Issue 211, September 2006
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The Regulars Update is a monthly newssheet (except that December and January are combined) containing items which could be of interest to the Service and ex-Service community. This newssheet is distributed to some politicians, some media outlets, some senior Service officers and RDFWA branches. Branches are encouraged to distribute Update further. Input and feedback from all branches will enhance the content and quality of this newssheet. Update is posted to our web site soon after its distribution.
FUNDING BOOST FOR VETERANS' HEALTH CARE
The Government has announced a $600 million funding boost over the next five years to support payments to specialists, general practitioners, allied health care providers, dentists, optometrists and pathologists supporting veterans with a Gold or White Card. A Gold Card provides the holder with treatment and care for all health care conditions at government expense, while a White Card identifies the recipient as being eligible for treatment and care for specific conditions.
INCREASED PAY FOR ADF RESERVISTS
As of 1 September 2006 Australian Defence Force Reservists are to receive as much as a 17% pay rise and many would also see an allowance increase of $10 per day. The $10 per day, or part day, extra allowance would be eligible to all those at or below Major, or equivalent, rank.
The increase in salary comes after the scrapping of practices in place since 1975 that saw a 10 to15% discount applied to a Reservist’s salary, relative to those in the Permanent Force. The new initiative means that if the Reservist possesses the full competencies for the work for which they are employed there would be no percentage decrease in salary. This could mean anything up to a 17% pay rise for both ex-Permanent Force personnel and fully-trained Reservists.
The new measures are part of a broader package announced in this year’s Budget. Other initiatives included:
A completion bonus of $5000 per year for service in the High Readiness Reserves (HRR).
A $2500 per year Health Support Allowance for HRR.
A $600 per year Health Support Allowance for members of the Active and Specialist Reserve.
ADDITIONAL TROOPS FOR OPERATION OVERWATCH
The Australian Government has decided to increase the number of troops serving as part of the Overwatch Battle Group (West) in Tallil in southern Iraq. Based on an assessment made by Defence after the first month of operations of the Overwatch Battle Group, an additional 38 personnel and four Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles are being deployed. The extra troops and equipment will increase the force protection element for our troops already based in Tallil.
Following the transfer of security responsibility in Al Muthanna to the Iraqi Government, around 450 Australian troops were redeployed to the Tallil air base in Dhi Qar province. Another 30 personnel are helping train the Iraqi Army at the Basic Training Centre in Tallil.
This decision will not change the role Australian troops are performing as part of the Overwatch Battle Group. The extra contingent will enhance logistics and intelligence support as well as providing increased protected mobility to the Australian troops based in Tallil.
This additional deployment lifts the number of Australian troops serving in southern Iraq to over 500. There will now be a large amount of armoured equipment, including 19 Bushmasters in support of our military personnel. Australia’s commitment to Operation Catalyst (Iraq) totals approximately 1400 personnel.
DEFENCE MANAGEMENT REVIEW & BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT BOARD
A Defence Management Review and a Defence Business Improvement Board will examine efficiency and effectiveness across Defence and look specifically at decision making, business and management processes. The Defence Management Review will run for around six months and will provide their final report directly to the minister for Defence.
The Review will be chaired by Ms Elizabeth Proust, who will be joined by VADM Chris Ritchie RAN (Retd), Mr John Azarias, and Dr Alan Kallir.
The Defence Business Improvement Board will become a permanent board. It will meet three to four times of the remainder of this year and more frequently in 2007, reporting to the CDF and the Secretary, and through them to the Minister.
DEFENCE CLAIMS THAT MILITARY JUSTICE REFORM IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation committee recently delivered a generally favourable judgement on Defence's reforms to its military justice system in its first six-monthly report. At the time of the report, a total of seven full recommendations, and significant elements of a further two recommendations contained in the Government's response to the report on Australia's military justice system had been completed on, or ahead of, the Implementation Plan schedule.
Since then, further recommendations have been completed bringing the total to 16. The Senate report identified shortfalls in the performance of service police investigations. Dedicated service police investigators are now deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and East Timor. These deployments further assure that the Australian Defence Force Military Justice System delivers impartial, rigorous and fair outcomes, both at home and on deployed operations.
The audit of ADF service police investigative capability has been completed. The recommendations will inform the best means for developing the capability and implementing the new tri-Service investigative unit.
The backlog of Redress of Grievance cases has been cleared and there is no longer a backlog that previously caused undue pressure on the complaint resolution system. The Defence Fairness and Resolution branch has been established as the central management body for dealing with all complaints and grievances.
Mr L.J. Bienkiewicz – 0411 444248
Commodore H J P Adams (Retd) - 02 6292 1452
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