Conditions announced
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

Visit: Defence Minister Brendan Nelson addresses troops. Photo by LAC Rodney Welch.

ADF service in East Timor has been declared non-warlike.

On his visit to the nation on June 7, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson announced details of the conditions of service package that will affect about 2500 ADF personnel involved in Operation Astute

He said the decision to classify the operation as non-warlike “reflects Defence’s current assessment that the situation in Timor-Leste, while unstable, does not meet conditions that warranted a higher classification”.

Operation Astute attracts a tax-free Deployment Allowance of $78.60 a day in addition to normal salary.

Other environmental allowances such as Field Allowance or Seagoing Allowance also would be paid to those eligible.

“This brings the financial package to $127.99 a day for a soldier deployed in the field who also has dependants in Australia, and $121.47 a day for those without dependants,” Dr Nelson said.

“All ADF personnel deployed for 91 days or more may have all ADF income and benefits treated as tax-free from the date of their deployment. Other benefits include an additional accrual of recreation leave, comprehensive military compensation and rehabilitation coverage, and taxation concessions that depend upon the length of deployment.

“The Australian Service Medal, with clasp ‘Timor-Leste’, will also be awarded.”

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