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TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 124. |
7.1.17 Purpose
7.1.18 Member
who is eligible
7.1.19 Member
who is not eligible
7.1.20 Member
to apply in writing
7.1.21 CDF
may approve a house-hunting trip
7.1.22 House-hunting
trip payments
7.1.23 Costs
that will not be paid
7.1.24 Car
hire for member returning to Australia
7.1.25 Families
with special needs
7.1.26 House
not chosen during house-hunting trip
7.1.27 Evidence
of house-hunting trip costs
7.1.28 Defence
Housing Australia procedures for house-hunting trips (This clause is policy
guidance)
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House-hunting trips allow a member to visit a new posting location to find a Service residence or home for which rent allowance is payable. The ADF and the member benefits in these ways. |
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a. |
A Service residence, or a home that attracts rent allowance, can be arranged before the member starts duty in the new location. |
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b. |
Members and dependants (if any) will spend less time in temporary accommodation at the new location. |
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c. |
Costs and stress levels are reduced because members are more likely to have a door-to-door removal. |
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1. |
A member with dependants who meets both these conditions may apply for a house-hunting trip. |
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a. |
They have been posted to a new location within |
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b. |
They are entitled to a full removal. See: Chapter 6 Part 6, Removals. |
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c. |
They are eligible for a Service residence or a home that attracts rent allowance. |
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2. |
Any other member who meets all these conditions may apply for a house-hunting trip. |
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a. |
They have been posted to a new location within |
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b. |
They intend to live in a rented home at the new location. |
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c. |
They will be eligible for rent allowance for that home. |
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A member is not eligible for a house-hunting trip for one of these purposes. |
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a. |
To prepare for a removal on ceasing continuous full-time service. This applies whether the removal is taken before or after ceasing. See: Chapter 6 Part 6, Removals. |
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b. |
To look for a suitable own home to buy in the gaining location. |
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c. |
To prepare the member's suitable own home to move into. |
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A member must apply by completing the Defence Housing Australia Request for a house hunting trip form. This form can be found in Annex E. See: Annex 7.E, Request for a house hunting trip form |
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The CDF may approve a house-hunting trip. Approval may only be given if the CDF is satisfied on these grounds. |
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a. |
The trip has the purpose of house-hunting stated in clause 7.1.17. |
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b. |
At least one of these conditions applies. |
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i. |
There is a selection of Service residences available at the new location. |
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ii. |
Rent allowance has been approved for the member and there are homes that rent allowance could be paid for available at the new location. |
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c. |
The member has been granted leave for the trip. |
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2. |
The member may be unable to take leave for the trip because they are required to stay on duty. In this case, the CDF may give the entitlement to the member's adult dependant. |
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Persons who can make the decision under clause 7.1.21 on behalf of the CDF: A person not below WO2(E)/APS 4 who is: - Team Leader in the Housing Management Centre (HMC) - Relocations Manager in the Housing Management Centre - Housing Management Centre Manager - National Operations – Removals Manager - National Operations – Allocations Manager - National Relocations Manager Contract Manager Relocation Services Assistant Director Operations Director Relocations and Housing |
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1. |
The CDF may approve up to $600 each for the member and adult dependant for the house-hunting trip. The total payment the CDF may approve to the member is $1,200. |
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2. |
The CDF may increase the individual limit in subclause 1 to $1,200, for a person travelling alone. The CDF must be satisfied that exceptional circumstances make this necessary. |
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3. |
A payment made under subclause 1 or 2 may be used to pay for these items. |
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a. |
Return travel to the new location by the most economical means, including Service transport if available. The normal departmental liability for travel to the location is the most that can be paid to the member for the travel. See: Chapter 9 Part 1, Basic travel entitlements |
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b. |
Accommodation and meal costs up to what would be paid if the member and dependant (if any) were eligible for travelling allowance. See: Chapter 9 Part 5, Payment of travel costs Exception 1: Costs are payable only for accommodation that is commercially provided. For other accommodation, the member and any dependant would only get half the travelling allowance amount for meals. Exception 2: If the member travels alone, they must live in if practicable and get meals from a mess at the new location. |
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c. |
Hire of a car to use for the house-hunting trip. This does not apply if the member or adult dependant drives their own car. |
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d. |
For a member with dependants travelling unaccompanied, up to $20 for the cost of telephone calls with their dependants. |
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4. |
Travelling leave may be approved for the member, if they need to use surface transport to get to the location. See: Chapter 5 Part 7 Division 5, Travelling leave |
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Persons who can make the decisions under subclause 7.1.22.1 and subclause 7.1.22.2 on behalf of the CDF: An employee of Toll Transitions who performs the duties of: - National Relocations Administration Services Manager - Regional Relocations Manager - Relocation Administration Services Manager - Senior Case Manager Contract Manager Relocation Services Assistant Director Operations Director Relocations and Housing |
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The Commonwealth will not pay these costs. |
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a. |
Costs for longer than three days and nights at the new location. |
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b. |
Costs for a person other than the member and their adult dependant. |
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1. |
This clause applies to a member returning to |
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2. |
The CDF may approve the cost of the member hiring a self-drive motor vehicle to look for a home. The member must meet all these conditions. |
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a. |
They have no motor vehicle of their own because they sold or stored it for the overseas posting. |
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b. |
They do not have a suitable own home in the gaining location. |
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c. |
Suitable accommodation for the member and their dependants has not already been arranged. |
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3. |
The member will not be paid for more than three days' hire costs. |
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The member is not entitled to any other assistance or allowance for house-hunting. |
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Persons who can make the decision under subclause 7.1.24.2 on behalf of the CDF: A person working in the Personnel Administration Centre in - Overseas Administration Team Leader - Personnel Administration Manager Specialist - Civilian and Overseas Personnel Administration Centre Manager - Director Personnel Administration Centre Contract Manager Relocation Services Assistant Director Operations Director Relocations and Housing |
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A member, who has a dependant recognised with special needs under clause 1.3.82, may be eligible for a special needs pre-posting visit. This visit is separate from a house-hunting trip but may be taken at the same time as a house-hunting trip. See: |
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1. |
The rules on accepting and rejecting a reasonable offer of a Service residence or rented home apply to a member on house-hunting trips. |
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2. |
If the member rejects a reasonable offer, they must repay to the Commonwealth any payment they received for the house-hunting trip. |
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3. |
A member may go on a house-hunting trip but be unable to secure suitable accommodation. Subject to clause 7.1.27, they do not have to repay to the Commonwealth the payment they received for the trip. |
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4. |
If their circumstances change, a member can reject a house that they chose on an earlier house-hunting trip. This must be because it is no longer suitable accommodation. Example: The member gains an extra dependant. |
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1. |
House-hunting trip payments may be made before the member goes on the trip. |
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2. |
After the trip, the member must give copies of written records of the costs of the trip to the Toll Transitions Removal Administration Services Manager. Examples: Hotel, meals and hire car receipts or statutory declaration of expenses. |
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3. |
The member must repay to the Commonwealth any payment under this Part for which they do not provide a written record under subclause 2. |
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Defence Housing Australia uses the following process for house-hunting trips. |
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Step |
Action |
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1. |
The member submits a
Request for house hunting trip form to the relevant area in Defence Housing
Australia, as specified on the form. |
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2. |
The request is sent to
the Housing Management Centre at the gaining location for decision. |
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3. |
The Housing Management
Centre writes to the member to tell them if their request has been approved
or not. Toll Transitions Regional Support Centre gets a copy. |
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4. |
If the request is
approved, Toll Transitions arrange payment for the house-hunting trip. They
inform the member of the payment and the requirement to acquit it. |