Defence Determination 2016/19 (Suspension of Special Location Allowance) (Middle East Region) Instrument (No. 1) 2026
I, BRIGADIER KIRK LLOYD, Director General, People Policy and Employment Conditions, make the this notifiable instrument under paragraph 16.8.3.4.a of the Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service.
Dated 30 April 2026
BRIG Kirk Lloyd
Director General
People Policy and Employment Conditions
Defence People Group
Contents
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Suspension of special location allowance
4 Repeal
1 Name
This instrument is the Defence Determination 2016/19 (Suspension of Special Location Allowance) (Middle East Region) Instrument (No. 1) 2026.
2 Commencement
1. Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information |
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Provisions | Commencement | Date/Details |
1. The whole of this Instrument. | On the day of registration. | |
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
2. Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
3 Suspension of special location allowance
The payment of special location allowance under section 16.8.3 of Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service, is suspended from 6 May 2026 for all of the following locations.
a. Israel.
b. Jordan.
c. Kuwait.
d. Lebanon.
e. Qatar.
f. Saudi Arabia.
g. United Arab Emirates.
4 Repeal
This instrument is repealed 7 July 2026.
Overview
The Defence Determination 2016/19 (Suspension of Special Location Allowance) (Middle East Region) Instrument (No. 1) 2026 was enacted to address the need to temporarily suspend the Special Location Allowance for Defence personnel deployed in specific Middle Eastern countries. This instrument was made by Brigadier Kirk Lloyd, Director General of People Policy and Employment Conditions in the Defence People Group, under the authority granted by the Defence Determination 2016/19. The policy objective of this instrument is to manage financial provisions for personnel in response to changing operational circumstances or other strategic considerations. The instrument came into effect on the day of its registration and will be in force until its repeal on 7 July 2026. It aims to ensure that Defence personnel stationed in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will not receive the special location allowance starting from 6 May 2026.
Scope and Application
The Defence Determination 2016/19 (Suspension of Special Location Allowance) (Middle East Region) Instrument (No. 1) 2026 applies specifically to the suspension of the Special Location Allowance for military personnel serving in certain Middle Eastern countries. This instrument is issued under the authority of the Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service, and is effective from the date of its registration. The allowance is suspended for personnel stationed in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The suspension takes effect from 6 May 2026 and remains in place until the instrument is repealed on 7 July 2026. This notifiable instrument is applicable to all members of the Australian Defence Force deployed in the specified locations during the period of its effect.
Key Provisions
The Defence Determination 2016/19 (Suspension of Special Location Allowance) (Middle East Region) Instrument (No. 1) 2026 primarily serves to suspend the payment of special location allowance for Defence personnel stationed in certain Middle Eastern countries. Section 1 of the instrument provides the name and legal identification of the instrument, while Section 2 outlines the commencement date, which is the day of registration. The main operative section, Section 3, specifies the suspension of special location allowance from 6 May 2026 for personnel in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Section 4 indicates that the instrument will be repealed on 7 July 2026.
This instrument imposes specific obligations and requirements on Defence personnel and the Defence People Group. For Defence personnel stationed in the aforementioned Middle Eastern countries, the allowance will be suspended as per the instrument's provisions. The Defence People Group, particularly the Director General, People Policy and Employment Conditions, is responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with the instrument's provisions. The instrument's commencement and cessation dates must be adhered to, with the suspension of allowance beginning on 6 May 2026 and the instrument itself being repealed on 7 July 2026.
There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned in the text for breach of this instrument. However, failure to comply with the terms of the instrument may result in Defence personnel not receiving the special location allowance for the specified period and locations. The instrument itself is a formal legal determination, and non-compliance could lead to administrative or disciplinary actions within the Defence force. The maximum penalties or consequences for breach are not specified in the provided text.