An “insultingly low” below-inflation pay deal for 57,000 Australia soldiers, sailors and air force personnel has been approved and the opposition has told Prime Minister Tony Abbott to hang his head in shame.
But any hope diggers had of political intervention to save their pay packet from a cut in real terms has been rejected.
Within hours of the independent Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal approving the deal Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert ruled out any involvement by Mr Abbott as called for by the Defence Force Welfare Association.
“That’s the end of the matter,” Mr Robert said on Monday.