The Minister for Defence, Mr John Moore, has announced that a $30 million Defence Service Centre will be established in Cooma, New South Wales.

The service centre will be a telephone call centre offering a "one-stop-shop" for Defence personnel who need assistance with employment issues such as entitlements, pay and leave. It also will provide detailed advice on more complex matters including personnel policy and procedure.

"The new Defence Service Centre will be a state of the art call centre," Mr Moore said.

"Highly skilled staff will deliver quality administrative services for all Defence personnel.

"I am particularly pleased with the centre's role in assisting Defence families who are posted around Australia. These families will find that the centre provides an easy to use service which helps take care of relocation and housing arrangements."

The Defence Service Centre will be operating by late 2000 and when fully established by mid 2001 it will employ up to 150 staff in Cooma who will be supported by processing staff and case managers located around Australia.

"The decision to locate the call centre in Cooma is recognition of Cooma-Monaro council's efforts to take advantage of the Federal Government's infrastructure support for regional Australia," Mr Moore said.

It is estimated that this modern, streamlined operation will save at least $40 million a year against the cost of the existing system.

"It is important that the people who operate this facility understand and appreciate the needs of its customers, particularly the men and women of the ADF who are at the 'sharp end' of Defence.

"The establishment of the Defence Service Centre is a key milestone in the Federal Government's program of improving the administration of Australia's Defence Organisation," said Mr Moore.