By Graham Howatt, of the Armed Forces Federation

The Federation accepted an invitation from Shadow Minister for Defence Senator Chris Evans to meet and discuss personnel issues of concern with him on June 16.

Having met with the CDF the previous day, it was an ideal time to acquaint ourselves with the Shadow Minister.

The topics covered were many and included ADF leave policies, home ownership in the ADF, Defence Home Loan Assistance Schemes, method of delivering improved accommodation arrangements for MWOD, military superannuation, reunion travel for noncustodial parents, conditions applied to deployed personnel, Fringe Benefits Tax exemptions, air conditioning allowance in Darwin, introduction of the Queensland ambulance levy, ADF wage-fixing arrangements and provision of Defence office space for the Federation.

Here’s a summary of two issues: recreation leave and long service leave.

Recreation leave

Managing recreation leave in conjunction with operational needs remains a serious (and emotional) issue.

High operational tempo has/is preventing quality periods of recreation leave being taken. Consequently, many members are accumulating high amounts of leave that they will be unable to clear in a reasonable period of time and risk having it lapse.

CDF gave a direction to all Service Chiefs in July last year to have accumulated leave credits reduced by not less than 25 per cent by end of leave year 2005, in addition to taking annual entitlements.

We expressed concerns that the three Services seem to have quite diverse methods of achieving this goal and a common approach that prevents members being disadvantaged is needed.

The Federation is strongly opposed to members having their leave lapsed or forfeited and advised the Shadow Minister we have urged the ADF to implement a strategy that will prevent leave being lost.

In our discussion with CDF, we understand the ADF is currently examining this.

Long service leave

The Federation reaffirmed its position that members should be able to access their LSL in conjunction with separating from the Service.

Any suggestion that members are required to return to duty after a period of LSL is without legal foundation and it is our view the ADF should assist members with their transition out of the service, not hinder them.

If the granting of LSL in conjunction with discharge is conditional upon “compelling and compassionate circumstances” being demonstrated by the member, the circumstances that will be accepted need to be specified.

The Federation suggested to the Shadow Minister, as we did with CDF, that securing civilian employment, after lengthy loyal and dedicated service to the ADF, should satisfy such criteria.

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