Defence Determination, Conditions of service Amendment Determination 2024 (No. 12) I, BRIGADIER Kirk Lloyd, Director General, People Policy and Employment Conditions, make the following Determination under section 58B of the Defence Act 1903. Dated 1 November 2024 BRIG Kirk Lloyd Director General People Policy and Employment Conditions Defence People Group Contents 1 Name 2 Commencement 3 Authority 4 Schedules Schedule 1—Royal Australian Artillery salary non-reduction amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service Schedule 2—Early Eligibility for Rent Allowance Trial amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service Schedule 3—Reunion travel amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service Schedule 4—Deployment allowance, additional risk insurance and special location allowance amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service Schedule 5—Miscellaneous amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service 1 Name This instrument is the Defence Determination, Conditions of service Amendment Determination 2024 (No. 12). 2 Commencement 1. Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms. Commencement information Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Provisions Commencement Date/Details 1. The whole of this Instrument. 7 November 2024 Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument. 2. Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument. 3 Authority This instrument is made under section 58B of the Defence Act 1903. 4 Schedules Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms. Schedule 1—Royal Australian Artillery salary non-reduction amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service 1 Annex 3.2.B, Part 1 (after table item 11) Insert: 11A. Pay grade 5 Manager Artillery Light – Tier A 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 2 Annex 3.2.B, Part 1 (after table item 13) Insert: 13A. Pay grade 6 Manager Air and Missile Defence Systems – Tier A 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 3 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 11) Insert: 11A. Pay grade 2 Artillery Light Gunner Grade 2 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 11B. Pay grade 2 Artillery Light Gunner Grade 3 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 11C. Pay grade 2 Artillery Forward Observer Grade 2 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 11D. Pay grade 2 Operator Ground-Based Air Defence Grade 1 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 11E. Pay grade 2 Operator Sense Warn and Locate Grade 1 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 4 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 13) Insert: 13A. Pay grade 3 Advanced Artillery Light Gunner 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 13B. Pay grade 3 Artillery Light Section Commander 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 13C. Pay grade 3 Artillery Forward Observer Grade 3 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 13D. Pay grade 3 Artillery Forward Observer Advanced 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 5 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 17) Insert: 17A. Pay grade 3 Operator Ground-Based Air Defence Grade 2 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 17B. Pay Grade 3 Operator Sense Warn and Locate Grade 2 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 6 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 26) Insert: 26A. Pay grade 4 Operator Ground-Based Air Defence Grade 3 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 7 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 27) Insert: 27A. Pay grade 4 Operator Sense Warn and Locate Grade 3 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 8 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 28) Insert: 28A. Pay grade 4 Supervisor Artillery Light 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 28B. Pay grade 4 Supervisor Artillery Forward Observer 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 9 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 31) Insert: 31A. Pay grade 5 Manager Artillery Light 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 10 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 32) Insert: 32A. Pay grade 5 Supervisor Air and Missile Defence Systems 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 11 Annex 3.2.B, Part 2 (after table item 33) Insert: 33A. Pay grade 6 Manager Air and Missile Defence Systems 5 December 2024 4 December 2029 Schedule 2—Early Eligibility for Rent Allowance Trial amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service 1 Subsection 7.8.5.1 (table item 2, column B) After "at the location", insert ", other than a rented home for which rent allowance is payable". 