Transcript Document

Directorate of Service Conditions & Housing Policy
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Operation AZURE
Conditions of Service
People Policy and Employment Conditions Branch
Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
References
• PACMAN Version 2 OCS Vol Chap 17
• DSC Service Conditions message dated 240503z JAN 11
• HQJOC message 4206/SO2 PERSOPS DTG 150409Z SEP
08 – Leave outside the AO and DA
• HQJOC message 6249/SO2 PERSOPS_B DTG 162221Z
NOV 08 – Leave outside the AO and DA
Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Nature of Service Declaration
• A Nature of Service (NOS) declaration by the Minister
for Defence, in consultation with the Prime Minister,
authorises a Conditions of Service (COS) package for
each deployment.
• Op AZURE has been declared Non-warlike service WEF
10 Apr 05.
• The COS package was re-released on 24 Jan 11 by DSC.
Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Non-warlike Service - Definition
• Military activities short of warlike operations where
there is a risk associated with the assigned task(s) and
where the application of force is limited to self defence.
• Casualties could occur but are not expected.
• Types (not limited to):
– Hazardous - mine avoidance/clearance, weapons inspections,
service protected evacuations - minimum force; and
– Peacekeeping - military personnel without powers of enforcement
to help restore peace in an area of former conflict with the
consent of all parties.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Reviews
• DIO review threat assessments every twelve months or
when circumstances change.
• NOS is reviewed when there is a change:
– in circumstance;
– in the task or role of deployed force;
– or at a minimum of every 12 months.
• These reviews may result in new NOS declaration by the
Minister for Defence.
• COS are reviewed when there is a change in threat
assessment or NOS.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the COS package, members must be:
– assigned for duty with Operation AZURE
– be within the specified area
• Eligibility for some COS depend on the expected length
of deployment and operational requirements.
AZURE
ServiceOPERATION
Conditions for OP
AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
The specified
area comprises
Sudan.
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ADF contribution to the United Nations Mission in Sudan
Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Housing and Removals
• Housing and removal benefits depend on;
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the expected length of your deployment;
the location of your dependants during your deployment,
your categorisation,
posting location on RTA; and
time remaining in losing posting location.
• For deployments of less than six months;
– There are no removal benefits.
– housing benefits;
• Remain the same MWD and MWD(U)
• Remain the same in the posting location for MWOD
with the member not required to make a contribution
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Housing and Removals
• For deployment of more than 6 months a range of
assistance is provided to help members manage their
absence.
• Members living in and Members living out;
– May choose to remain in their accommodation or access removal
and storage entitlements.
– should engage early with the decision maker to ensure they are
fully aware of the benefits and options available to them upon
deployment.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Housing and Removals
• MWD
– dependants may remain in posting location; or
– dependants may be moved to a personal location for family
support where there is a compelling need. There a number of
levels housing and removal options if approved to relocate your
dependants for family support. The level of benefit available to the
member depends on
• the compelling need,
• members posting location on return; and
• length of time in posting location on return.
– Members should engage early with the decision maker to
ensure they are fully aware of the benefits available in
their circumstances.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Pre-deployment Leave and Travel
• Deployments of less than six months do not normally
attract a pre-embarkation Leave entitlement.
– Some provision exist for special cases; apply via relevant service DGPERS
area.
• Deployments of six months or more - Pre-embarkation
Leave:
– approval depends on operational requirements;
– up to 7 days (inclusive of weekends and public holidays);
– Free Travel:
– If entitled – free travel within Australia may be granted to home
location
– If BRL free travel entitlement exists then this is to be used
– Alt, family members may be conveyed at public expense to members
home location. Costs not to exceed that which would have been
expended for the member to travel.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Before Deploying
Members should;
• Check with Centrelink regarding:
– Family Tax Benefits:
• Note - A New tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 was
amended effective 1 July 2007 to provide portability of Family
Tax Benefit Part B beyond 13 weeks while overseas on
deployment.
– any other benefits that you may be eligible for depending on your
family composition and income.
• Check with Child Support Agency regarding child
support payments
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Allowances
• Deployment Allowance (WEF 10 Nov 2011):
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$119.70 pd
Tax exempt
payable inside the specified area
payable for ADF leave accrued in the specified area
subject to change at any time – up or down (based on
changes to military and environmental conditions)
– NOT payable at any other time; ie. UN leave/CTO outside Sudan,
duty outside the specified area (ie. Nairobi), escorting AME, RTA
injured, conference/BOI etc
• Recognition of operational and environmental hazards
• Threat assessment sets basis for rate
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Allowances
• The rate of DA is arrived at by combining rates
associated with Operational and Environmental threats
as assessed by DIO
• Operational assessments take into consideration;
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political and military situation
activities and aims of military forces
military hazards
incidence of violent crime
the nature of the deployment
command arrangements
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Allowances
• Environmental assessments give consideration to;
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health, including quality & availability of health services;
topography and climate
extent and quality of civil infrastructure
extent of insect, plant and animal hazards
risk of road accidents & traffic conditions
language and social conditions
nature of deployment
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Allowances
• Other allowances where applicable:
– Separation Allowance
– Flying Allowance
• Field Allowance applications are to be submitted to
CJOPs for approval IAW the requirements of PACMAN,
providing the stipulated threshold criterion of 'living in
the field' has been met.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Allowances
• MSA may be paid by the UN:
– covers costs of accn, food and misc expenses
– no entitlement to O/S TC for same costs
– if MSA does not cover actual costs, ‘top up’ TC may become
payable. Chap 13 of PACMAN refers.
