IR changes

Volume 48, No. 16, Sepetember 7, 2006

EXCELLENT OUTCOME: L-R WGCDR Brian Young, Reserve Project Office, WGCDR Tom Buckham, PAF, Reserve Policy Division, AIRCDRE Phil Byrne, Reserve Staff Group, and SGT Margaret Roach, DGRES-AF, a direct entry Air Force Reservist who has served for 18 years. Photo by Doc Doherty

SEVEN thousand five hundred dollars for High Readiness Reservists, a $600 health bonus for trained Active reserves and $10 a day for all reservists below SQNLDR, are just three of the new package of benefits for Reservists from September 1.

These benefits are part of a package launched on September 1 and are aimed at achieving equity for Reservists.

The new deal, which, for most, also represents an increase of 17.2 per cent in salary, follows the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal’s (DFRT) acceptance of an ADF proposal to make important changes to Reservists’ pay.

WGCDR Tom Buckham from Reserve Policy said the increases follow the major Reserve Remuneration Review conducted last year into Reservists’ pay and allowances.

“Five proposals were forwarded to government, of which three were previously approved,” he said.

The other two proposals were submitted to and passed by the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) by the ADF during a two-day hearing in Canberra from August 30-31.

These proposals were for the removal of the current 10-15 per cent discount for members of the Reserves who are fully trained, and who have the same competencies as their permanent counterparts, and for the introduction of a Reserve Service Allowance of $10. This was based on the Permanent Forces’ Service Allowance that is meant to compensate members for the unique demands of military service.

CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd said this was “a great outcome.

“[It] goes a long way to achieving equity for Reservists who have the same competencies at PAF members as they start to enter the PAF under the Reserve Restructure Program.”
For the trained Air Force Reservists, there will no longer be any discount to their daily rate of pay. Also, every member from SQNLDR down will receive an extra $10 per day, for either a full or part day’s work.

Meanwhile, in November all reservists will receive an extra 4.2 per cent resulting from the recent WRA agreement. All pay remains tax free.

“This is the biggest change in Reserves remuneration since 1975 and is all fully funded by Government,” WGCDR Buckham said.

“For the majority of our reservists, this represents a 17.2 per cent increase, plus the $10 a day, before the November increase.”

Head Reserve Policy, MAJGEN Neil Wilson, said he was very pleased with the outcome.

“In 2001 and 2004 we asked the reserves what they wanted. Now, in 2006, we have been able to get it for them.

“It’s taken two years of hard work, but I am very pleased with the outcome that has been achieved for all ADF reserves.”

The ADF submitted that Reservists who were appropriately trained and demonstrated competence and experience would be employed alongside their permanent counterparts doing the same job. Under these conditions, there was a strong argument to remove the salary discounting.

In its supporting statement, DFRT said: “Having considered the evidence and the submissions of the Australian Defence Force and the Commonwealth, and as supported by the Armed Forces Federation of Australia, the Tribunal has decided to approve the proposal in regard to Reserve members remuneration.”

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