We are about to start the year’s activities campaigning for our collective goals. My first meeting with a parliamentarian is with the Finance Minister - Senator Wong - on the 20th January with the topics being, the Governance of Commonwealth Superannuation Bills, Government’s position on the Opposition Fair Indexation Bill and the basis of DOFD costings for military superannuation pension indexation reform.

Michael Von Berg of the RARC has also suggested  we need to tighten up the way we explain our indexation objectives as outlined below.

In explaining the indexation case we need to;

1.    Have a consistent message (clearly detailed in the DFWA web page);

2.       Use words that clearly strike a chord with parliamentarians and others.

3.       Use the following terms and words in letters and in conversation as a matter of routine. These include:

·         "Indexation reform" (never ‘Indexation change' or similar)

·         "Fair indexation" (never 'fairer' indexation or 'better' indexation)

·         "Military superannuation pension" in full, even though it is a mouthful.

·         "Maintain purchasing power of military superannuation pensions" (not 'keep pace with higher living costs', or other similar phrases that are open to interpretation)

·         Always say "DFRB/DFRDB and MSBS" together unless the conversation or letter is specific to one of these schemes. We need to be better at getting the message across that both schemes require indexation (and other) reform.

Can you please distribute this information around your organisation so that all of us are in step.

Here’s to an eventful and successful 2011.

Regards,
David

David K Jamison. AM
National President
Defence Force Welfare Association

Phone; 0416 107557
Skype: David k Jamison
Email: jamison@bigpond.com
web: www.dfwa.org.au

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