The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson,
Minister for Defence
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09 May 2006
Tuesday, 9 May 2006 |
060/2006 |
$181.6 MILLION FOR A MORE CAPABLE RESERVE
The Australian Government will provide an additional $181.6 million over the next four years to raise a High Readiness Reserve and to enhance the pay and conditions of our Reserve personnel.
The enhanced remuneration package is designed to attract Active Reserves into the High Readiness Reserve and to grow and sustain the Active Reserve. Under the package, all ex-Permanent Force Reserves will be eligible for pay increases linked to work value and all Reservists will be eligible for a Reserve Allowance of up to $10 per day.
All Active Reservists will also receive an annual health support allowance of $600 per annum to assist them in meeting the required minimum health standards.
Incentives for Active Reservists to move into the High Readiness Reserves include:
• a completion bonus of $5,000 per annum to be paid to members upon completion of their agreed High Readiness service, which will be two years for Army and one year for Air Force; and
• an annual health support allowance of $2,500 to assist in maintaining members' health status at a deployable standard.
As an example of what these measures provide, an ex-Permanent Force Active Reservist at the Sergeant Group 4 rank will be eligible for a pay rise of between $12 and $19 per day as well as the Reserve Allowance of $10 per day, providing a total daily increase of up to $29. In addition, all Active Reservists will be eligible for a $600 per annum health support allowance.
A High Readiness reservist at the Sergeant Group 4 rank will be eligible for a pay rise of between $12 and $19 per day, as well as the Reserve Allowance of $10 per day, providing a total daily increase of up to $29. In addition, all High Readiness reservists will be eligible for a $2,500 per annum health support allowance and an annual completion bonus of $5,000 after each year of completed service.
The creation of a High Readiness Reserve of 2,800 in Army and 1,400 in the Air Force will significantly strengthen the Australian Defence Force, with members trained to the same skill levels as the Permanent Force.
The High Readiness Reserve will be available for deployment within the same timeframes of 28 days or less notice.
The Coalition committed in 2004 to review the pay and conditions of our hardworking Reservists and to build the Reserves' capacity for service.
This initiative complements the announcements made in December last year as part of the Hardened and Networked Army (HNA) implementation.
The Reserves have contributed to every major conflict in which Australia has been involved since Federation. In recent years, they have served alongside their full time counterparts in peace missions to East Timor and Bougainville , as well as being included in humanitarian relief efforts in South East Asia and Pakistan.
Reservists continue to play key roles at national events, including the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics Games, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the 2003 World Cup and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Reservists make a valuable contribution to the community, providing assistance in times of natural disasters such as floods, droughts and fires in emergency rescue operations.
At a time when the Active Reserve is increasingly called upon to serve and deploy, a more attractive remuneration package is aimed to help attract and retain these personnel as part of an integrated and joint ADF.
Media contacts
Nigel Blunden |
(Dr Nelson) |
02 6277 7800 |
0407 632 931 |
Rachel Kingsford Smith |
(Senator Macdonald) |
02 6277 3705 |
0408 019 537 |
Defence Media Liaison |
|
02 6265 3343 |
0408 498 664 |
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