House of Representatives Notice Paper Question No 1216
Schedule Number: 300347
Publication Date: 11 May 2010
Hansard (Proof): Page 057

 

Member: Robert

Mr Robert asked the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, in writing, on 11 February 2010:

What proportion of members of the (a) Australian Regular Army discharge and transfer to the Active Reserve, (b) Royal Australian Navy discharge and transfer to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, and (c) Royal Australian Air Force discharge and transfer to the Air Force Reserve, and what measures has the Government taken to increase the proportions in parts (a) to (c).

Mr Combet - The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

For transfer rates of permanent Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to the Reserve component for the past three financial years please refer to the tables below.

The honourable member’s question asks specifically of Australian Regular Army discharges and transfers to the ‘Active Reserve’, whereas for the other two Services the honourable members asks of the discharge and transfer to the two Services respective ‘Reserves’, for consistency, additional information has been provided concerning other ‘Reserve’ components of the Australian Army.

ARMY Transfer Type
               
Financial Year Total
Separations
From
Full-time
Service
Regular to
Active Reserve
Proportion of Separations to Active Reserve
Service
Regular to
Standby Reserve
Proportion of Separations to Reserve
Service
Discharge – No Reserve
Service
Active Reserve to Standby Reserve

2006/07

2967 924 31% 827 59% 1216 1785

2007/08

2742 860 31% 721 58% 1161 1652

2008/09

2767 962 35% 640 58% 1165 1426

NAVY Transfer Type
               
Financial Year Total
Separations
From
Full-time
Service
Regular to
Active Reserve
Proportion of Separations to Active Reserve
Service
Regular to
Standby Reserve
Proportion of Separations to Reserve
Service
Discharge – No Reserve
Service
Active Reserve to Standby Reserve

2006/07

1600 555 34% 280 52% 765 52

2007/08

1395 560 40% 155 51% 680 107

2008/09

1383 575 41% 123 50% 685 718

AIR FORCE Transfer Type
               
Financial Year Total
Separations
From
Full-time
Service
Regular to
Active Reserve
Proportion of Separations to Active Reserve
Service
Regular to
Standby Reserve
Proportion of Separations to Reserve
Service
Discharge – No Reserve
Service
Active Reserve to Standby Reserve

2006/07

1199 7 0.6% 820 69% 372 220

2007/08

982 16 1.6% 662 69% 304 162

2008/09

893 34 3.8% 592 70% 267 217

The Defence White Paper 2009 detailed the Government’s intent to make better use of ex-Regular ADF personnel and enhance the use of the Reserve including the High Readiness Reserves (HRR). The extension of the Graded Officer Pay Scale (GOPS) and Graded Other Rank Pay Scale (GORPS) to Reservists has increased the attractiveness of Active Reserve service to members separating from permanent service. Reserve conditions of service and employment will be reviewed as part of the Strategic Reform Program ‘Reserves Reform Stream’. The intended outcome is to maximise the transfer of separating full time ADF members to Reserves, lengthen the tenure of already trained Reserve members, and attract fresh Reserve members with required core or niche skill sets.


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