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TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 158. |
9.3.44 Purpose
9.3.45 Overview
9.3.46 Who
this Division does not apply to
9.3.47 Definitions
9.3.48 Who may be visited
9.3.49 Exceptional
reasons
9.3.50 Entitlement
of member's spouse – extra conditions
9.3.51 Travel
overseas
9.3.52 Compassionate
travel and leave
9.3.53 Means
of travel
9.3.53A Reimbursement
of member's costs
9.3.53B Transfer of
entitlement
9.3.53C Children
accompanying the member or spouse
9.3.53D Other
travel costs
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This Division provides for the cost of the journey to visit a person with a serious or very serious illness, or who has died. See: Chapter 5 Part 7 Division 2 clause 5.7.10, Compassionate leave. |
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1. |
Compassionate travel may be made available for the death, serious illness or very serious illness of a person described in clause 9.3.48. |
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2. |
Compassionate travel may also be available in other exceptional circumstances. |
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3. |
Compassionate leave may not attract a compassionate travel entitlement. Compassionate travel can be taken with other types of leave. Examples: Short absence, recreation leave. See: Clause 9.3.52, Compassionate travel and leave |
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4. |
A spouse or interdependent partner may be entitled to compassionate travel in their own right. Special conditions apply. See: |
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This Division does not apply to these members. |
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a. |
Members who have claimed an entitlement under the Australians dangerously ill (AUSDIL) scheme for that journey. See: Defence Instruction (General) Personnel 11-1, Defence Force sponsored visits to service members suffering serious illness or injury — the Australians dangerously ill scheme. |
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b. |
A member on leave without pay. |
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c. |
A member posted overseas. See: Chapter 15 Part 3 Division 6, Travel for compassionate reasons |
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This table defines terms used in this Division. |
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The term... |
means... |
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very seriously ill |
having an illness or injury so severe that life is imminently endangered. |
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seriously ill |
having an illness or injury that could endanger life. |
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1. |
The CDF may grant a member compassionate travel to visit a person described in the following table, even if they do not normally live with the member. |
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Item |
The member may have compassionate travel to visit a person who is any of the following... |
if... |
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1. |
a. The member's spouse or interdependent partner b. The member's child |
that person is seriously ill. |
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2. |
a. The member's brother or sister b. The member's parent or guardian c. A dependant of the member recognised under clause 1.3.76 or 1.3.79 |
both the following conditions are met. a. That person is seriously ill. b. The member has to be there because no-one else in the family is available and able to help. |
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3. |
a. The member's spouse or interdependent partner b. The member's child c. The member's brother or sister d. The member's parent or guardian e. A dependant of the member
recognised under clause 1.3.76 or 1.3.79 |
either of the following conditions is met. a. That person is very seriously ill. b. That person has recently died. |
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See: Chapter 1 Part 3 clauses 1.3.76, Dependants, and 1.3.79, CDF-recognised dependants |
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2. |
The CDF may grant a member's spouse or interdependent partner compassionate travel to visit a person described in the following table. Related Information: Clause 9.3.50, Entitlement of member's spouse or interdependent partner – extra conditions |
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Item |
The member's spouse or interdependent partner may have compassionate travel to visit a person who is any of the following... |
if... |
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1. |
a. The member b. The member's child c. The child of the member's spouse d. The child of the member's interdependent partner |
that person is seriously ill. |
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2. |
a. The parent or guardian of the member's spouse or interdependent partner b. The brother or sister of the member's spouse or interdependent partner c. A dependant of the member's spouse or interdependent partner |
both the following conditions are met. 1. That person is seriously ill. 2. The spouse has to be there because no-one else in the family is available and able to help. |
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3. |
b. The child of the member's spouse or interdependent partner c. The parent or guardian of the member's spouse or interdependent partner d. The brother or sister of the member's spouse or interdependent partner e. A dependant of the member's spouse or interdependent partner |
that person is very seriously ill. |
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4. |
a. The member b. The child of the member's spouse or interdependent partner c. The parent or guardian of the member's spouse or interdependent partner d. A dependant of the member's spouse or interdependent partner |
that person has recently died. |
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See: Chapter 1 Part 3 clause 1.3.79, CDF-recognised dependants |
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3. |
If the member and their spouse or interdependent partner both qualify for travel for the same event, both may be granted travel. Example: A member's child is very seriously ill in another location. Both the member and the spouse or interdependent partner may be granted travel to be with the child, as they both qualify. |
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4. |
There is no travel entitlement if the person applying to travel is already at the location of the person to be visited. |
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Non-example: Compassionate travel to visit a very seriously ill person. This is an example of when it might not be appropriate to grant compassionate travel under subclauses 1 and 2. A member is on posting in |
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Persons who can make the decisions under subclause 9.3.48.1 and subclause 9.3.48.2 on behalf of the CDF: The member’s supervisor not below WO2 (E)/APS 4, in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. Second and later grants in a calendar year must be referred to the Commanding Officer, independent sub-unit commander or supervisor not below Major (E)/APS 6 of the member, in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. |
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The CDF may grant travel for the member or spouse or interdependent partner if he is satisfied that other exceptional reasons make their presence essential. |
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Examples: |
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1. |
Owing to a financial setback, a bank is threatening to repossess the member's home. |
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2. |
The family home has been destroyed in bushfire or cyclone. The family is safe but homeless. |
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3. |
The member's child is a tertiary student suffering mental illness. The member's presence is required to receive advice from counsellors on how the child should be managed. |
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4. |
The boarding arrangements for a school-age child break down and new arrangements need to be made immediately. Either parent, but not both, could be provided compassionate travel (and leave for the member). |
