The Regulars Update is a monthly newssheet (except for January) containing items which are of interest to the Service and ex-Service community.  It is distributed to politicians, media outlets, senior Service officers and RDFWA branches.  Branches are encouraged to distribute Update further, such as by email, to Association members and other interested people or organisations.  Update is also posted on the RDFWA website.

 Reversionary spouse benefit 3/5 year rule - legislation and interim measures

 The Association recently received advice from the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Mr Bruce Bilson, promising (once again) that legislation will be introduced to reduce the qualifying marital period for the reversionary spouse benefit for spouses of pensioners aged over 60 from the current 5 years to the public service norm of 3 years.  Mr Bilson advised that the legislation would not be retrospective in effect, but that Act of Grace processes, yet to be developed, might be used to cover cases that have arisen since the measure was first announced in May 2006.  This is clearly not nearly as satisfactory as legislated retrospectivity.

 In the event, the measure was introduced in the Superannuation Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 on 21 June and, possibly worse than the lack of retrospectivity, the new measure relies upon proclamation to bring it into effect.

 The Association welcomes progress on the matter, but remains outraged at the length of time this matter has taken to be resolved and the lack of legislated retrospectivity.

 MILITARY SUPERANNUATION INDEXATION

 The woefully inadequate CPI basis of indexing military and Commonwealth superannuation pensions will soon be bought into stark reality when pensioners receive advice from ComSuper that their pensions will not be increased due to the CPI calculations for the past six months.  The cold reality of the continual reduction in the value of military pensions contrasts with the recent increases in salaries enjoyed by many in the community and the increases in Centrelink pensions that are based on the more equitable calculations based on average weekly earnings.

The Association continues to lobby for a change to this arrangement, and recent meetings with Ministers, senior bureaucrats and candidates in marginal seats will continue in earnest in the coming months.

INTERNATIONAL HONOUR FOR WOOMERA RANGE

 The Woomera Test Facility has received a coveted international honour from the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).  The award is a rare honour, with Woomera being only one of only four non-US locations to be internationally recognised by AIAA, who are known as the foremost aerospace organisation in the world. 

 AIAA advances the state of aerospace science, engineering, and technological leadership around the world. Based in Washington, DC, the Institute has 35,000 members across 79 countries. The Woomera Test Facility is a strategic Defence asset with a proud history that continues today.  The site is the largest land-based range in the world and provides instrumented aerospace test and evaluation range support services to the Australian Defence Force and the broader Defence community.

REDEVELOPMENT OF THE DEFENCE FORCE SCHOOL OF SIGNALS

A project to provide new and refurbished facilities for the Defence Force School of Signals, at Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Victoria, has been recommended to proceed by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works and that this recommendation has been approved by the Parliament. 

The proposed project, which is budgeted at $101.3 million, will upgrade facilities required to train Defence personnel in communications and information systems.  The project includes the construction of new working and teaching facilities, the refurbishment of some existing facilities and the construction of new living-in accommodation rooms for long-term trainees.

 Construction is planned to start in early 2008 and is expected to be completed in late 2009.

 RAN HYDOGRAPHIC SUCCESSES

 The Association offers warm congratulations to the RAN for its award of three international prizes during the 17^th International Hydrographic Conference held recently in Monaco.  The RAN was awarded first in the International Cartographic Association chart display prize and third in the International Hydrographic Organization chart exhibition prize.  Of even greater significance to Australia was the election of Captain(CAPT) Robert Ward, formerly the Deputy Hydrographer of Australia, as one of the three Directors of the International Hydrographic Organization.  He will take on the position for a five year term starting in September.

 Australia’s national authority for nautical charting and hydrographic surveying is the RAN’s Australian Hydrographic Service.  It continues to enjoy a high reputation among the world's hydrographic authorities for the range of services and products it provides to Defence and the wider community for safe navigation at sea. 

SURVEY OF WORLD WAR ONE GRAVE SITE AT FROMELLES

 A non-invasive scientific survey of an alleged First World War burial site from the battle of Fromelles in northern France has uncovered evidence that Australian war dead had been buried there.  A preliminary report from an expert scientific team revealed subsurface anomalies in the soil that coincide with war time aerial photos and confirm the presence of a series of pits.   The survey also found some compelling evidence that Australian war dead, possibly more than 160, were buried on the site after the battle by the Germans. 

 The most dramatic evidence, two copper alloy amulets or medallions with inscriptions clearly identifying them as belonging to Australians, were located close to the two western-most pits and close to the light railway that war time photos show the Germans using to move the dead.  The presence of these objects is very significant because the Australians never operated in this area, so could only have come from prisoners or the dead in German hands.  The survey has also cast doubt on the likelihood that the remains were recovered in post war battlefield clearance operations as the pattern and distribution of bullets, shrapnel and other debris of battle suggests the soil was undisturbed after the end of the war. 

 The report is the preliminary report based only on field observations, and the final report, which will include the scientific evidence obtained from ground penetrating radar, gradiometer and resistivity techniques used on the site, is expected to provide additional evidence as to the actual presence of soldier’s remains in the pits.  If the final report does confirm these initial findings, the Australian Government will seek the support of French authorities to evaluate the site and confirm, or otherwise, our findings.  It is hoped that this evaluation might be concluded by Christmas.

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