The Minister assisting the Minister for Defence, Mr Bruce Scott, released the review into Australian Defence Force remuneration led by MAJGEN Barry Nunn (retired) on Friday, October 5.

In releasing the Nunn Review, Minister Scott emphasised that decisions on the review remain some way off.

The Government has decided to seek the views of ADF personnel on the detailed recommendations, before determining a final response and implementing any of the recommendations.

The report by MAJGEN Nunn and his team represents a comprehensive analysis of the ADF's present pay and allowances policies and practices and the underlying reasons for their existence.

In formulating the report, the team undertook extensive consultation across the Defence organisation. Navy now has the opportunity to closely examine the recommendations in the report and design an implementation package that best suits its needs as a capable fighting force in the 21st Century.

The Director General of Navy Personnel and Training, CDRE Lou Rago, will coordinate the information and consultation across Navy in order to establish its position for the submission to Government.

Full details of the way that the Navy consultation process will be conducted will be contained in the next edition of Navy News, however it is likely that two teams will be established to speak to Navy members and their families.

This will form part of a three-phased consultation and analysis process, which is required, before implementation of any of the recommendations in the report is possible.

The broad scope of this process is:

• Phase 1, October 2001 - January 2002: Consultation and analysis period. This will be in the form of a Navy-wide series of workshops and focus groups designed to provide information on the review and seek input to the construction of Navy's way ahead.
  
  
• Phase 2, January 2002 - February 2002: Development of the detailed Navy submission by Director General of Navy Personnel and Training, which will form part of the consolidated defence response on the review.
  
  
• Phase 3, March 2002: Consideration of the consolidated Defence response by Government and announcement of the recommendations to be implemented.

  The review contains a number of wide-ranging recommendations on how to better restructure the ADF Pay and Allowances system.

  Chief of Navy, VADM David Shackleton said the recommendations will provide flexible options, rather than prescriptive details on the way to improve the way we renumerate Navy people.

  "Not all of the recommendations will be possible or viable for implementation across the Navy, but they do provide a potential level of flexibility not previously available and offer a basis for real improvement."

  A full transcript of the review is available on the internet at www.defence.gov.au/remuneration and a separate Navy site will soon be established.

  Future editions of Navy News will carry full details and updates of the Navy consultation process.

  The Director General of Navy Personnel and Training has commenced reviewing Nunn's recommendations and will provide details that will address these and what they mean for Navy.

  CDRE Rago has highlighted that it is important to understand that the recommendations contained in the review are based on three core principles:

• Involvement in combat activities - combat operations are unique to the ADF and should be specifically recognised;
  
  
• Military service is unique - pay and allowance policies must reflect the special characteristics of military service; and
  
  
• Consistency with community standards - pay and allowance policies should be consistent with people in the wider community as far as possible.

The Government has announced that it is not proposing to take any action in relation to the recommendations contained in the Housing and Accommodation chapter of the review.

However, the review team identified the need for immediate improvement in flexibility and choice in accommodation for eligible single members (members without dependents), while the Government has announced new arrangements that will be in place from the end of October.

VADM Shackleton has encouraged Navy members to read the material available about the Nunn Review and understand the opportunity that it provides for Navy in shaping a capable and properly renumerated force for the 21st century.

"This is an opportunity to think about how we can best shape the options provided in the review to construct a pay and allowance system that best meets our collective needs and individual preferences and needs.

"The constructive involvement of Navy people and their families over the coming months will be vital to the success of the final outcomes," VADM Shackleton said.