• Members who are required to purchase their own meals
and who are not in receipt of Mission Subsistence
Allowance (MSA) may qualify to receive Travelling Costs
(including incidentals).
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Allowances
• District Allowance
– MWD members DO NOT have this allowance ceased if the family
remain at posting location.
– MWOD members DO have this allowance ceased:
• after 30 days if returning to remote location after deployment,
or
• on date of deployment if posted out of remote location and
not returning after deployment.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Leave
• ARL for Non-warlike Service - up to 10 days pa.
• ARL for Field or Flying service if entitled (granted IAW
PACMAN):
• Be aware prior Field Leave accrued for current LY will count for the max
Field Leave that can be credited – 10 days pa.
• ERL is not granted for warlike or non-warlike deployments
NB-IAW with HQJOC direction members leaving the AO must take ADF leave.
Any other form of leave inc. UN/CTO leave is only to be taken in theatre
and accounted for as short leave on PMKeys.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Relief Out of Country Travel Fares
Assistance (ROCTFA):
• The purpose of relief out-of-country travel fare
assistance is to help the member have time away from
the difficulties of a deployment. ROCTFA is;
– subject to operational constraints and provided the member’s
leave plan includes being outside of the specified area for at least
seven (7) consecutive days
– to be taken as near as possible to midway point of deployment
– travel on cheapest available airline offering a reasonable standard
of safety and security
– travel is intended to assist personnel to have time away from the
arduous conditions of the deployment
Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
ROCTFA
• ROCTFA entitlement is based on length of deployment
as follows:– Less than 6 months = NIL entitlement
NB: HQJOC may grant 1 ROCTFA in exceptional circumstances
– 6 months but less than 9 months = 1 ROCTFA
– 9 months but less than 12 months = 2 ROCTFA
– 12 months but less than 15 months = 3 ROCTFA
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
ROCTFA
• ROCTFA designated destination for OP AZURE is as follows:
– to the previous posting loc, or
– alt the location to which the family has been moved at public expense
for the period of deployment, or
– alt to the nominated family members normal residential loc within
Australia, or
– alt to the defence recognised dependant normal residential loc within
Australia.
• there is no offset for the RTA provision.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
ROCTFA
• For members who do not wish to RTA the ROCTFA
destination is London.
• Members may offset the cost of return travel to London
against the cost of travel to an alt destination.
• The alt destination must be suitable as a ROCTFA
destination as determined by the CO.
– class of travel is economy airfare.
– TA is not payable while on ROCTFA.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Taxation
• Non-warlike service
– Section 23AG ITAA (qualifying period of 91 continuous
days):
OR
• ADF pers may be eligible for exemption from Australian income
tax under Section 23AG of the Income Tax Assessment Act
1936.
• Note: Taxation advice regarding a member’s personal
circumstances is not provided by Defence. It is the responsibility
of the individual to seek advice as necessary regarding the
application of Section 23AG (or other provisions) to their
personal circumstances and/or the ATO regarding a private
ruling.
– s79B ITAA - Overseas Defence Forces Rebate:
• applies where s23AG is not applicable (periods of less than 91
days)
• $338 per year on a pro rata basis
• plus 50% of any other applicable rebate, ie. Spouse
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Other Information
• Compensation:
– covered under the provisions of the Military Rehabilitation and
Compensation Act 2004 for death, injury or illness.
– covered 24 hr a day
– Hotline No 1300 550 461
– E-mail - [email protected]
• It is essential to keep records and report all incidents.
Ensure all paperwork is completed.
• Medals
– ASM – clasp ‘Sudan’ with 30 day aggregate
qualifying period
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Other Information
• Telephone calls & mail service:
– NOT a COS, however, members MAY BE provided the opportunity to
telephone Australia:
• The frequency and duration of these calls will be set by HQJOC.
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Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
EXCHANGE PERSONNEL
• Personnel from other forces on exchange with the ADF
and deployed on Operation AZURE:
– have NIL entitlement to ADF Deployment packages
– are provided conditions of service from their parent country
Service Conditions for OP AZURE
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Where can I find the Conditions of Service
for Operation AZURE?
• COS messages for all operations are published on the
DEFWEB and Internet at:
– http://intranet.defence.gov.au/pac/
– http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/
• drill down:
– Pay and Conditions – Home Page
– Overseas Deployments
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Directorate of Service Conditions & Housing Policy
Correct as at 28 Nov 2011
Any Questions?