correct as at 06 nov 14 operation accordion - conditions of service people policy and employment...

Correct as at 06 Nov 14

Operation ACCORDION - Conditions of ServiceOperation ACCORDION - Conditions of Service

People Policy and Employment Conditions Branch


References

• PACMAN Version 2 Chapter 17

• DMCHP ADF COS message dated 190044Z MAY 14

• DMCHP APS COS message dated 190618Z MAY 14


Nature of Service Declaration

• The Minister for Defence, in consultation with the Prime Minister, declares the Nature of Service (NOS) for operations. The relevant Conditions of Service (COS) package for a deployment is then authorised by the Assistant Minister for Defence.

• Op ACCORDION - has been declared non-warlike service WEF 1 July 2014.

• On 16 December 2013 Government agreed to redesign the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) and create a new Operation, Op ACCORDION, supporting operations in the Gulf States of Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).


Operation Accordion

Supporting Operations in the Gulf States as at 1 July 2014

BAHRAIN

QATAR


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:

– 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.


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.


ELIGIBILITY

• To be eligible for the Op ACCORDION COS package, members must be:

– assigned for duty with Op ACCORDION– be within the specified area

• Eligibility for some COS depend on the expected length of deployment and operational requirements.


Housing and Removals

• Housing and removal benefits depend on;

– the expected length of your deployment

– the location of your dependants during your deployment– your categorisation– posting location on RTA

• 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



• 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.



• MWD– normally there must be a remaining deployment tenure of six

months at time removal is affected – 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 are several 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.



• For full list of criteria refer to – PACMAN Ch 17– COS signal– Toll Transitions

• Check Insurance! It remains the members responsibility to ensure continued insurance coverage for home and content during any period of absence.


Pre- deployment Leave and Travel

• Deployments of less than six months do not normally attract a Pre-deployment Leave entitlement. – Some scope exists for special cases; apply via relevant

service DGPERS

• Deployments of six months or more - Pre-deployment 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.


Before Deployment

Members should:

• Check with Centrelink regarding:

– Family Tax Benefits:• Note - portability of Family Tax Benefit Part B beyond 6

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


Allowances

• Deployment Allowance:– $81.72 per day– Tax exempt– payable inside the specified area– payable for leave accrued in the specified area

• paid at the rate leave was accrued, not the highest rate paid– subject to change at any time – up or down (based on

changes to military and environmental conditions)– NOT payable at any other time; ie. working outside the

specified area (Darwin), escorting AME, RTA injured, conference/BOI etc

• Recognition of operational and environmental hazards

• Threat assessment sets basis for rate


Deployment Allowance

• The rate of DA is arrived at by combining rates associated with Operational and Environmental threats as assessed by DIO.

• Threat Assessments– initial assessment completed on commencement of operation– routine review at minimum 12 month intervals– threat levels can/do move up and down.

• Operational assessments take into consideration;– political and military situation– activities and aims of military forces– military hazards– incidence of violent crime– the nature of the deployment– command arrangements


Deployment Allowance

• Environmental assessments give consideration to;

– 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


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.


Allowances

• Other allowances where applicable:

– Separation Allowance– Flying Allowance– Maritime Allowances– Field Allowance

• Field Allowance applications are to be submitted to DGSPT JOC for approval IAW PACMAN requirements, providing the stipulated threshold criterion of 'living in the field' has been met. FA for Op ACCORDION is not guaranteed.


Leave During Deployment

• Additional Recreational Leave (ARL) for non-warlike service - up to 10 days pa pro-rated.

• ARL for Field, Maritime 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

NOTE: 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.


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


ROCTFA

• ROCTFA entitlement is based on length of deployment as follows:– Less than 6 months = NIL entitlementNB: HQJOC may approve 1 ROCTFA in exceptional circumstances see

PACMAN 17.9.38.1.a– 6 months but less than 9 months = 1 ROCTFA– 9 months but less than 12 months = 2 ROCTFA

• ROCTFA RTA designated destination for OP ACCORDION:– to the previous posting loc, or – the location to which the family has been moved at public expense for

the period of deployment, or– to the nominated family members normal residential loc within Australia,

or– to the Defence recognised dependant normal residential loc within

Australia.

