ADF members will be heard on pay and allowances

DPE is gearing up to develop the next ADF Workplace Remuneration Arrangement (WRA) to follow on from the current one that expires in November 2006.

The current WRA arrangements will deliver their final 1.5 per cent pay rise to ADF members on March 9, 2006. Consultation on the new arrangements will start in earnest around the same time, according to Head DPE Maj-Gen Mark Evans.

“These arrangements deliver across-the-board pay rises for ADF members in return for improvements in productivity and efficiency. The current WRA and Star Ranks Remuneration Agreement end about five months after the current Defence Employees’ Certified Agreement, which is why consultation for the new arrangements has not started yet,” Maj-Gen Evans said.

“The DECA also differs in that it sets a broad range of pay and conditions for Defence’s civilian workforce. The ADF arrangements, however, only set ADF pay and pay-related allowances. We update other conditions of service for ADF members, like leave and travel, as needed and using a different method. This gives us the flexibility required to respond to the unique demands of military service, including ADF operations.”

He said ADF members would have their chance to be heard on pay and pay-related allowances before the new arrangements went to the DFRT for approval.

“CDF will make an announcement early next year to signal the start of consultation on the new WRA and SRRA. We aim to keep our people involved and informed and we will release details on how we intend to achieve this closer to the date,” he said.

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