Volume 48, No. 8, May 18, 2006
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OUR
HOUSE: Have your say on the Defence HomeOwner Scheme
by going to the ADF Pay and Conditions website, details
below.
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HEAD
Defence Personnel Executive MAJGEN Mark Evans is seeking contributions
from ADF members and their families for a review of the Defence
HomeOwner Scheme (DHOS).
The DHOS is based on legislation and a contract with the National
Australia Bank (NAB) for lending services.
These have been in place since 1991 and, as the contract with
NAB is due to expire this year, Defence is taking the opportunity
to review the scheme to make sure that it meets the needs of Defence
and ADF members.
MAJGEN Evans said the issuing of Certificates of Entitlement for
the current DHOS is due to end on December 31, 2006.
So that members will not be disadvantaged while the DHOS is reviewed,
legislation will be introduced to extend the legal authority to
issue the certificates up to December 31, 2007.
Agreement has also been reached to extend the contract for this
time.
“In the meantime, we are looking at how to provide greater
choice and flexibility for a member purchasing his or her own
home,” MAJGEN Evans said.
“A revised scheme should support recruitment, retention and
resettlement, and it should be cost effective for Defence. It
should also recognise the benefits home ownership provides to
both members and Defence.
“We also need to consider the effect that changing the scheme
might have on the ADF housing system as a whole.
“We are asking members and their families to express their
views on the current DHOS and to provide comment on the improvements
being considered by Defence,” he said.
The DHOS review team has already developed some options under
the guidance of the Personnel Steering Group.
Members and their families can view and comment on these options
on the ADF Pay and Conditions website
(http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/)
by clicking the “Defence HomeOwner Scheme Review” link.
Those who do not have access to the Internet can call 1800 DEFENCE
for a fact sheet.
Comments
need to reach the team by June 14.
Further information on the current DHOS is available on the DHA
website at www.dha.gov.au or from the DHA Home Owner team on 1800
802 763.