• there is no offset for the RTA provision.


ROCTFA

• ROCTFA - continued

– For members who do not wish to RTA the ROCTFA destination is Rome.

• Members may offset the cost of return travel from Dubai to Rome 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 – economy class (all ranks) best fare of the day available airline that offers a reasonable standard of safety and security

NB: TA is not payable while on ROCTFA.


TAXATION

• Taxation - non-warlike service

– Section 23AG ITAA (qualifying period of 91 continuous days):• As a result of an agreement between the Australian

Government and the Government of the UAE, military personnel and Defence civilians serving in the UAE may be eligible for exemption from Australian income tax under section 23AG of the Tax Act (91 continuous days or more).

• Section 23AG does not apply in Bahrain or Qatar.

• 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.

ITAA = the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936


TAXATION

• Taxation - non-warlike service

Defence continues to work with the ATO and Treasury on tax issues, any further information or change will be published as soon as it is known.


Other Information

• Meals and Accommodation provided at Commonwealth expense in specified area; or

– If meals are not provided – TA (including incidentals) can be paid

• 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.


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

– Medallic recognition for OP ACCORDION for non-warlike service is currently pending with Defence Honours and Awards for submission and authorisation by the Governor General.


Defence APS Employees

Allowances

• Operational Support Allowance:

• Employees receive operational support allowance for each day or part of a day they are in either of these situations.

– in the operational area, and– on leave during their period of duty but only if the leave

taken is not greater than the leave credit accrued for the period of duty.

• OSA rate:– $81.72 per day



Leave and Travel

• APS employees additional annual leave for duty in operational areas.

– Additional 10 days annual leave for duty in an AO, pro rata pa, and

– 1 day additional annual leave for every 10 days of service paid OSA; to a maximum of 10 days pa.

• Relief Out of Country Travel Fares Assistance (ROCTFA).

– APS employees are eligible to ROCTFA in accordance with PACMAN Part 9 Div 6



Taxation

• Taxation advice regarding an employee's personal circumstances is not provided by Defence. It is the responsibility of the individual employee 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.

– Note: Section 23AG does not apply to all countries [ie. Qatar, Bahrain, etc] within the specified area nor to pers who have Diplomatic Accreditation.



Other Information

• Clothing and equipment – Block scale of issue now available. See Q Store.

• Compensation

– Covered under the provisions of the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act for death, injury or illness; except while on leave outside the specified area.



EXCHANGE PERSONNEL

• Personnel from other forces on exchange with the ADF and deployed on Operation ACCORDION:

– have no eligibility to ADF deployment package– are provided conditions of service from their parent country

Foreign Third Country Deployments


Transition Period

• It is acknowledged there will be personnel who will be deployed and will transition from Op SLIPPER to Op ACCORDION on 01 JUL 14. The following needs to be taken into consideration at the time of transition.

– ROCTFA – time served on Op SLIPPER will count as overall time deployed when transitioning to Op ACCORDION for the purposes of ROCTFA qualification, ie. total deployment period greater than six months.

– Taxation – time accrued on 23AD tax exemption (Op SLIPPER) will count as foreign service for qualifying for 23AG tax exemption if eligible (UAE). The 91 day qualification period starts when first deployed on Op SLIPPER.


Transition Period

– Allowances / Leave:• ICA for any unused leave accrued on Op SLIPPER is to

be calculated and paid out on transition at the highest rate paid whilst deployed.

• DA for service on Op ACCORDION is to be paid at the rate of DA when the leave accrued.

• DA for unused leave for Op ACCORDION is to be paid on RTA.

– Removals – time served on Op SLIPPER will count as overall time deployed on transition to Op ACCORDION for the purposes of removal eligibility, ie total deployment period greater than six months.


Where can I find the Conditions of Service for Operation ASTUTE?

• CoS messages for all operations are published on the PeopleConnect web page

• Questions are to be directed through your chain of Command in the first instance

Where can I find the Conditions of Service for Operation ACCORDION?


Any Questions?

correct as at 06 nov 14 operation accordion - conditions of service people policy and employment...

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