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More than 11,000 Australian Defence Force members, including approximately 1,200 Navy members, will benefit from new Service allowances and conditions in Northern Australia.

The $35 million package of locality allowances, leave and travel entitlements, is designed to lessen the impact on ADF members and their families serving in remote areas of northern Australia.

This particularly affects those who are likely to undertake more than one posting, or serve for extended periods, in Northern Australia.

The initiative, which begins this month, will provide:

ADF District Allowance of up to an extra $4,420 a year paid in recognition of the higher than normal cost of living in adverse circumstances, including the need to use air-conditioners more than other posts.

Leave Travel for ADF members, both single and with dependants, in more remote areas will be greater. This travel, at Commonwealth expense, provides access to facilities unavailable in the remote areas.

In the more remote areas members and their families will be entitled to two trips per year; one to the closest State capital, the other to any selected State or Territory capital city.

Additional Recreational Leave (ARL) of between two and five days per year depending on the location. For some locations, this will be a reduction of two days per year of ARL.

The package based on new locality gradings, take into account climate, isolation and the cost of living. This is the first time the gradings have been changed in 30 years.

A travelling ADF team will give a Powerpoint presentation plus Q&A at the affected establishments including Darwin, Cairns and Townsville.

Details of the package will also be available on the Pay and Conditions (PAC) website http:// intranet.defence.gov.au/pac. Commanding Officers of the relevant establishments have already been briefed.

For units who do not have immediate access to DRN a short synopsis of the benefits of the new package has been provided by DGNPT signal..