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.

ASSOCIATION MATTERS

Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.  The RDFWA is represented on the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital (Austin Health) Rebuild Project Control Group, looking out for the interests of veterans who access the unit on behalf of the Victorian ESO’s.  The master plan for the Heidelberg site is scheduled for tabling at the Project Control Group before Christmas.

 RDFWA Strategy for the Future.  Members wishing to provide input into this issue are invited to contact their State Branch of the Association.

 Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal.  The Tribunal has recently considered several matters which are  now subject to the Tribunal’s decision and advice will probably be forthcoming by mid – January 2007.  They include the ADF Engineers RRP Pay Placement Case; the RRP Other Ranks Pay System Case (RRP Phase 4); Separation Allowance; and Army Ground Trades Restructure Case.  The Remuneration Reform Project (RRP) cases flow from the ‘new’ Officers pay structure, involving a 10 Group arrangement.  Group 2 represents the Officers General Pay and as a consequence of rolling in the superannuable allowances eg. Flying Allowance, Special Forces, Special Action Forces and Submarine, members have been placed in higher groups as appropriate.

 From now on movement between pay groups will require a ‘work value’ submission to the Tribunal.  Defence has used Air Traffic Controllers (submitted in September) and ADF Engineers as the first two such submissions.  In brief, each proposes a competency based progressive movement from Pay Group 3 to Pay Group 6 or 7, to reflect both their value to Defence and other factors such as attraction and retention.  The Association has supported the cases but emphasised the importance of transitional and no-detriment issues.

 The Other Ranks case involved the proposed arrangement to reflect the rolling in of the same allowances for other ranks.  The result is a 16 Pay Group structure in lieu of 7.  Again the Association offered support together with reservations regarding several imponderables or issues yet to be resolved.  The intention is that this new arrangement apply from August 2007 to coincide with the next WRA increase.

 The Association did not make representations were not made in relation to the other cases because the proposals were considered non-contentious and time did not permit a physical appearance at the Tribunal.

 Representation to Government regarding Indexation.  The Association remains active, and will continue to pursue, a change to the current method of indexation for defence superannuants, which is currently CPI based.  The National President and the National Secretary recently joined a delegation and met with Senator Gary Humphries on 23 November to discuss pension indexation issues.

 In response to our recent approach to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, The Hon Bruce Billson MP, the Minister again advised that the indexation of Commonwealth superannuation pensions, which includes military superannuation pensions, is determined by Government policy; that the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator the Hon Nick Minchin, is aware of the arguments put forward by various individuals and organisations seeking to adopt alternative wage based indexation arrangements; and that the Government remains satisfied that the CPI does provide a reasonable measure of the cost of living.

A Submission to the Treasurer

A private Submission to the Treasurer on the funding status of the Defence Forces Retirement Benefits and Defence Forces Retirement and Death Benefits Funds has been raised to achieve the reclassification of the DFRB/DFRDB funds as funded, or partly funded.  This is based on advice from a Senior Advisor (Tax), Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, that the schemes are part contributory, part unfunded defined benefit schemes.  That is, the benefits paid are in part financed by member contributions and in part by the employer, the Government, out of consolidated revenue.  As such, benefits paid from the scheme would thus have a 'taxed' and an 'untaxed element'. 

The submission seeks a review of the Government’s classification of the DFRB/DFRDB fund, currently classified as unfunded, be conducted with a view to granting the members of these funds equity in the proposed superannuation changes proposed by the Government, for introduction on 1 July 2007.  The submission and online petition is at www.ozveteranforce.com 

 RELEASE OF ADF LEARNING CULTURE INQUIRY REPORT

 The Learning Culture Inquiry Report into ADF Schools and Training Establishments has been released.  The Inquiry was commissioned by Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston in response to the Senate Committee report into The Effectiveness of Australia’s Military Justice System that identified aspects of ADF culture as a possible cause of shortfalls in the military justice system.

After a six-month review across all ADF schools and training establishments the Inquiry found no evidence of a systemic culture that supported bullying or harassment, and found that there is a widespread commitment to giving everyone a fair go.  The Inquiry team found the ADF to be a highly professional training organisation staffed by committed, loyal and extremely hard working people.  It also identified some areas where the ADF is not a best-practice learning organisation at this stage and concluded that the underlying culture within training institutions still has some way to go before Defence’s explicit Equity and Diversity policies are fully supported.

Defence has accepted 46 of the 47 recommendations from the Inquiry, the only exception being that Defence will continue to use single-Service values statements as the basis for values-based training in the ADF, and that the Defence Values (Professionalism, Loyalty, Integrity, Courage, Innovation and Teamwork) are complimentary and provide an over-arching foundation for the Defence organisation.

 The Defence action plan to implement the Learning Culture Inquiry agreed recommendations will broaden reforms currently in place by building on the strong cultural values of the three Services. In many cases the report’s recommendations will enhance work that is already being done.

 REFORMS TO AUSTRALIA’S MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM

 Two significant steps in enhancing the Australian military justice system were recently taken when Parliament passed legislation to pave way for the creation of the Australian Military Court and the Chief of Defence Force Commission of Inquiry into service-related deaths.  The permanent military court will be independent of the service chain-of-command and will replace the current system of courts martial and trial by Defence Force magistrates.

 The Commissions of Inquiry will be presided over by a civilian with judicial experience.  Military judges will preside over the new court, rather than general service officers sitting as a court martial panel.  The court will also have a military jury for the more serious offences.  The legislation will also introduce enhanced rights of appeal on both conviction and punishment to the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Tribunal which consists of civilian judges.

Mr L.J. Bienkiewicz – 0411 444248

Commodore H J P Adams (Retd) - 02 6292 1452

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