The current ADF pay arrangement is about to expire, and a new Workplace Remuneration Arrangement (WRA) for three years was scheduled to commence at the end of this year.
DFWA will be involved again in the WRA process and will provide an independent voice to ensure the interests of members of the ADF and their families are properly considered as the WRA is negotiated.
DFWA supports the recent decision of the Government, and as endorsed by the CDF, that any wage and salary-related allowance increases that are scheduled to occur over the next 12 months be deferred by six months. This effectively means that the pay rise that would ordinarily be expected at the end of the year, as part of the new WRA, will now not occur until well into 2021.
DFWA notes and supports the CDF comment that “we must be in step with community standards and expectations, so that while many Australians and families are facing significant economic difficulties, we take a pause on pay increases for ADF members”.
An extract of the Chief of Defence Force’s
Pause on wage increases
The Government today announced that effective 14 April, any wage and salary-related allowance increases in APS agencies that are scheduled to occur over the next 12 months will be deferred by six months. While the Government has recognised the outstanding work of the Australian Public Service in responding to COVID-19, it would not be appropriate for the public service to receive pay increases at this time while so many in our community face financial difficulty.
The Public Service Minister has signed a determination under section 24(3) of the Public Service Act 1999. This overrides the determination [the Secretary of Defence] signed in December 2019, but only to the extent that your first pay rise will now be delayed by six months to February 2021. It is the unprecedented nature of this pandemic that calls for such a measure.
We encourage you to read the attached open letter to the APS from The Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Philip Gaetjens and the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Peter Woolcott AO.
We support this decision. In line with this direction from Government, it is also necessary and appropriate to defer by six months the ADF pay increase that was expected to be considered by the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal for payment in November 2020. We must be in step with community standards and expectations, so that while many Australians and families are facing significant economic difficulties, we take a pause on pay increases for ADF members.
We commend you on the extraordinary commitment and resilience you have shown in these demanding and challenging times. Your efforts are crucial to Defence remaining an exemplar in the Government’s response to COVID-19 and delivering essential services to the Australian community.
Further information will be available shortly on PeopleConnect.
Chief of Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC
DFWA will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated as the matter progresses. Should you have any comments you wish to make, drop the DFWA a note to wra@dfwa.org.au