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5. |
The member's spouse or interdependent partner or child has been subjected to an episode of domestic violence, including significant injury, by another family member. |
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Non-examples: |
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1. |
The member is on deployment. Their unoccupied flat is burgled and vandalised. The flat is safe and has been secured by the landlord. There are no compassionate circumstances. |
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2. |
The member is a sole parent and has to go into hospital. There is no travel entitlement available to transfer to another parent to provide childcare, because the member is already at the compassionate location. Childcare is not a compassionate circumstance. |
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3. |
Both parents are members away on duty, and wish to transport the children to and from the grandparents' home (or bring the grandparents to the member's home). There are no compassionate circumstances. |
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Persons who can make the decision under clause 9.3.49 on behalf of the CDF: The Commanding Officer, independent sub-unit commander or supervisor not below Major (E)/APS 6 of the member, in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. |
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These additional conditions apply to compassionate travel for a spouse or interdependent partner. |
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a. |
The cost of their travel is limited if they are temporarily absent from their normal place of residence. It must be no more than the cost of return travel from their normal place of residence to the compassionate destination. |
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b. |
The CDF must grant the approved travel as if a member was to travel in the same circumstances. |
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1. |
A member or their spouse or interdependent partner may apply for assistance with compassionate travel to an overseas location. |
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2. |
The CDF may approve return travel at Commonwealth
expense to and from the nearest appropriate international terminal in |
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3. |
The Commonwealth does not provide assistance with the cost of the overseas portion of the trip. |
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Persons who can make the decision under subclause 9.3.51.2 on behalf of the CDF: The member’s supervisor not below Warrant Officer Grade 2 (E)/APS 4, in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. Second and later grants in a calendar year must be referred to the Commanding Officer, independent sub-unit commander or supervisor not below Major (E)/APS 6 of the member, in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. |
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1. |
Compassionate travel may be approved for absence or leave other than compassionate leave. Example: The member's parents' home has been destroyed in a bushfire. The parents are safe but homeless. The member is granted recreation leave, and compassionate travel to visit their parents. |
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2. |
A member may be granted compassionate leave without being entitled to compassionate travel for it. In this case, they may be granted the use of an existing travel entitlement (if they have one) towards the cost of travel to the compassionate leave destination. Examples: Recreation leave travel, remote location leave travel. |
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3. |
A member is entitled to compassionate travel each time compassionate leave is granted if they meet all these conditions. |
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a. |
The member is in their first year of service. |
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b. |
The member was under 17 years old at the start of training. |
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c. |
The member needs to travel to visit a person in respect of whom leave has been granted under clause 9.3.48. |
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1. |
A member, spouse or interdependent partner and any dependants are entitled to use these means of transport for compassionate travel. |
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a. |
For the forward journey – the fastest available public transport. |
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b. |
For the return journey – the most economical means of transport. |
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2. |
The CDF may authorise the member to use their own means of transport if that is more suitable than the means of transport in subclause 1. The CDF must consider all these criteria. |
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a. |
The member’s ability to travel safely. |
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b. |
The time involved. |
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c. |
The urgency of the situation. |
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3. |
The member cannot be granted additional travelling leave under clause 5.7.17 if they choose to travel by private vehicle. See: Clause 5.7.17, Entitlement |
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Persons who can make the decision under subclause 9.3.53.2 on behalf of the CDF: The member’s supervisor not below Warrant Officer Grade 2 (E)/APS 4, in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. |
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A member may be reimbursed their costs of using private transport for compassionate travel. They will be reimbursed whichever is the lesser of these two amounts. |
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a. |
The cost of the most economical means of travel for the journey. |
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b. |
Vehicle allowance for the journey. |
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1. |
A member may transfer an entitlement for compassionate travel to their spouse or interdependent partner if Service reasons prevent the member from travelling. Note: A member cannot transfer their entitlement unless the CDF has approved one for them to transfer. |
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2. |
Service reasons may prevent a member from being present when their spouse or interdependent partner is seriously ill, very seriously ill or otherwise needs support. The CDF may transfer the member's compassionate travel entitlement to another family member. The CDF must consider both these factors. |
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a. |
The needs of the member's spouse or independent partner. |
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b. |
The ability of the other person to provide care and support. |
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Persons who can make the decision under subclause 9.3.53B.2 on behalf of the CDF: Commanding Officer, independent sub-unit commander or supervisor not below Major (E)/APS 6 of the member in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. |
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The CDF may approve travel at Commonwealth expense for a member’s children. Approval may only be given if the CDF is satisfied that both these conditions are met. |
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a. |
The child cannot be cared for and supervised while their parent or parents are away. |
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b. |
The child will travel with the member, or with the member's spouse or interdependent partner. |
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Persons who can make the decision under clause 9.3.53C on behalf of the CDF: Commanding Officer, independent sub-unit commander or supervisor not below Major (E)/APS 6 of the member in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision. |
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A member granted compassionate travel is not entitled to travel costs beyond those provided for under this Division. Example: A member who works at Townsville is
granted compassionate travel to visit their mother in |