Publication:Sea Talk Summer 2005/Remote locality allowance gains
About 1,200 members of the Navy will be among more than 11,000 ADF members to benefit from a $35 million expansion of Service allowances and conditions in Northern Australia.
The package of locality allowances, leave and travel entitlements is designed to lessen the impact on ADF members and their families serving in remote areas of northern Australia, particularly those who are likely to undertake more than one posting or serve for extended periods in the north.
The initiative, announced in September, will provide:
- ADF District Allowance of up to an extra $4,420 a year paid in recognition of the higher than normal cost of living in adverse circumstances, including the need to use airconditioners more than in other locations. Airconditioners allowance has been discontinued and rolled into the district allowance.
- More leave travel for ADF members, both single and with dependants, in more remote areas from Feb 1, '06. This travel at Commonwealth expense provides access to facilities unavailable in remote areas. In these areas members and their families will be entitled to two trips per year - one to the closest State capital, the other to any selected State or Territory capital; and
- Additional recreational leave (ARL) of between two and five days per year depending on the location (also from Feb 1). For some locations, this will be a reduction of two days per year of ARL.
The package is based on new locality gradings that take into account climate, isolation and the cost of living. This is the first time the gradings have been changed in 30 years.
Details of the package are available on the Pay and Conditions (PAC) website intranet.defence.gov.au/pac. This website provides answers to frequently asked questions and also provides links to sites that members will find useful in calculating the impact of the new ADF conditions of service package on their entitlements and/or obligations under other Government department legislation.
The table below summarises the changes to ADF Remote Locality Conditions in Cairns and Darwin:
| Grade | A | B |
| Examples | Cairns | Darwin |
| District Allowance (accompanied by family) New rates effective from Sep 1, '05 * See Notes 1 and 2 | $2000 (+540) | $5710 (+2190) |
| Leave Travel
Accompanied by family | 1 per 2 yrs (same) |
|
| Additional Recreation Leave (days)
(Changes to entitlements effective from Feb 1, '06) | 2 per year (same) | 3 per year (-2) |
Notes:
- Figure in brackets is the amount the new allowance varies from the old allowance.
- Members without dependants who live out receive 50% of the 'accompanied' rate. Members without dependants who live in service accommodation receive 35% of the 'accompanied' rate.
