By
CMDR Kate Gilmore
The Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) has approved
the introduction of a boarding party allowance.
The Tribunal travelled to Darwin in May for an inspection. While
there, it was able to see a mock boarding take place as well
as inspect an FFV and get a first hand experience of the conditions
boarding parties could encounter.
The allowance will become an additional element of seagoing
allowance and will be paid on an “on occurrence”
daily basis at the rate of $40 per day, to those members who
perform a role as an authorised member of a boarding, holding
or steaming party.
The boarding party allowance seeks to compensate a member for
disabilities experienced by ADF personnel during boarding operations.
It will apply where a member is not already compensated by the
ADF allowance and salary structure including sea going allowance.
To be eligible for the allowance, ADF members must be an authorised
member of a boarding, holding or steaming party conducting an
authorised boarding.
The payment would apply for instance, to members of the Army
Tactical Support Element (TSE) embarked for operations such
as Op Relex.
The payment will apply on any day (from 0001 to 2359) on which
the member boards one or more target vessels.
As in other Tribunal decisions, this new element will not be
paid concurrently with any deployment allowance for operational
service empowered by Ministerial determination under section
58B of the Defence Act or the following allowances (Disability
Element):
