By
Graham Davis
All
Australians whether they are ADF personnel or Australian Federal
Police working in the Solomons are receiving fair and comprehensive
packages of pay and allowances, according to formal public statements
from the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Danna Vale
and the Defence Department
The statements follow media claims that the AFP members were better
off when it came to payment.
In her formal statement released on August 19, Minister Vale said
the Opposition and some sections of the media had misreported
the tax status of ADF personnel and the allowances they receive
for the outstanding job they were doing in the Solomons.
“The facts are: all Australians serving in the Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands are receiving fair and comprehensive
packages of pay and allowances,” Mrs Vale said.
“Australian Federal Police receive a deployment allowance
of $48.86 a day which is tax free after a qualifying period of
91 days of deployment.
“By comparison, ADF personnel receive a deployment allowance
of $55.50 per day in recognition of the threat level in the Solomons.
“This allowance is tax free from the first day of deployment.
“All ADF and AFP personnel deployed as part of the RAMSI
are entitled to the same tax treatment under the Income Tax Assessment
Act.
The official statement released by Defence two days earlier said
the 1,500 ADF personnel deployed to the Solomons receive a comprehensive
package of entitlements, which appropriately reflect the conditions
and risks on the ground.
