SUBJ: dEFENCE APS EMPLOYEES - CONDITIONS OF SERVICE (COS) – op ASTUTE

A. PACMAN version two – chapter 17

SITUATION

1. THE MINDEF DECLARED SVC ON OP ASTUTE AS NON-WARLIKE (NWL) FROM 12 MAY 06.

MISSION

2. TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE COS FOR OP ASTUTE FOR DEF APS EMPLOYEES. THIS MSG IS TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH REF A.

ELIGIBILITY

3. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE COS, DEF APS PERS MUST HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN NOTICE TO PERFORM DUTIES:

a. IN SPT OF OP ASTUTE, AND

B. BE EMPLOYED WITHIN THE OP ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA.

4. THE OP ASTUTE specified area comprises East Timor and its territorial waters and superjacent airspace.

5. OPERATIONAL SPT ALLOWANCE (OSA). OSA IS PAID FOR THE PERIOD OF DUTY (REF B, CLAUSE 17.10.3) AND IS THE SUM OF:

A. HARDSHIP RATE. – DOLLARS FIFTY SEVEN CENTS SIXTY (AUD 57.60), and

B. ARDUOUS DUTIES RATE. FOR WEEKDAYS DOLLARS EIGHTY NINE CENTS TWENTY (AUS 89.20) AND FOR A SATURDAY, Sunday OR PUBLIC HOLIDAY DOLLARS ONE HUNDRED AND EIGTHY ONE CENTS SIXTY (AUD 181.60).

C. THE ARDUOUS DUTY RATE OF oSA FOR A DAY IS REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF ANY ENTITLEMENT FOR THAT DAY FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) OVERTIME,

(2) SHIFT PENALTY PAYMENTS,

(3) RESTRICTION ALLOWANCE,

(4) SPECIAL ENTITLEMENTS FOR DUTY AT SEA.

6. TAX. DEF APS EMPLOYEES MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTION FROM AUSTRALIAN INCOME TAX UNDER SECTION 23AG OF THE ITAA. SECTION 23AG IS A GENERAL PROVISION THAT EXEMPTS CERTAIN FOREIGN EARNINGS WHERE pers HAVE ENGAGED IN FOREIGN SVC FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN 91 DAYS.

7. MEALs AND ACCN. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MEALS AND ACCN WILL BE PROVIDED AT CWEALTH EXPENSE. APS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN MEALS MAY QUALIFY FOR THE PAYMENT OF TA (INCLUDING INCIDENTALS) IAW NORMAL POLICY.

8. ADDITIONAL ANNUAL LEAVE. THE RATE OF ADDITIONAL ANNUAL LEAVE FOR DUTY IS THE SUM OF:

A. TWO WEEKS A YEAR FOR DUTY IN THE SPECIFIED AREA (on a pro rata basis), AND

B. ONE ADDITIONAL DAYS LEAVE FOR EVERY TEN DAYS THE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO OSA, TO A MAX OF 10 DAYS PER YEAR.

C. FOR EXAMPLE, 12 MTH SVC WOULD EARN 20 DAYS ADDITIONAL LEAVE.

9. RELIEF OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL FARES ASSISTANCE (ROCTFA):

A. PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT OF LESS THAN SIX MONTHS DO NOT ATTRACT ROCTFA.

B. FOR PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT OF SIX MONTHS OR LONGER, ROCTFA MAY BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS AND PROVIDED THE employees PLANNED LEAVE INCLUDES BEING OUTSIDE OF THE SPECIFIED AREA FOR AT LEAST SEVEN (7) CONSECUTIVE DAYS. ONE ROCTFA ENTITLEMENT MAY BE APPROVED WHERE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT IS SIX MONTHS BUT LESS THAN NINE MONTHS. FOR PERIODS GREATER THAN NINE MONTHS, REFER TO CLAUSE 17.10.12.

C. THE ROCTFA DESTINATION IS AUSTRALIA AND limited to the previous work location. There is no offset for this entitlement.

10. CLOTHING AND EQUIP. BLOCK SCALE OF CLOTHING AND SOME EQUIP IS AVAILABLE FOR ISSUE.

11. COMPENSATION AND LIFE INSURANCE:

A. APS EMPLOYEES ARE COVERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE SRCA FOR DEATH, INJURY OR ILLNESS EXCEPT WHILE ON LEAVE OUTSIDE THE AO.

B. EMPLOYEES CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR POLICIES TAKEN OUT FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR OPERATIONAL SPT DUTY IN THE AO. LIMITED TO POLICIES PROVIDING COVERAGE WITHIN AN operational ZONE. FURTHER ADVICE ON LIMITS IS TO BE SOUGHT THROUGH PARENT BRANCH.

12. THIS SIGNAL AND SUBSEQUENT SIGNALS WILL BE POSTED ON THe pe page at http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/ AND ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/DPE/.

13. QUESTIONS. ALL QUERIES REGARDING CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ENTITLEMENTS ARE TO BE FORWARDED THROUGH PARENT BRANCH.

UNCLASSIFIED