Purpose
|
G4.18 |
Field allowance compensates for the requirement to live and work in uncomfortable conditions in the field as well as the curtailment of home contacts, inability to use leisure time effectively and the liability to work exceptionally long and irregular hours. |
|
1. |
This Determination may be cited as Determination No 14 of 1995, Field Allowance. |
|
2. |
In this Determination: |
|
|
|
“Chief of the Defence Force” - a reference to the Chief of the Defence Force shall be read as including reference to such other persons as the Chief of the Defence Force authorises for the purposes of the provision in which the reference occurs. |
|
|
|
“Field service” - in relation to a member, means service during which the member is required to undertake duty and live in the field, where disabilities are experienced in the following elements: |
|
|
|
a. |
living conditions; |
|
|
b. |
working conditions; |
|
|
c. |
eating arrangements; |
|
|
d. |
leisure; |
|
|
e. |
facilities/services; and |
|
|
f. |
hours of work. |
|
|
“Initial period of field service” - means a continuous period of 48 hours during which field service is rendered. |
|
‘In the field’
|
G4.19 |
Some uncertainty has arisen over the meaning of the expressions undertake duty and live in the field, used in the definition of “field service”. This expression is fundamental to consideration of entitlement to field allowance. The consideration of any disabilities which may or may not be experienced is secondary to the threshold issue of whether a member or unit is, in fact, in the field. |
|
G4.20 |
In the absence of any
special definition of the phrase, in the field carries its ordinary
English meaning — “the scene or area of active military operations of, or
pertaining to, campaign and active combat service as distinguished from
service at headquarters or in rear areas; of, pertaining to, or conducted in,
the open air.” (Macquarie Concise Dictionary); “ground on which battle
is fought, battlefield … campaigning” (Concise |
|
G4.21 |
While it is accepted that
service in the field can be rendered during peacetime training as well as in
war or warlike service, its essential ch |
|
G4.22 |
The following is a general description of what is meant by serving in the field. |
|
G4.23 |
Members are considered to be in the field when they are required to undertake duty and live in the field. By live, it is meant that members are working, eating and sleeping in an outdoor, open air, natural environment. Members will be experiencing disabilities in living conditions, eating arrangements and working conditions and will not have access to facilities or services. Members’ accommodation will be limited to individuals or small group resources, generally transported or carried by individuals and erected as required. Members meals will be prepared by the individual or by small groups, from rations transported or carried on the person. Members will be consuming their meals in an environment that has adverse conditions and may be temporary in nature (field kitchens). The quantity, quality and regularity of meals for members will be variable. The members would be experiencing extreme or adverse working conditions which will typically involve consistent or significant exposure to water, dust, mud or dirt. Members will also experience consistent or significant exposure to adverse weather conditions, and hazards not experienced in the barracks environment. There will also be a requirement for members to undertake strenuous or demanding physical activity for extended periods (longer than experienced in the normal workplace). |
|
G4.24 |
It would not include situations where members are sleeping in crowded conditions, substandard accommodation rated three or below or on the floor of established, intact buildings in an ordinary military or urban environment. In these cases Field Allowance is not payable because the threshold eligibility requirement is not met, whatever other disabilities are being incurred. Cases of doubt should be referred to higher authority for consideration. |
Examples of not being in the field
|
G4.25 |
Duty or training in the field in daylight hours but accommodated in purpose-built structures, regardless of the standard, at night time. |
Exceptions
|
G4.26 |
Those members who are on a base but are on duty in the field in a designated exercise area or weapons range, eg Airfield Ground Defence Guards. |
|
3. |
Subject to clause 6, Field Allowance is payable to a member who is required to work and live in field conditions in respect of - |
|
|
|
(a) |
an initial period of field service; and |
|
|
(b) |
a period of field service which is or is deemed to be continuous with the initial period of field service, |
|
|
at the rates of: |
|
|
|
|
Tier 1 - $48.53 a day payable to a member who undertakes tactical field exercises or similar activities where extreme levels of disability are experienced in at least four of the six elements listed at clause 2; or |
