Defence Determination, Conditions of service (Operation COVID‑19 ASSIST Allowance) Commencement Instrument (No. 20) 2025
I, MICHAEL IAN MCCULLOCH, Director Drafting and Engagement, make the following notifiable instrument under section 4.12.4 of Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service.
Dated 20 October 2025
Michael McCulloch
Director
Drafting and Engagement
Department of Defence
Contents
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Payment of Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance
Schedule 1—Class of members
1 Class of members
1 Name
This instrument is the Defence Determination, Conditions of service (Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance) Commencement Instrument (No. 20) 2025.
2 Commencement
This instrument commences on registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.
3 Authority
This instrument is made under section 4.12.4 of Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service.
4 Payment of Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance
In relation to a member who falls within the class of members specified in Schedule 1 of this Instrument, Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance is payable from 22 October 2025.
Schedule 1—Class of members
1 Class of members
For the purpose of section 4, a member is in the class of members if the member is assigned one of the following PMKeyS numbers:
8068729
8543712
Overview
The Defence Determination, Conditions of service (Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance) Commencement Instrument (No. 20) 2025, enacted on 20 October 2025, was introduced to address the need for financial support for members of the Australian Defence Force affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This notifiable instrument was created under the authority of section 4.12.4 of Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service, and is attributed to Michael McCulloch, the Director of Drafting and Engagement at the Department of Defence. The primary policy objective of this instrument is to provide an Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance to eligible members, as specified in Schedule 1 of the Instrument. This allowance is designed to support members who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic, thereby ensuring they receive necessary financial assistance during this challenging period.
The instrument is set to commence on its registration on the Federal Register of Legislation and specifies that the Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance will be payable from 22 October 2025 to members who fall within the class of members detailed in Schedule 1. This class includes members assigned specific PMKeyS numbers, thereby ensuring targeted support for those most affected by the pandemic's disruptions.
Scope and Application
The Defence Determination, Conditions of service (Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance) Commencement Instrument (No. 20) 2025 applies to members of the Australian Defence Force who are assigned specific PMKeyS numbers as outlined in Schedule 1 of the instrument. This instrument, which commences upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislation, is made under section 4.12.4 of Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service. It mandates the payment of the Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance to eligible members from 22 October 2025. The instrument is confined to the Defence Force and pertains to the conditions of service, specifically focusing on the allowance designated for Operation COVID-19 ASSIST. There are no explicit exclusions or exemptions mentioned in the text, suggesting that the allowance is available to all members meeting the specified criteria. Any further application details or modifications may be addressed through subordinate instruments as required.
Key Provisions
The Defence Determination, Conditions of service (Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance) Commencement Instrument (No. 20) 2025, details the operational allowances and conditions of service for specific members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This instrument, referenced in section 4 of the Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service, comes into effect upon its registration on the Federal Register of Legislation (section 2). The authority for this instrument is explicitly stated under section 4.12.4 of the Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service (section 3). The primary provision of this instrument is the payment of the Operation COVID-19 ASSIST Allowance to eligible members, which begins from 22 October 2025 (section 4).
The Act imposes certain obligations on both the Department of Defence and the eligible members. The Department of Defence is responsible for ensuring that the allowance is paid to the members who meet the specified criteria outlined in Schedule 1 of the instrument. This includes verifying the eligibility of the members based on the assigned PMKeyS numbers. Members, on the other hand, must ensure that their details are up to date with the Defence authorities to be eligible for the allowance. Additionally, members are expected to comply with any further instructions or requirements stipulated by the Defence Department regarding the allowance.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this instrument may lead to serious consequences. Although the instrument itself does not explicitly state penalties, any breach of Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service, could potentially result in disciplinary action against the members. The Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 and the Defence Force Regulations 1982 provide the legal framework for such disciplinary actions, which may include fines, reduction in rank, imprisonment, or other forms of punishment as deemed appropriate by the military authorities. Furthermore, any administrative errors or omissions by the Department of Defence in processing the allowance could lead to internal audits, corrective measures, and possible legal repercussions under the Public Service Act 1999.