2 Subsection 7.8.5.3 (table item 4, column B) After "at the location", insert ", other than a rented home for which rent allowance is payable". 3 Subsection 7.8.5.3 (table item 5, column B) After "at the location", insert ", other than a rented home for which rent allowance is payable". 4 Subsection 7.8.5.3 (table item 6, column B) After "at the family benefit location", insert ", other than a rented home for which rent allowance is payable". 5 After section 7.8.5 Insert: 7.8.5AA Early Eligibility for Rent Allowance Trial 1. This section applies to a member who has received a posting order to a trial location if they meet all of the following. a. They have accompanied resident family or recognised other persons. b. They are eligible to occupy a Service residence in their next housing benefit location. c. Their posting order was issued between the following days. i. 1 July 2024. ii. 30 June 2025. d. Their posting order was issued as a part of the 2024-2025 posting cycle. e. They are eligible for a removal to a new housing benefit location in connection with the posting order. 2. Despite section 7.8.5, the member is eligible for rent allowance if all of the following apply. a. On or after 12 September 2024, the member has applied for early eligibility for rental allowance through the Defence Housing Australia (DHA) online services portal. b. The decision maker is satisfied that providing access to rent allowance is reasonable having regard to the demand for Service residences for the member's next housing benefit location. Note: A member may revoke a request for early eligibility for rent allowance at any time before they start to receive rent allowance. 3. The member's period of eligibility for rent allowance is the eligibility period that would have applied under subsection 7.8.5.1. 4. In this section, decision maker means any of the following. a. An employee of Defence Housing Australia who performs the duties of any of the following. i. Team Leader in a Housing Contact Centre. ii. Housing Specialist in a Housing Contact Centre. iii. Regional Operations Manager in a Regional Office. iv. Executive Director Relocations and Housing. b. Director Relocations and Housing c. Assistant Director Relocations and Housing d. Assistant Contract Manager Relocations and Housing 5. In this section, trial location means any of the following. Item Trial location 1. Defence Plaza Sydney, NSW 2. Garden Island Defence Precinct, NSW 3. HMAS Kuttabul, Potts Point, NSW 4. HMAS Penguin, Balmoral, NSW 5. HMAS Waterhen, NSW 6. HMAS Watson, NSW 7. Lancer Barracks Parramatta, NSW 8. Randwick Barracks, NSW 9. Sydney Fleet Base East, NSW 10. Victoria Barracks, NSW 11. Lavarack Barracks, QLD 12. Townsville RAAF Base, QLD 13. Australian Defence Force Academy, ACT 14. Australian Defence College, Weston Creek, ACT 15. Brindabella Park, ACT 16. Campbell Park, ACT 17. Fairbairn RAAF Base, ACT 18. HMAS Harman, ACT 19. Headquarters Joint Operations Command, NSW 20. Royal Military College Duntroon, ACT 21. Russell Offices, ACT 6 Subsection 7.8.6.2 Omit "both these conditions apply", substitute "all of the following apply. aa. The member is not on the early eligibility for rental allowance trial under section 7.8.5AA". Schedule 3—Reunion travel amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service 1 After the heading to Division 3 of Part 3 of Chapter 15 Insert: Subdivision 1: Reunion travel for a member with recognised dependants 2 Subsection 15.3.10.1 Omit "Division", substitute "Subdivision". 3 Section 15.3.11 Omit "Division" (wherever occurring), substitute "Subdivision". 4 Subsection 15.3.14A.1 Omit "Division", substitute "Subdivision". 5 After section 15.3.17A Insert: Subdivision 2: Reunion travel for a member with no recognised dependants 15.3.17B Purpose This Subdivision provides a member on a long-term posting overseas who has no recognised dependants with travel to enable them to maintain relationships with their family, friends and support networks in Australia. 15.3.17C Member this Subdivision applies to This Subdivision applies to a member on a long-term posting overseas who has no recognised dependants. 15.3.17D Eligibility for reunion travel benefits 1. A member is eligible for one reunion travel benefit during their posting period overseas. 