CDF – 2014 ADF WRA Decision

3 Nov 2014

 2014 ADF WORKPLACE REMUNERATION ARRANGEMENT UPDATE DECISION

1. THIS MESSAGE FROM THE CDF ADVISES ADF MEMBERS THAT THE DEFENCE FORCE REMUNERATION TRIBUNAL (DFRT) APPROVED THE 2014 WORKPLACE REMUNERATION ARRANGEMENT (2014 WRA) PROPOSAL ON THE 3 NOVEMBER 2014.

2. THE DFRT AGREED TO A PAY INCREASE OF 4.5% OVER THE THREE YEAR LIFE OF THE WRA. THE 2014 WRA WILL COMMENCE FROM 4 NOVEMBER 2014, WITH PAY
INCREASES TO BE DELIVERED VIA THE FOLLOWING INSTALMENTS:
A. 1.5 PER CENT WITH EFFECT FROM 6 NOVEMBER 2014;
B. 1.5 PER CENT WITH EFFECT FROM 5 NOVEMBER 2015, AND
C. 1.5 PER CENT WITH EFFECT FROM 3 NOVEMBER 2016

3. I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS INCREASE DOES NOT PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IN
PREVIOUS COMMUNICATIONS THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED USING PRINCIPLES THAT INCLUDE:
A. ALL GOVERNMENT WAGE INCREASES START AT ZERO;
B. THE ADF MUST OPERATE WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT’S WAGE FRAMEWORK;
C. SALARY INCREASES ARE NEITHER AUTOMATIC NOR ARE THEY AN ENTITLEMENT;
D. INCREASES TO OUR SALARY ARE PREMISED ON IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY; AND
E. INCREASES TO SALARY ARE BASED ON DEMONSTRABLE PRODUCTIVITY GAINS, INCLUDING THE REFORM OF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND ALLOWANCE
PROVISIONS.

4. THE DFRT APPROVED THE 2014 WRA BASED ON IMPROVEMENTS TO ADF PRODUCTIVITY AND AFFORDABILITY THROUGH:
A. THE CESSATION OF THE OPTION FOR COMMANDERS TO APPROVE EXTRA RECREATION LEAVE, NOTING THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO OTHER ADF LEAVE
PROVISIONS;
B. A ONE DAY REDUCTION TO STAND DOWN AT THE END OF THE WORKING YEAR;
C. REPLACING FOOD ALLOWANCE FOR MEMBERS WITH DEPENDANTS (UNACCOMPANIED) WITH A ONE-OFF LARDER PAYMENT;
D. ADJUSTING THE MINIMUM QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR HIGHER DUTIES FROM FIVE TO TEN DAYS;
E. CONSOLIDATING THE CURRENT THREE RATES OF MOTOR VEHICLE ALLOWANCE WITH ONE RATE OF 63 CENTS / KM; AND
F. INCREASING THE ALLOWABLE DRIVING LIMITS THAT AN ADF MEMBER MAY DRIVE IN ONE DAY.

5. IN ADDITION, THE UNIQUE NATURE OF ADF SERVICE WAS REINFORCED AND RECOGNISED DURING THE WRA PROCESS.

6. DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR THE CHANGES AT PARA 4 ARE YET TO BE FINALISED. THIS INFORMATION AND FURTHER ADVICE ON THE IMPLICATIONS
OF THE PRODUCTIVITY MEASURES AS LISTED ABOVE WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH A SEPARATE MESSAGE AND WILL BE LISTED IN FUTURE EDITIONS OF THE
SERVICE NEWSPAPERS AND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://INTRANET.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/PEOPLE/SITES/PEOPLECONNECT/COMWEB.ASP?PAGE=110472&TITLE
=WORKPLACE%20REMUNERATION%20ARRANGEMENT&TAB=I-ADF-MY%20PAY%20AND%20REWARD

7. AS CDF, I RETAIN THE ABILITY TO RETURN TO THE DFRT DURING THE LIFE OF THE WRA IN THE EVENT THAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE SUCH THAT THE WRA
SHOULD BE REVIEWED.

8. THE ADF REMAINS ENGAGED WITH THE RETURNED SERVICES LEAGUE (RSL) AND THE DEFENCE FORCE WELFARE ASSOCIATION (DFWA) WHO APPEARED AS
INTERVENERS BEFORE THE DFRT ON 15 OCTOBER 2014. THE ADF APPRECIATED THE DIALOGUE WITH THE RSL AND DFWA THROUGHOUT THE WRA CONSULTATION
PROCESS.

9. I THANK THE ADF MEMBERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE WRA CONSULTATION PROCESS AND MADE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN. THE ADF WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK THE
VIEWS OF MEMBERS ON PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE MATTERS.

10. COMMANDERS ARE TO ENSURE THAT ADF MEMBERS UNDER THEIR COMMAND ARE AWARE OF THE DETAILS OF THE WRA PAY INCREASE AND THE PRINCIPLES THAT
WERE APPLIED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2014 WRA PROPOSAL.

11. THE 2014 WRA RATES OF SALARY INCREASE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE PAY AND CONDITIONS WEBSITE AT HTTP://INTRANET.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/PAC AND
FOLLOW THE 2014 WORKPLACE REMUNERATION LINK.

12. THE INFORMATION IN THIS MESSAGE IS FOR THE WIDEST DISSEMINATION.