SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
Monday, 31 May 2010
056/2010
Remote locality leave travel entitlement
Today in Senate Estimates, Defence Minister Senator Faulkner made clear
the scope of the review of the Remote Locality Leave Travel Entitlement.
The review will not be examining or proposing any changes to District
Allowance, nor any changes to the entitlement to additional annual leave
days.
“The Government recognises the sacrifices made by ADF members when
they are posted away from family and friends to distant locations across
Australia like Darwin and Townsville without the facilities of a city like Sydney
or Melbourne” said Senator Faulkner.
“The Government is committed to ensuring members are able to remain in
contact with family and friends elsewhere while posted to remote locations.”
There are three components of the package of benefits provided to members
posted to a remote location: the ADF District Allowance, which is an annual
allowance paid to compensate members for living in a remote area; additional
annual leave days; and a Remote Locality Leave Travel entitlement, which
provides economy class travel to the nearest state capital that ADF members
can use to visit family and friends or to access services unavailable in their
remote location.
Senator Faulkner confirmed that Defence is only looking at the third
component – remote locality leave benefit – and the objective will be to ensure
that it meets the needs of our servicemen and women.
“The review will examine options to increase the flexibility of the current
scheme. There will be no changes to the scheme that will adversely impact
servicemen and women in remote locations.”
“The Government recognises the unique challenges of service in the ADF and
the importance of providing an attractive employment offer to ensure the
continued retention of highly skilled ADF members. I can assure ADF
Members that there will be no changes to any of these allowances or benefits
that will adversely impact our servicemen and women” Senator Faulkner said.
Transcript from Defence And Foreign Affairs Senate Estimates
Committee Hearings 31/5/2010
Senator Faulkner: I certainly don’t, Senator, want any misunderstanding
about this or any capacity for misrepresentation and that’s why I’ve said, in the
strong language that I’ve used, that the service of our ADF members in these
localities is valued and we will not see any benefits they receive adversely
affected. You don’t like the terminology “adversely affected”? I think its clear
that we will not see them worse off. I think that’s clear too.
Senator Johnston:
I am trying to ask, the simplest of questions, I am
seeking the simplest of answers. Now Darwin and Townsville will remain as
remote. Can you please tell us this?
Senator Faulkner: They are remote and they will remain remote.
Senator Johnston:
Thankyou.
Senator Faulkner: But Senator I made that clear before. There is only one
element that is being examined here, I’ve tried to be clear about that.
Senator Johnston:
My mistake, my apologies to you …
Senator Faulkner:
… but please accept what I have said, is there are three
elements to the remote locality leave entitlement, I’ve talked about the ADF
district allowance, I have said that that is an annual allowance that is payable
to members to compensate them for living in remote locations, if I’ve said
once, I’ve said it five times here at this committee hearing. There will be no
change.
I don’t want, Senator, a situation, and I wouldn’t suggest for a moment that
you’d do this, but I don’t want a situation where anybody could misinterpret
this and I think it is important in terms of ensuring that there can be no
misrepresentation. There has been some inaccurate reporting of this and I
did want to take the opportunity to clear it up.
Senator Johnson: Thank you, Minister.
Senator Faulkner: And I hope that is clear Senator. Very clear.
ends
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7800 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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