15.3.17E Taking a reunion travel benefit 1. A member must apply to take reunion travel benefit using the approved form. 2. A member must be on a type of leave or absence between the following days. a. A day no later than the day the travel from the member's posting location commences. b. A day no earlier than the day the member returns to their posting location overseas. 3. A member must not take a reunion travel benefit within 3 months of the start or end of their posting period overseas. 15.3.17F Reunion travel benefit 1. A return reunion travel benefit includes all of the following from the member's posting location to a location in Australia. a. Air travel that meets all of the following. ii. It is at economy class. ii. It is the international best fare as provided under section 14.4.4. b. Rail travel. c. Coach travel. d. Public transport costs, including costs for taxis and like services, between the following locations. i. The member's home in their posting location overseas. ii. The airport, bus or train terminal. iii. The accommodation where the member is staying in Australia. Note: This does not include vehicle allowance for driving, the cost of a hire care, the cost of parking a vehicle or chauffeur services. 2. If the member arranges their own travel, in full or part, they are eligible for the reimbursement of the lesser of the following costs for travel that would have been provided under subsection 1. a. The cost of the return travel expenses incurred by the member. b. The amount that would have been incurred if the travel had been arranged by Defence. 3. Subject to section 15.3.17G, the member is not eligible for accommodation, meal or incidental costs during reunion travel. 15.3.17G Unavoidable stopover 1. This section applies if the travel under section 15.3.17F is broken into 2 or more consecutive segments and all of the following apply. a. The break between 2 segments requires an overnight stay in the stopover location. b. The decision maker is satisfied that the stopover is unavoidable. 2. The member is eligible for the following for each unavoidable stopover. a. One nights' accommodation. b. The cost of meals up to the amount specified for the member's rank and the location of the stopover under Annex 13.3.A, as adjusted by section 13.3.9. c. The amount for incidentals for the member's rank and the location of the stopover under Annex 13.3.A, as adjusted by section 13.3.10. 3. For the purpose of this section, decision maker means any of the following. a. Director Defence Print and Travel Services. b. A person not below E08/APS 5 working in the Pay and Administration Centre – Victoria who is authorised to manage Defence pay and administration at overseas posts. Schedule 4—Deployment allowance, additional risk insurance and special location allowance amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service 1 Subsection 4.10.4.1A Omit "$2,868", substitute "$2,977". 2 Subsection 16.8.3.2 Omit "AUD 282.73, substitute "AUD 293.47". 3 Subsection 17.7.6.1 (table) Omit the table, substitute. Item Column A Column B Column C Operation Specified area Daily rate of allowance (AUD) 1. ACCORDION Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates 106.59 2. ASLAN South Sudan 195.63 3. AUGURY Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria 195.63 Jordan 106.59 United Arab Emirates 4. FORTITUDE Egypt, Israel and Jordan 106.59 Lebanon 166.22 Syria 195.63 5. LILIA The land, territorial waters and superjacent airspace of the Solomon Islands 105.86 6. LITTEN Libyan territorial waters 166.22 7. MANITOU The seas and superjacent airspace of: 106.59 a. the Arabian Sea; b. the Gulf of Aden; c. the Gulf of Aqaba; d. the Gulf of Oman; e. the Gulf of Suez; f. the Persian Gulf; g. the Red Sea; and h. the Indian Ocean north of Latitude 15 degrees South and west of Longitude 70 degrees East. This includes the ports adjacent and the area within a 10 kilometre radius of each port. 8. MAZURKA Egypt between the east bank of the Suez Canal and the international boundary between Egypt and Israel established by the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel signed in Washington on 26 March 1979, and an adjoining area extending 5km into Israel. 166.22 9. OKRA Iraq and Syria 195.63 Any of the following. 106.59 a. the Kingdom of Bahrain; b. Cyprus; c. the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; d. Kuwait; e. the Persian Gulf; f. the State of Qatar; g. the United Arab Emirates; and h. the land territory of Türkiye east of Longitude 35° East. 10. ORENDA The land territory and superjacent airspace of Mali 195.63 11. PALADIN Egypt, Israel, Jordan 106.59 Lebanon 166.22 Syria 195.63 12. STEADFAST Iraq 195.63 13. Any other operation in accordance with subsection 17.7.5.2 Not applicable. A rate approved by the Minister for Defence that is between 61.60 and 293.47. Schedule 5—Miscellaneous amendments Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service 1 After Chapter 1 Part 2 (heading) Insert: 1.2.1 Application to members Unless specified, rules provided in this Determination only apply to members on continuous full-time service. 