|
|
|
Tier 2 - $28.47 a day |
|
|
such levels of disability to be determined by the Chief of the Defence Force. |
|
|
Persons who can make the
decision under clause 3 on behalf of the CDF: Commanding Officer or Officer Commanding,
not below MAJ(E), in the member's chain of command For members on operation overseas: Commander Joint Operations |
|
G4.27 |
These powers relate to decisions on the levels of disability experienced in the range of elements listed in clause 2 of the Determination. (See also the guidance on assessment of levels of entitlement in Part 1 of Annex 4.3.B at the end of this Division, including the scoring matrix in Part 2 of Annex 4.3.B.) |
|
G4.28 |
Payment of the appropriate level of the allowance will depend upon the judgment of the CDF authorised person, who will make assessments with respect to the six disability elements described in Part 1 of Annex 4.3.B and set out in the scoring matrix in Part 2 of Annex 4.3.B. |
|
G4.29 |
The CDF authorised person is required to exercise judgment with due care (see the Guidance for decision-makers exercising powers of approval in the preface to the manual). When considering an application for field allowance, the CDF authorised person should have available: |
|
a. |
details of the member’s or unit’s circumstances; and |
|
b. |
this manual. |
Assessment of levels of entitlement
|
G4.30 |
Tier 1, the higher rate, is paid when extreme levels of disability are experienced in the field. This level would generally apply to fully tactical exercises in the field, or other activities where extreme levels of disability occur. |
|
G4.31 |
Tier 2, the lower rate, is paid when significant levels of disability are experienced in the field, but circumstances fall short of those applicable to Tier 1. |
|
G4.32 |
If circumstances fall short of those applicable to Tier 2, then field allowance is not payable. |
|
G4.33 |
The levels of disability are assessed by 'scoring' each of 6 specific disabilities: working conditions, living conditions, eating arrangements, leisure, facilities/services and hours of work. These are described in Annex 4.3.B, and three levels of disability are described for each disability. |
|
G4.34 |
The circumstances applying to members in the field are to be tested against each of the disabilities — not the reverse approach where the disabilities are applied to see if the member is in the field. The most appropriate box in the scoring matrix in Part 2 of Annex 4.3.B is ticked for each disability. If units are collocated on field exercises, CDF authorised persons are to consult regarding the level of field allowance to be paid, so that there will be consistency of application. |
|
G4.35 |
It is impractical to assess each member for eligibility for field allowance on each day of field service. Eligibility should be assessed at the lowest practical group level. Although this provides administrative convenience, CDF authorised persons should be alert to cases where members within the group work under markedly different disabilities to the majority of the group. A different tier may be approved for such members in the interests of equity. |
|
G4.36 |
Four ticks in the Tier 1 column are required for payment of Tier 1. Four ticks in either the Tier 1 or Tier 2 columns are required for payment of Tier 2. A CDF authorised person is to ensure that these criteria are met in approving an appropriate tier. |
|
G4.37 |
If a member remains eligible for field allowance, but there is a change in the circumstances of field service which would vary the tier at which it is paid, adjustment should be made only if that change pertains for a significant period. For this purpose, a significant period should be judged in the context of the total duration of the field service, but a period of less than 48 hours should not normally be taken to be significant. |
|
4.1 |
In exceptional circumstances the Chief of the Defence Force may approve payment of Field Allowance where only three of the six elements at clause 2 are satisfied. |
|
Persons who can make the
decision under subclause 4.1 on behalf of the CDF: Commanding Officer or Officer
Commanding, not below MAJ(E), in the member's direct chain of command For members on operation overseas: Commander Joint Operations |
|
G4.38 |
CDF authorised persons have limited discretion under this clause in exceptional circumstances where the assessment system described above provides an inequitable outcome (for example, if extreme levels of disability clearly apply, but less than four disabilities are scored in the Tier 1 column). Their discretion should be exercised with regard to the following: |
|
a. |
if only three disabilities are ticked in the Tier 1 column, they may approve payment of Tier 1, but only if both the disabilities ‘working conditions’ and ‘living conditions’ are ticked in the Tier 1 column (ie these must be two of the three rated Tier 1). |
|
b. |
