Press Release Lazarus says Abbott Government needs to be shoulder charged on their attempts to cut defence wages and conditions Palmer United Senator for Queensland and Leader of Palmer United in the Senate, Glenn Lazarus, has called on the Abbott Government to show leadership and increase pay and conditions for Australias defence personnel - not cut them. The Australian Defence Force Workplace Remuneration Arrangement 2011 - 2014 is due for renewal and reports suggest the Abbott Government is intent on reducing the pay and conditions of Australias defence personnel in order to save money. The Abbott Government wants to increase the salary of Australias defence personnel by 1.5% per year when inflation is currently running at around 3%. This means the new pay deal offered by the Abbott Government represents in real terms a reduction in pay for Australias defence personnel. My understanding is that the previous defence personnel pay deal included a pay rise of 9% over three years and the new pay deal offer cuts this down to 4.5% over three years, Senator Lazarus said. In addition, the Abbott Government is also seeking to adjust other entitlements which will also reduce working conditions for Australias defence personnel. Australias defence personnel feel dudded. The Defence Force Welfare Association also shares my concerns. They have received upwards of ten thousand responses from concerned defence force staff since the new pay offer was released on Friday. Forget shirt fronting. Where I come from, the Abbott Government needs to be shoulder charged on this issue, said Senator Lazarus. I am absolutely disgusted that the Abbott Government is seeking to reduce the pay and entitlements for Australias defence personnel. Our defence personnel are being asked to defend our country and keep us safe, while putting their own lives at risk, and the Abbott Government wants to cut their pay and conditions. This is an affront to all Australians. At time when alert levels have been raised and the dangers of terrorism have increased, we need our defence personnel more than ever. How dare the Abbott Government try to short change the very people who are being asked to put their lives in danger to keep Australia safe. There are approximately 600 Australian defence personnel deployed in the Middle East at present and the Abbott Government is considering increasing this. I am shocked that the Abbott Government would send our troops into combat and then try and cut their pay and conditions. This is unAustralian. The Abbott Government needs to show leadership and properly support our defence force. Increase their pay, increase their entitlements and show them some gratitude. ENDS
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:21:53 +0000
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