2 Subparagraph 6.5.71.2.a.ii Omit "resident", substitute "recognised". 3 Subsection 13.3.9.2 Repeal the subsection, substitute: 2. The rate for meals on the day of arrival with an arrival time in column A of the following table is the daily rate for meals multiplied by the percentage in column B of the same item. Item Column A Column B Time of arrival Percentage of daily rate 1. Before 0700 100% 2. Between 0700 and 1300 75% 3. Between 1301 and 1900 50% 4. After 1900 0% Note: Annex 13.3.A provides the daily rate for meals. 4 Subsection 13.3.9.3 Repeal the subsection, substitute: 3. The rate for meals on the day of departure with a departure time in Column A of the following table is the daily rate for meals multiplied by the percentage in Column B of the same item. Item Column A Column B Time of departure Percentage of daily rate 1. Before 0700 0% 2. Between 0700 and 1300 25% 3. Between 1301 and 1900 50% 4. After 1900 100% Note: Annex 13.3.A provides the daily rate for meals. 5 Subsection 13.3.16.1 Repeal the subsection, substitute: 1. A member who occupies living‑in accommodation while on one of the following is eligible for traveling allowance benefits in Column A of the following table up to a daily maximum amount in Column B of the same item. a. Short-term duty overseas. b. Peacetime deployment overseas. Item Column A Column B Travel allowance benefit Maximum amount 1. Compulsory mess and accommodation charges Amount of the charges. 2. Meals Amount that the CDF considers reasonable, but not more than the applicable limit in Annex 13.3.A for the location. 3. Incidentals Applicable amount in Annex 13.3.A for the location. 6 Section 14.6.5 Repeal the section, substitute: 14.6.5 Period of evacuation 1. An evacuation period begins on the day the member or their dependant is evacuated from the posting location. 2. An evacuation period ends on one of the following. a. For the member — on the earlier of the following. i. The day the member returns to their posting location. ii. The day the member's posting is terminated. iii. The day the member begins living permanently in Australia or their next posting location. b. For their dependants — on the earlier of the following. i. The day the dependant returns to the posting location. ii. The day the member leaves the posting location because of termination of the member's posting. iii. The day the dependant begins living permanently in Australia or at a location other than the posting location. 7 Subsection 14.6.22.1 Repeal the subsection, substitute: 1. A member is eligible for the following amount if their private vehicle is lost or damaged as a result of a event specified in subsection 14.6.21.1. a. If their private vehicle is lost — the estimated residual value of the vehicle immediately before the loss occurred. b. If their private vehicle is damaged — the difference between estimated residual values, both before and after the damage. 8 Section 15.2A.12 Repeal the section, substitute: 15.2A.12 Rate of cost of living adjustment 1. The cost of living adjustment is calculated using the following formula. Where: A is the member's fortnightly salary plus any of the following payable to the member. a. Higher duties allowance. b. A salary non-reduction supplement provided under section 3.2.56. Note: No other allowances are to be included. B is the Pay As You Go tax and any levies withheld from the fortnightly salary calculated under A. C is the spendable salary factor determined by a data service provider. D is the post index for the member's posting location. 1. Note: The dual Commonwealth benefit rule under section 15.2A.9 does not apply to the cost of living adjustment. A member will receive this adjustment even if their partner also receives the adjustment or comparable benefit. 2. The cost of living adjustment is paid fortnightly. 9 Section 15.3.15 Repeal the section, substitute: 15.3.15 Cost of escort for child – USA or Canada 1. This section applies to a member posted to the USA or Canada if their child is unable to travel without an adult on some legs of the journey on a reunion visit. 