By
Rebecca Codey
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THE
WAY AHEAD
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BARRING
any requirements for more substantive changes to the proposal,
feedback from the main consultation phase will be incorporated
into a final draft arrangement, to be submitted by CDF
to the Minister for approval by the end of March 2004.
The proposed Arrangement would then be submitted to the
DFRT for a hearing before the end of April 2004.
A DFRT determination for the first pay rise to accrue
from payday May 6, 2004, would be sought at that time.
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FURTHER
INFO
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QUESTIONS
and feedback on the proposed Arrangement are encouraged.
It is acknowledged that not all ADF members will have
access to all the methods listed, however the chain
of command will ensure that all members have access
to at least one of the feedback options available.
As a minimum, all ADF members should have access to
a copy of the Draft Arrangement, the Summary of Key
Features and the accompanying ADF Conditions of Service
Update.
You can put forward your inquiries through your chain
of command, directly to a WRA team member during a briefing
visit or by contacting the Directorate of Salary and
Allowances (DSA):
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E-mail:
dpe.dsa@defence.gov.au
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Mail:
Industrial Policy, Directorate of Salary and Allowances,
R4-1-112, Russell Offices, Canberra ACT 2601:
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Phone:
(02) 6266 3045 Further info.
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ADF
members’ contribution to Defence’s mission locally, nationally
and internationally is recognised and valued.
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CIS
Kylie Russell at work in the comcen of HMAS Kanimbla.
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Photo:
ABPH Bill Louys
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That’s
the message from CAPT Marcus Peake RAN, Acting Director General,
Personnel Policy and Employment Conditions, who said across-the-board
pay rises have been proposed in the next ADF Workplace Remuneration
Arrangement (WRA) in return for this continued productivity.
“Defence seeks to obtain productivity and pay outcomes in a
way that is seen as fair and equitable, balancing the recognition
of general community standards and the special nature of ADF
service,” he said.
“The WRA process takes account of personnel capability requirements,
attraction and retention, and maintaining the real value of
members’ remuneration packages within realistic parameters.”
The draft Arrangement has been released and is now available
to ADF members so that they can make an informed judgement on
what is being offered.
A national roadshow to explain the Arrangement is going to all
capital cities except Hobart, as well as to Tindal, Cairns,
Townsville, South- East Queensland, Nowra, the Hunter region,
the Riverina and regional Victoria from November 3 to 18.
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Keeping
watch on the bridge of a submarine can be a cold and lonely
place.
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Photo
courtesy DDM
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CAPT
Peake has assured ADF members that the Defence Senior Leadership
is serious about seeking member’s views on the pay offer, and
encourages service personnel to look at the WRA carefully and
provide feedback.
“The ADF remains committed to an ongoing program of communication
with its members on the conditions of service matters, including
the Arrangement,” he said.
The WRA, which proposes a cumulative pay rise of 10 per cent
over the 30-month agreement, complements existing ADF conditions
of service and employment determined separately to the Arrangement.
It does not propose any direct conditions of service trade-offs.
Travel reforms are being claimed by Defence as an efficiency
measure to demonstrate better overall Defence productivity.
The conditions of service applying to travel are unaffected.
Service personnel may soon be using a travel card to pay for
their accommodation when travelling for work.
Other proposed travel reforms include a suite of preferred supplier
contracts with travel providers including airlines, car rental
companies and hotels; and an expense management system, which
is currently being implemented as the Defence Card Management
System, and a self booking tool - both accessed on line.
A cash advance/withdrawal facility or payment on the Travel
Card, or a cash advance for other meal and incidental expenses
is also among the suggested changes to ADF travel.
For a more comprehensive snapshot of the key features of the
proposed WRA, a plain language Summary of Key Features is available
with the draft Arrangement.
