Chiefs support allowance rise

THE Chiefs of Service Committee (COSC) has agreed that there should be an increase in the service allowance for permanent ADF members, but it has not decided on the amount.

The increase sought will be advised before a Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) hearing scheduled for April 23-24.

The COSC is still preparing a submission for the DFRT, according to a statement from Chief of Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove.

GEN Cosgrove said the committee considered the current review of the service allowance at a meeting on December 18, with the focus on the proposed structure of the allowance and the proposed increase.

“... the committee sought expert advice from the Defence Force Advocate on the nature of changes that have occurred in the ADF since the last review in 1994,” he said.

“The COSC considered this advice and agreed with his view, based on the weight of industrial evidence considered to be available. The ADF will therefore seek an increase to the allowance, to be determined.”

He said the COSC considered whether the ADF should retain the existing flat structure or move to a tiered arrangement based on length of service. It noted “strong and sometimes polarised support” for both options but the ADF would seek to keep the present structure.

“The committee also directed the Head of Defence Personnel Executive to bring forward a paper to re-examine the concept of tiering in regard to future reviews,” GEN Cosgrove said.

He said the service allowance had grown from $5600 a year to $7321 a year, in line with the tribunal’s determination at the last review in 1994.

“This represents a 30.3 per cent increase in the allowance in line with salary. The CPI [Consumer Price Index] increase over the same period was around 28 per cent,” he said.

He encouraged personnel to comment on the 2003 review of service allowance. Submissions to the Directorate of Salaries and Allowances close on Friday, March 14. Submissions can be e-mailed to service.allowance@defence.gov.au or faxed to (02) 6265 4357 (attention: Assistant Director - Allowances).

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