3rd December 2009
AUSTRALIAN VETERANS
AND DEFENCE SERVICES COUNCIL
Minister for Defence Media Mail List
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THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Friday, 4 December 2009
119/2009
IMPROVED AIR DEFENCE TRAINING
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced that the Australian Army's air defence simulators will be upgraded.
"This upgrade will provide Army with a more realistic controlled tactical environment for the training of close-in air defence as well as an ergonomically designed computer-aided environment for instructors to efficiently evaluate trainees," said Mr Combet
"The new upgrades include a dome display system. This unique system is comprised of an array of commercial video projectors that project multiple images into one panoramic view."
"The entire virtual world consisting of terrain, sky, aircraft and weather is displayed, providing a modern software-programmable training interface.
"The system is designed to allow for future upgrades as advances in video projection technology provide increased resolution at reduced cost," Mr Combet said.
The simulator is based at 16 Air Defence Regiment at Woodside Barracks, South Australia.
The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and BAE Systems Australia recently signed a $5m increase to the Advanced Air Defence Simulator Operations and Maintenance Support Contract to replace obsolete hardware and software. The work is scheduled for completion in February 2011.
BAE Systems have provided labour, support and maintenance services for the simulator since October 2004.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 4771 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
Minister for Defence Media Mail List
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Friday, 4 December 2009
119/2009
IMPROVED AIR DEFENCE TRAINING
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced that the Australian Army's air defence simulators will be upgraded.
"This upgrade will provide Army with a more realistic controlled tactical environment for the training of close-in air defence as well as an ergonomically designed computer-aided environment for instructors to efficiently evaluate trainees," said Mr Combet
"The new upgrades include a dome display system. This unique system is comprised of an array of commercial video projectors that project multiple images into one panoramic view."
"The entire virtual world consisting of terrain, sky, aircraft and weather is displayed, providing a modern software-programmable training interface.
"The system is designed to allow for future upgrades as advances in video projection technology provide increased resolution at reduced cost," Mr Combet said.
The simulator is based at 16 Air Defence Regiment at Woodside Barracks, South Australia.
The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and BAE Systems Australia recently signed a $5m increase to the Advanced Air Defence Simulator Operations and Maintenance Support Contract to replace obsolete hardware and software. The work is scheduled for completion in February 2011.
BAE Systems have provided labour, support and maintenance services for the simulator since October 2004.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 4771 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
SEEKS CASE STUDIES TO
FURTHER DISPUTE WITH GOVERNMENT
The Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council Inc (AVADSC), a national organisation which represents its member ex-service organisations, provides a forum for consideration of and, where necessary, joint representations on repatriation and conditions of service matters of importance and concern to the Defence and veteran communities. For many years the erosion of the superannuation benefits to retired service personnel has been a major source of concern, particularly the method of indexation, which has resulted in a decline of living standards of retired service personnel. A number of government enquiries have occurred to which the RSL, DFWA and AVADSC have made submissions. However, nothing has been changed and no progress has been made to adjust the declining situation.
The Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council Inc (AVADSC), a national organisation which represents its member ex-service organisations, provides a forum for consideration of and, where necessary, joint representations on repatriation and conditions of service matters of importance and concern to the Defence and veteran communities. For many years the erosion of the superannuation benefits to retired service personnel has been a major source of concern, particularly the method of indexation, which has resulted in a decline of living standards of retired service personnel. A number of government enquiries have occurred to which the RSL, DFWA and AVADSC have made submissions. However, nothing has been changed and no progress has been made to adjust the declining situation.
AVADSC, in its submissions, has argued, amongst other issues,
the uniqueness of military service highlighting that those who join the
Defence Force commit to conditions distinct from other employment. The
submissions have also highlighted that the readiness of the Defence Force is,
and always has been, a critical factor that allows this country to grow its
international standing with all the economic, political and social benefits
that go with it. The regular Defence Force is the force at immediate
readiness to meet government commitments and is custodian of the integrity and
quality of the capabilities and values that have made it possible for
governments to commit the Defence Force in ways that have advanced
Australia’s national objectives. Also members of the Defence Force
experience conditions of the military lifestyle that disadvantage them when
compared with civilian employment whether private sector or the Public
Service.
This contribution to an Australian lifestyle enjoyed by the general community and the disadvantages of military service, recognised by government studies over many decades, set the Defence Force apart from all others in the community. In view of this uniqueness of military service, AVADSC has argued that the superannuation provisions of defence personnel should be segregated from those in civilian employment whether in the private sector or the Public Service.
