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Overview

Guidance

This Division covers the conditions of service for a member during deployment for service on warlike operations for six months or longer.

Deployment allowance

Guidance
  1. Deployment allowance is paid during deployment on warlike operations. Its purpose is to recognise the military and environmental hazards a member may experience.

  2. The deployment allowance rate is based on the threat levels assessed by the Minister for military threats and environmental hazards in the operational area. In deciding the threat levels, the Minister must consider a range of criteria about the operational situation and environmental conditions.

  3. In one operational area, there may be different deployment allowance rates for different locations.

  4. Deployment allowance is payable for a period specified in Part 7 Division 1 section 17.7.8.

  5. Deployment allowance has these features.

    1. It is exempt from income tax instalments.

    2. It is exempt for Family Tax Benefit purposes.

    3. It is assessable income for social security purposes.

    Exception: Deployment allowance is not assessable for members of the Reserve Forces.

    Note: In the total workforce model, a member of the Reserves may be described as a member in Service category 2, 3, 4 or 5.

Other allowances that may be payable

Guidance

A member getting deployment allowance may be entitled to some of these other allowances in the following situations.

Allowances
Item Allowance Additional information
1. Separation allowance If applicable, separation allowance may be payable.
2. Hardship allowance Hardship allowance is not payable at the same time as deployment allowance. However, the member may be entitled to hardship allowance on any day the member is not entitled to deployment allowance.
3. Travel costs Travel costs are only payable to a member on any day the member has to pay for their own meals while on deployment.

Contributions to accommodation and meals

Guidance

A member is not required to contribute for accommodation and meal expenses while on warlike deployment.

Additional leave accrual

Guidance
  1. While on deployment a member accrues leave in addition to basic recreation leave. This table lists each type of leave that can accrue during deployment and describes how it accrues.

    Leave accrual
    Item Type of leave Accrual method
    1. Additional recreation leave (for field, seagoing and flying service) Accrued under normal provisions.
    2. War service leave Allows members to recuperate from warlike service.

    Accrues on a pro-rata basis for each day of service in the operational area, up to a maximum of 18 days a year.

    War service leave is taken immediately on return to Australia and before other types of leave.

    Payment instead of war service leave is available if for Service reasons, the leave cannot be granted.
  2. Members on warlike deployment are not granted extra recreation leave. This type of leave can be granted when other forms of absences from duty, leave and remuneration have not been awarded. As a member deployed on warlike operations gets deployment allowance and war service leave, extra recreation leave is not granted for the same period.

Relief out-of-country travel fare assistance

Guidance

The purpose of relief out-of-country travel fare assistance is to help the member have time away from the difficulties of a deployment.

Relief out-of-country travel fare assistance - conditions

Guidance
  1. Subject to operational constraints, a member may be granted relief out-of-country travel fare assistance, for return travel to an approved destination, if all these conditions are met.

    1. The member is assigned to the deployment for six months or more.

    2. The member travels to a destination approved under section 17.5A.23.

    3. The member is outside the operational area for seven consecutive days or longer.



      Example: A member leaves the operational area during four days of recreation leave, two days stand-down and a public holiday.

    4. The travel is planned to occur at regular intervals during the deployment, if practicable.

  2. The number of times a member may be granted relief out-of-country travel fare assistance depends on the period that they are on deployment for, as described in the following table.

    Relief out-of-country
    Item If it is intended that the member be deployed for this period... they may be granted up to this many trips for the deployment...
    1. less than six months

    0

    2. six months but less than nine months

    1

    3. nine months but less than 12 months

    2

    4. 12 months but less than 15 months

    3

    5. 15 months but less than 18 months

    4

    6. 18 months or more

    5

  3. The member is eligible for relief out-of-country travel fare assistance up to these limits.

    1. The cost of return travel to the approved destination under these conditions.

      1. It is economy class.

      2. It is on the cheapest available airline that offers a reasonable standard of safety and security.

      3. It does not include any avoidable stopovers.

    2. The member is not eligible for travel costs while on relief out-of-country travel fare assistance.

  4. Allowable offset arrangements for travel to other destinations are advised at the start of each deployment. Those destinations must still meet the purpose of relief travel. Cost is limited to the cost of travel to the approved destination.

  5. If it is intended that a member stay on deployment for 12 months or more, the member may apply as an offset to combine two trips to Australia that they are entitled to under the table in subsection 2, for one of these purposes.

    1. To assist the member and their dependants to use relief out-of-country travel fare assistance to reunite, in Australia or in an approved destination.

    2. If the member has no dependants (or does not wish to reunite with them), to travel on relief out-of-country travel fare assistance to Australia or another country that is more expensive to travel to than the standard approved destination.

    Note: The offset can be used to purchase fares. The alternative location must still be approved under section 17.5A.23. 

Relief out-of-country travel fare assistance – destination

Guidance

The Director Overseas and Housing Policy may approve a destination for relief out-of-country travel fare assistance that meets both these requirements.

  1. A safe environment for rest and recreation.

  2. Adequate rest and recreation facilities.

Communications

Guidance

The Lead Joint Command or Joint Logistics Command will apply mail and telephone provisions separately for each deployment.

Medals

Guidance

The Operational Service Medal may be awarded for warlike service.

Pay and conditions manual


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