Volume 49, No. 14, August 10, 2006
Pocket more paya
A pay rise of more than 12 per cent may be on the way to sailors by the end of the year

MAKES CENTS: Sailors from HMAS Albany, picuture above, will be in line for a generous pay increase with the rest of the ADF if a new Workplace Remuneration Arrangement is passed next month by the DFRT. Photo: ABPH Jarrad Oliffe

ADF members will receive a 12.6 per cent pay rise during the next three years under the proposed 2006-09 ADF Workplace Remuneration Arrangement (WRA).
No conditions of service will be traded for the increases, according to Assistant Director Industrial Policy Will Van Weerdenburg.

The current WRA expires on November 3 and the proposed WRA will go before the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) on September 27. If accepted, the across-the-board pay increases will be paid in four instalments over three years from November 16, 2006.

Mr Van Weerdenburg said ADF members would be surveyed this month through the chain of command to gauge support for the planned arrangement.
“Although ADF members do not have the right to a formal vote, the DFRT requires the ADF to demonstrate that its members have been informed of the proposed arrangement and are given the opportunity to express their views,” he said.

The WRA sets percentage increases that apply to base salary and 16 salary-related allowances but not conditions of service such as leave, housing and removals entitlements. The salary-related allowances include diving, field, flight duties, flying, hard lying, language proficiency, seagoing, separation, service, specialist operations, submarine escape and submarine service.
In keeping with government policy, the across-the-board pay increases under the WRA will be justified by productivity gains from initiatives already planned or under way in Defence. The ADF-specific initiatives include:

Navy Sea Change program and retention of Navy personnel;
injury prevention and rehabilitation;
increased use of simulation in training;
increased use of PMKeyS self service;
improved ADF mental health management; and
■ military justice reforms.

The Defence Minister must agree to the WRA before it is considered by the DFRT.

For more information on the WRA, visit the Defence pay and conditions web site at http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac and click the “Workplace Remuneration Arrangement” link.
You can provide feedback through your chain of command, online at the Defence pay and conditions website or by calling 1800 DEFENCE.

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