However, despite the force of AVADSC and other submissions, nothing has been changed and the deterioration of the standard of living of retired service personnel continues to decline to the extent that many are now being forced to seek financial assistance from the safety net provided by social services. This is degrading to those who are forced to do this and is an inappropriate image of the outcome of Defence Force service. Hence, AVADSC and the other larger organisations of current and ex-military personnel have committed to continue the fight to achieve an improved standard of living of ex-military personnel. – all that is expected is that they will be able to live to a reasonable standard, not an unreasonable expectation of people who have served this country in its military services and one which places a true value on their worth.
To further its case with the Government, AVADSC is developing a portfolio of actual case studies without names but based on real people to demonstrate in each case the failure of retired pay to maintain quality of life standards. The information we are seeking is:
This contribution to an Australian lifestyle enjoyed by the general community and the disadvantages of military service, recognised by government studies over many decades, set the Defence Force apart from all others in the community. In view of this uniqueness of military service, AVADSC has argued that the superannuation provisions of defence personnel should be segregated from those in civilian employment whether in the private sector or the Public Service.
However, despite the force of AVADSC and other submissions, nothing has been changed and the deterioration of the standard of living of retired service personnel continues to decline to the extent that many are now being forced to seek financial assistance from the safety net provided by social services. This is degrading to those who are forced to do this and is an inappropriate image of the outcome of Defence Force service. Hence, AVADSC and the other larger organisations of current and ex-military personnel have committed to continue the fight to achieve an improved standard of living of ex-military personnel. – all that is expected is that they will be able to live to a reasonable standard, not an unreasonable expectation of people who have served this country in its military services and one which places a true value on their worth.
To further its case with the Government, AVADSC is developing a portfolio of actual case studies without names but based on real people to demonstrate in each case the failure of retired pay to maintain quality of life standards. The information we are seeking is:
 | Rank on discharge; | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of years’ service;
| Age on discharge;
| Retired pay on discharge;
| Current retired pay under military superannuation;
| Employment and superannuation history after discharge;
| Employment and superannuation history of spouse;
| Home ownership factors, ie, whether still paying a
mortgage;
| Sources of income other than superannuation and social
welfare;
| Annual rate of pay for same rank in Defence Force;
| Access to social welfare.
| Children still living at home. | |
Accordingly, it would be appreciated if your organisation could distribute this request for case studies amongst your members or constituencies and request their consideration of it. Any queries or responses to this letter should be sent to
Doug Roser
C/o AVADSC
PO Box Q314
QVB Post Office
SYDNEY NSW 1230
or to him at email dougroser@bigpond.com.
We are encouraged in the merit of our argument for recognition of the unique circumstances of military service by an article in the respected UK weekly, The Economist, which states that there is ‘an argument for giving some public-sector workers, such as the police or the armed forces, higher pay and benefits in the form of pensions’.
Ian Crawford
RADM RAN (RET’D)
National President
AUSTRALIAN VETERANS AND DEFENCE
SERVICES COUNCIL INCORPORATED
“ AVADSC”
SERVICES COUNCIL INCORPORATED
“ AVADSC”
Patron: Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
President: PO Box Q314
Rear Admiral Ian McL Crawford QVB Post Office
AO AM (Mil) RAN (Retd) SYDNEY NSW 1230
Secretary: Major Colin Doust JP (Ret’d) Tel: (02) 9393 2320
Fax: (02) 9267 9837
ABN: 55 565 676 688 E: avadsc@bigpond.com
website: avadsc.org.au 2nd December 2009
To All ESOs
By the attached communication we are seeking the participation of military superannuates in the presentation of case studies to government to demonstrate the hardship being experienced by individual because of the way retired pay is being indexed.
Government and government agencies seem to be impervious to the logic and the claim that military service is a unique condition that warrants special treatment for superannuation arrangements. People are hurting badly and it is not overstating the case to claim that the erosion of the value of retired pay when related to the lifestyle it could support on separation from the Defence Force is affecting the mental wellbeing of individuals and by extension their physical health.
So participation of representative cases is important and we ask the ESO leadership to encourage people to come forward. Of course names will not be included but we really need actual cases to highlight the situation of those who are trying to meet the costs of living to maintain a lifestyle, which over time has been eroded because retired pay has fallen behind the level of salaries in the community.
Yours sincerely
IAN McL CRAWFORD
Rear Admiral RAN (Ret’d)
National President
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