SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR E, G. WHITLAM, M. P.,
TO THE R. S. L. NATIONAL CONGRESS, MELBOURNE.,
TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER 1974,
IN OUR 22 MONTHS OF OFFICE AUSTRALIA'S
REPATRIATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNDER CONTINUING REVIEW AND
HAS UNDERGONE CONTINUING REMODELLING., VENTURE TO
SAY THAT NEVER BEFORE HAS A GOVERNMENT ADOPTED SO
PROMPTLY SO MANY PROPOSALS ORIGINATING IN THE FORM* OF
RESOLUTIONS FROM THE R. S. L. NATIONAL CONGRESS. WE HAVE
BEEN CONCERNED, OF COURSE, TO SEE THAT THOSE ELIGIBLE
FOR CASH BENEFITS ARE NOT DISADVANTAGED BY INFLATION.
THESE PAYMENTS HAVE MORE THAN KEPT PACE WITH RISES IN
THE COST OF LIVING. MOREOVER, WE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED
TO WIDEN ELIGIBILITY FOR THE WHOLE RANGE OF EXISTING
BENEFITS TO CREATE NEW BENEFITS AND TO EASE THE
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THEM.
SPECIAL RATE PENSION
Sephrnber 1972 $ 48.00
Novejiiihr .974 64A 1 0
Increase 33.5%
INTERMEDIATE RATE PENSION
September 1972 $ 34.00
Novemiiber 1.974 44.1-6
Increase 31.0%
GENERAL RATE PENSION
September 1972 $ 14.00
November 1974 25.00
Increase 78.5%
WAR WIDOW'S PENSION
September 1972 $ 20.00
August 1974 31.00
Increase DOMESTIC ALLOWANCE
September 1972 8.50
November 1974 $ 12.00
Increase 41.2%
WAR PENSIONS:
Special rate T PI
Intermediate rate
General rate ( 100 percent)
War Widows Pension
Dcmestic Allo: ance
SERVICE PENSIONS:
Single Rate
Married Rate Pension Pension ( Dec) Pension Pension ( Sept) Pension Pension% ( Jun
AWE ( Dec) AWE ( June) A. W. E. ( J u n
48.00 34.00
14.00 20.00 8.50
20.00 34.50 47.95 33.97 13.99 19.98 8.49
19.98 34.47 64.100 44.550 25.000 31.00 12.000 31.00 51.50 50.75 35.27 19.79 24.54 9.50
24.54 40.78 60 41 22 26 9
26 45 .10 .05. .00 .00 .50 .00 .50 47.59 32.5.0 17.42 20.59 7.52
20.59 36.03
A. W. E. Seasonally Adjusted figure for June 1974 used latest
available
0 Budget Item 1974
28/ 10/ 74 DEC. 1972JUNE 1974
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NEW BENEFITS INCLUDE:-
ABOLITION OF THE MEANS TEST FOR ALL
VETERANS OVER
ALL SERVICE PENSIONERS HAVE 25% OF
THEIR WAR SERVICE PENSIONS DISREGARDED
WHERE THE MEANS TEST STILL APPLIES.
REPATRIATION PENSIONS PAYABLE IN
ANY OVERSEAS COUNTRY.
ALL COMMONWEALTH EX-SERVICEMEN
ELIGIBLE FOR REPATRIATION BENEFITS.
( GOVERNMENT NOW ACTIVELY CONSIDERING
EXTENSION TO ALL ALLIED PERSONNEL.)
FREE MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL TREATMENT
FOR ANY CONDITION FOR ALL AND
FOR ALL AUSTRALIAN VETERANS IRRESPECTIVE
OF AREA OF SERVICE.
REPATRIATION TREATMENT BENEFITS*
EXTENDED TO ALL VETERANS OF BOER AND WORLD
WAR I, INCLUDING NURSING HOME CARE.
DEFENCE SERVICE. HOMES MAXIMUM LOAN
INCREASED TO $ 15,000.
THE SAME PROCESS OF CONTINUING REVIEW APPLIES I
TO SERVING PERSONNEL. IN OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD TRULY
PROFESSIONAL FORCES AND TO ENSURE THAT ARMED SERVICE IS
MADE AS ACCEPTABLE AS ANY OTHER PROFESSION IN THE
COMMUNITY THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING REVIEW OF SERVICE
SALARIES AND CONDITIONS. THESE INCLUDE:
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KERR/ WOODWARD
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED
RATES OF PAY AND GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE$
SINCE THE TIME RATES OF PAY WERE
REVISED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE KERR/ WOODWARD COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS, I. E. 8/ 9 FEBRUARY, 1973, SALARIES HAVE
BEEN INCREASED AS SHOWN IN THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES:.
PRIVATE PAY LEVEL 1 $ 1,628 OR 48.96%
WARRANT OFFICER 1 $ 2,390 OR 30.08%
LIEUTENANT ( MAXIMUM
OF SALARY RANGE) $ 1,860 OR 32.92%
COLONEL ( MAXIMUM OF
SALARY RANGE) $ 3,042 OR 22.12%
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THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW MACHINERY TO
SPEED UP THE DETERMINATION OF SALARIES AND RELATED
CONDITIONS$ THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT
COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE FOR DEFENCE FORCES PAY, TO
PROVIDE EXPERT GUIDANCE ON PAY MATTERS.
CE) THE EXTENSION OF THE BENEFITS UNDER
THE DEFENCE SERVICE HOMES ACT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE
PERMANENT FORCES WHO HAVE AT LEAST THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE RANGE OF SETTLEMENT
BENEFITS. THE EXTENSION OF REPATRIATION BENEFI-TS
TO PROV. IDE ENTITLEMENT WITHOUT WAR SERVICE.
THE INTRODUCTION OF A TAX-FREE
RE-ENGAGEMENT BONUS OF $ 1, OOO PAYABLE TO OTHER RANKS WHO
-ENGAGE FOR A FURTHER THREE YER SERVICE ON
COMPLETION OF AN INITIAL SIX YEARS' SERVICE.
THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEFENCE FORCE
OMBUDSMAN WHEN THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION IS APPROVED$
THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ANNUAL LEAVE BONUS
SCHEME TO OPERATE ON THE SAM E LINES AS THE COMPARABLE
SCHEME FOR AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES.