

·          The Defence travel card to cover costs when travelling. 

·          A program on the Defweb called the Card Management System. This checks that transactions have been correctly charged to Defence.

 

How does the Defence travel card work?

The Defence travel card is a credit card that you use to cover the costs of travelling. It is issued by Diners Club in your name, but does not affect your credit history or rating. You use it to pay for airfares through Qantas Business Travel, car hire, accommodation, meals and incidental costs.

 

How do you cover your costs?

Each time you do business travel under the new model, you should complete a travel budget using the budget calculator. The budget calculator can be found on the Travel site on the Defweb. This will tell you how much you can spend for each type of expense (eg accommodation, meals and incidentals). The amounts are based on the limits in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual. In some cases, you may apply to get approval to spend more than these limits, if the costs are reasonable.

 

You should use your Defence travel card to cover costs wherever possible. You can also withdraw some or all of the meal and incidental costs as cash through an automatic teller machine or Travelex office. This allows you to use outlets that might not accept a credit card. Examples could be buying a newspaper from a street vendor, or a sandwich from a milk bar.

 

If accommodation or a meal is provided for you, you must identify this in the budget calculator. This amount will then be removed from the budget. An exception is a meal provided by an airline on a domestic flight. If you stay with friends or relatives rather than in a motel the accommodation for that period is not included in the budget.

 

What happens when you get back?

You must verify your costs on the Defweb using the Card Management System. If you spent more than you were allowed, you will have to repay it. It is wise to have receipts to use in this process. Receipts also help if there is a dispute with Diners Club about how much was spent.

 

Application to Reservists:  Yes.

 

References:  ADF Pay and Conditions Manual, Chapter 9 Part 5 Division 2

The Defence Travel site has further information. It is at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dsg/sites/travel/default.asp.