2. The member is eligible for allowable travel costs for a person to escort their child who is required to travel alone if all of the following apply. a. The member is on a long-term posting in the USA or Canada. b. The member has been authorised a reunion visit for a dependent child who is under 15 years old. c. Airlines will not ensure the child's safe transfer between the international flight to or from Australia and one of the following unavoidable flights. i. A domestic flight within the USA or Canada. ii. An international flight between the USA and Canada. d. The child is not being accompanied by an adult. 3. Allowable travel costs means one of the following. a. If the child is travelling to the member's posting location — all of the following. i. Travel costs from the posting location to meet the child at the international airport where the child can no longer travel unaccompanied. ii. Travel costs from the international airport to escort the child back to the posting location. b. If the child is travelling to return home — all of the following. i. Travel costs from the posting location to escort the child to the international airport from where the child will travel home. ii. Travel costs from the international airport back to the posting location. 4. A person escorting a child must be over 18 years old and be one of the following. a. The member. b. Family of the member. c. A person at the posting who is chosen by the member. 5. A person escorting a child may accompany more than one child at a time. 10 Section 15.4.6 Repeal the section, substitute: 15.4.6 Housing benefits 1. This section does not apply to a member who meets any of the following. a. They are a senior member who is provided a house in connection with their posting. b. They are posted to a hardship location. Note: A hardship location is a location listed in Annex 16.B column A or a provisional hardship location as defined in section 16.1.3. c. They are on an exchange posting and required to occupy housing provided by the host Service. 2. The member is eligible for the cost of rent of a privately arranged housing if the CDF considers it suitable having regard to all of the following. a. The member's posting location. b. The standard of housing at the posting location. c. The location of the housing. d. The standard and the location of the housing having regard to the member's rank and family needs. Note: The cost of rent is payable through one of the following. a. Reimbursement to the member. b. Direct payment to the landlord or their agent. 11 Subsection 15.5.12.2 Repeal the subsection, substitute: 2. A member is eligible to be reimbursed the costs of any of the following dental treatments for their child. a. Cleaning. b. Dental check-ups. c. Dental education. d. Emergency treatment. e. Extractions. f. Fillings. g. Preventative care. h. X-rays. 12 Subsection 15.5.20.2 and 15.5.20.3 Repeal the subsections, substitute: 2. An eligible person is eligible for one of the following if they travel from the posting location to another location overseas for treatment. a. If they occupy commercial accommodation with cooking facilities for 6 or more days — the reasonable cost of the accommodation. b. If they occupy one of the following — the amount payable under section 14.5.5. i. Commercial accommodation with cooking facilities for 5 days or less. ii. Commercial accommodation without cooking facilities. c. If they occupy private accommodation — 25% of the amount payable under section 14.5.5. 3. An eligible person is eligible for the following when they travel from the posting location to another location in Australia for treatment. a. If they occupy commercial accommodation with cooking facilities for 6 or more days — the daily travelling allowance rate for accommodation under Annex 9.5.A for up to 21 days. b. If they occupy one of the following — the daily travelling allowance rate for accommodation under Annex 9.5.A for up to 21 days, plus the amount for meals payable under section 14.5.5. i. Commercial accommodation with cooking facilities for 5 days or less. ii. Commercial accommodation without cooking facilities. c. If they occupy private accommodation — 25% of the amount for meals under section 14.5.5. 13 Section 16.3A.3.2 Repeal the subsection, substitute: 2. A member is eligible to accrue one of the following number of additional recreation leave credits within a 12-month period. a. If the member is posted to Afghanistan or Iraq — 15 credits. b. If the member is posted to a location that has a hardship grade in Column A of the following table — the number of credits in column B of the same item. Item Column A Column B Hardship location grade Additional recreation leave credits 1. C 8 2. D 9 3. E 10 4. F 10 Note: Hardship location grades A and B do not attract additional recreation leave.