Division 1: General

9.6.4    Purpose
9.6.5    Member this Part applies to
9.6.6    Member this Part does not apply to
9.6.7    Definitions
9.6.8    Insurance
9.6.9    Journey varied or not made

9.6.4    Purpose

 

This Division identifies members eligible under this Part, and defines terms and concepts used in it.

9.6.5    Member this Part applies to

 

This Part applies to a member, including a member on Reserve service, who undertakes an authorised journey of a kind mentioned in the clauses in this table.

 

Item

Authorised journey

Reference

1.

Authorised travel – on duty

Division 2 clause 9.6.11

2.

Conditions

Division 3 clause 9.6.15

3.

Public transport stoppages

Division 4 clause 9.6.18

4.

Recall outside normal working hours

Division 4 clause 9.6.19

5.

Recreation leave travel by private vehicle

Division 4 clause 9.6.20

6.

Marriage or ADF recognition of interdependent partnership

Division 4 clause 9.6.21

9.6.6    Member this Part does not apply to

 

This Part does not apply if a member is entitled to either of these allowances when they travel.

 

a.

Attendance allowance.

 

b.

An allowance for travel on ceasing continuous full-time service.

9.6.7    Definitions

 

This table defines terms used in this Part.

 

Item

Term or concept

Definition in this Part

1.

Additional costs

Any of these costs.

a.  Registration or insurance fees levied as a result of entitlement to vehicle allowance.

b.  Bridge, road and ferry tolls.

c.  Parking fees in a restricted parking area, but only if they are reasonable because of the distance from the place of duty to the nearest unrestricted parking area.

Additional costs do not include parking or traffic fines.

2.

Allowable travel time

To be worked out on the basis of the actual distance by the shortest practicable route, using the following formulas.

a.  If the member is towing a towable item: the distance in km divided by 360.

b.  Otherwise: the distance in km divided by 480.

c.  If a member or their dependant has a special need: a shorter daily distance that the CDF approves for the journey.

See: Chapter 1 Part 3 Division 2 clause 1.3.82, Definition of Dependant with special needs.

Note: The Commonwealth bases its expectation of what it will pay on a reasonable daily driving distance by the shortest practicable route. It is expected that a member will complete the journey at a daily driving rate of 480 km or, if towing a towable item for which a removal entitlement exists, 360 km. The allowable travel time is based on these distances. 

3.

Authorised

Authorised for allowance under this Part by the CDF.

4.

Greater efficiency from the use of a vehicle

The use of a private vehicle results in greater efficiency if any of these three criteria are met.

a.  Using the vehicle allows the member to perform duties more efficiently than the use of the normal means of travel.

     Examples

     i.   If no public transport is available, or it is not possible to rearrange a duty travel itinerary to make use of public transport.

     ii.  If Commonwealth transport is not available, or only available from time to time, and the member needs access to suitable transport all the time.

b.  Using the vehicle enables the most effective use of Commonwealth personnel and vehicle resources.

     Examples

     i.   If using a Service vehicle unreasonably requires a Service driver to stay on duty outside normal duty hours.

     ii. If a Service vehicle is underused for a long time on one task when it was needed somewhere else.

c.  The CDF is satisfied that the member’s personal interests would be harmed if they used the normal means of travel.

     Example
Using a private vehicle could help avoid undue strain on the member, or their unreasonable absence from home.

5.

Private vehicle

a.  For travel on removal by a member or their dependant: a motor vehicle owned by the member or dependant to be removed.

b.  For other travel by a member: a motor vehicle they own, hire or borrow.

6.

Saving to the Commonwealth

If the Commonwealth would pay less for a member to use a private vehicle than the normal means of travel.

 

 

Persons who can make the decision under clause 9.6.7, definitions of allowable travel time and greater efficiency from the use of a vehicle, on behalf of the CDF:

Director/Commanding Officer not below MAJ(E)/APS 6 in the member's direct chain of command or supervision.

9.6.8    Insurance

1.

The Commonwealth will not pay for any financial liability or loss if a private vehicle on an authorised journey is involved in an accident.

2.

The member is responsible for checking how their insurance company classifies a vehicle used to travel on duty. If they classify it as a business vehicle and charge an additional premium, the member must arrange insurance as necessary.

Note: Vehicle allowance includes a component to cover the costs of both comprehensive and compulsory third party insurance at the rate for private vehicles.

3.

The member may be reimbursed any additional premium if they are entitled to additional costs under Division 5 clause 9.6.26, Additional vehicle allowance.

4.

If the Commonwealth is found liable for damage from an accident involving the private vehicle, it may claim against the member to recover any damages awarded against it.

9.6.9    Journey varied or not made

 

This table sets out what happens when a member's journey is varied or not made.

Note: This is subject to Chapter 6 Part 8, which authorises reimbursement of costs that result from cancellation of a posting.

 

Item

If a member's authorised journey is…

then they…

1.

shortened

must repay to the Commonwealth any vehicle allowance they received that covered the part of the journey they did not make.

2.

extended

are entitled to an additional amount to cover the costs of the extended journey.

3.

not made

must repay to the Commonwealth all the vehicle allowance they received.

 

PACMAN                                                             AL4 (April 2007)                                Chapter 9 – Part 6 Division 1 ‑ 1