Conditions of service for Operation Sumatra Assist

By Lt Simone Heyer, Directorate Defence Newspapers - filed 07 January 2005

Personnel Policy and Employment Conditions Branch has released conditions of service for Operation Sumatra Assist.

Director Service Conditions Group Captain John Price said the conditions would apply to those ADF personnel assigned to Op Sumatra Assist and within the specified area declared for the operation, which includes parts of Malaysia and Thailand also affected by the tsunami.

Gp-Capt Price said that Operation Sumatra Assist had been declared peacetime service and the conditions of service would reflect this.

"Normal pay and allowances continue to apply to the operation, including seagoing, field and flying allowances - as well as separation allowance and the usual rehabilitation and compensation rules," he said.

"While normal taxation arrangements apply, warlike and non-warlike conditions of service, such as we have seen previously in East Timor or The Solomon Islands, definitely do not apply."

ADF members on Op Sumatra Assist, excluding those posted to HMA Ships, come under short term duty overseas conditions, including payment of a daily rate of hardship allowance. Different rates apply, depending on the location of service.

He said that while members posted to HMA Ships were not entitled to short term duty overseas conditions, hardship allowance would apply if they were required to go ashore.

Hardship allowance is payable for each day or part day of service on the ground in the area of assistance. The normal 28-day qualifying period is waived.

Gp-Capt Price said the conditions of service would be reviewed as the situation developed.

For more information on the conditions of service visit: intranet.defence.gov.au/pac/ or www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/