if only three disabilities are ticked in either the Tier 1 or Tier 2 columns, they may approve payment of Tier 2, but only if both the disabilities ‘working conditions’ and ‘living conditions’ are ticked in either the Tier 1 or Tier 2 columns (ie these must be two of the three rated Tier 1 or Tier 2). |
|
G4.39 |
CDF authorised persons should refer to G4.29, regarding exercising judgment with due care. |
|
4.2 |
In spite of the criteria mentioned in clause 3 for payment of Field Allowance at the Tier 1 rate, the Chief of the Defence Force may in special circumstances approve the Tier 1 rate for a prolonged period of field service for which Field Allowance is payable. |
|
Persons who can make the decision under subclause 4.2 on behalf of the CDF: Deputy Chief of Army |
|
4.3 |
For the purpose of subclause 4.2, the Chief of the Defence Force must have regard to: |
|
|
|
(a) |
the duration of the period of field service; and |
|
|
(b) |
whether the Tier 2 rate of field allowance would adequately compensate members for the hardships of the period of field service, in all the circumstances of the case. |
|
5. |
A period of field service (hereinafter called the later period) is deemed to be continuous with an initial period of field service if: |
||
|
|
a. |
the later period commences less than 48 hours after completion of the initial period of field service; and |
|
|
|
b. |
where there is more than one such later period, to the extent that any break in field service between those periods does not exceed 48 hours |
|
|
|
but Field Allowance is not payable for the period of any break between periods of field service. |
||
|
6. |
Commencement and completion of field service: |
||
|
|
(a) |
Subject to a member completing at least an initial period of field service and subject to clause 6(b), where a member - |
|
|
|
(1) |
commences a period of field service on a day; or |
|
|
|
(2) |
completes a period of field service on a day, being a period of field service that extends beyond mid-day on that day, |
|
|
|
|
the member shall be deemed for the purposes of this determination, to have rendered a full day of service on that day. |
|
|
|
(b) |
Where a member commences a period of field service before midnight on a day that by virtue of clause 6(a)(2) is deemed to be a full day of field service the member shall be deemed, for the purposes of clause 6(a)(1), to have commenced a period of field service on the next day. |
|
|
G4.40 |
After the initial period of field service, field allowance is payable for that period and each additional day of field service that is continuous with that period if such service ceases after 1200 hours on the last day. If field service ceases before 1200 hours, the allowance ceases on the second last day. |
||
|
G4.41 |
If a member ceases field service but recommences it within 48 hours there is no requirement to requalify with another initial period of field service, but the allowance is not payable during such breaks in field service. |
||
|
G4.42 |
If a member ceases field service after 1200 hours and recommences it before midnight on the same day, the allowance is not payable twice for that day but will continue to be paid from the next day if field service continues beyond 1200 hours. |
||
|
7.1 |
A member is not entitled to field allowance while the member is entitled to: |
|
|
|
(a) |
seagoing allowance; or |
|
|
(b) |
travelling allowance. |
|
7.2 |
Determination No. 4 of 2008, Allowance for Specialist Operations (Column 5 of Schedules 1 and 2) and Determination No. 5 of 2008, Special Forces Disability Allowance (Column 6 of Schedule 1), prescribe whether a member receiving either of those allowances may also be paid Field Allowance. |
|
7.3 |
... |
|
G4.43 |
Subject to meeting the
qualifying conditions, field allowance can be paid concurrently with cle |
|
8. |
... |
|
9. |
Determination No 8 of 1987 made by the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal pursuant to Section 58H of the Defence Act 1903 is hereby repealed. |
|
10. |
This Determination shall take effect on and from 15 July 1995. |
|
Clause |
Amendments |
|
3. |
Amended by: DFRT Nos. 8 and 24 of 1996; No. 10 of 1997; Nos. 9 and 27 of 1998; No. 14 of 1999; No. 8 of 2000; Nos. 3 and 16 of 2001; No. 2 of 2002; Nos. 7 and 23 of 2002; No. 11 of 2003; Nos. 2 and 14 of 2004; No. 5 of 2005; Nos. 1 and 16 of 2006; No. 5 of 2007; Nos. 10 and 29 of 2008. |
|
4. |
Amended by: DFRT No. 2 of 2002. |
|
7. |
Amended by: DFRT No. 6 of 1997; No. 5 of 1999. Substituted by: DFRT No. 13 of 2002. Amended by: DFRT No. 20 of 2002; No. 17 of 2008. |
|
8. |
Amended by: DFRT No. 8 of 1997. Omitted by: DFRT No. 7 of 1998. |
|
1. |
DFRT Determination 14 of 1995 has been amended by DFRT Determination Nos. 6, 8 and 24 of 1996; Nos. 8 and 10 of 1997; Nos. 7, 9 and 27 of 1998; Nos. 5 and 14 of 1999; No. 8 of 2000; Nos. 3 and 16 of 2001; No. 2 of 2002; Nos. 7, 13, 20 and 23 of 2002; No. 11 of 2003; Nos. 2 and 14 of 2004; No. 5 of 2005; Nos. 1 and 16 of 2006; No. 5 of 2007; Nos. 10, 17 and 29 of 2008. |