Defence (Individual benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3)

Administered by Department of Defence

Legislation au F2023L00529 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Defence (Individual benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3)

This Determination is made under section 58B of the Defence Act 1903 and in accordance with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (AI Act).

Determinations made under section 58B of the Defence Act are disallowable legislative instruments subject to the Legislation Act 2003 (Legislation Act) and are subject to the interpretation principles in the AI Act.

Purpose

The purpose of this Determination is to provide a leave benefit under special circumstances to two members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This Determination does not provide benefits over and above those for which members would be eligible for in similar circumstances.

Operational Details

Details of the operation of this Determination are provided at annex A.

This Determination makes references to sections of the Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service (Defence Determination). The Defence Determination is incorporated into this Determination, as in force from time to time.

Human rights compatibility

The statement of compatibility under subsection 9(1) of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 for this Determination is at annex B.

Review options

Decisions made under this Determination may be subject to inquiry under the ADF redress of grievance system provided under Part 7 of the Defence Regulation 2016. Also, a person may make a complaint to the Defence Force Ombudsman.

Consultation

Before this Determination was made consultation was undertaken with Air Force. The rule maker was satisfied that further consultation was not required.

Approved by:

Jake Thomas Gumley

Acting Assistant Secretary

People Policy and Employment Conditions

 

Authority:

Section 58B of the
Defence Act 1903


Annex A

Defence (Individual benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3)

Operational details

Section 1 of this Determination sets out the manner in which this Determination may be cited.

Section 2 provides that this Determination commences on the day after registration.

Section 3 provides that this Determination has authority under section 58B of the Defence Act.

Section 4 provides the definition of Defence Determination.

Section 5 provides that the member holding employee identification number 8197872 is eligible for the equivalent of 10 weeks leave at fullpay, and specifies the conditions that apply to the leave. It also provides that any other type of leave under the Defence Determination the member is on at the time of the commencement of this Determination will cease on the day before the commencement of this Determination. This will result in the member being re-credited any unused leave credits and will not result in any detriment to the member.

Section 6 provides that members holding employee identification numbers 8197872 or 8202402 are eligible for the equivalent of 20 working days of leave each. The section also specifies the conditions that apply to the leave under this section. For the member holding the employee identification number 8197872, the leave under this section is in addition to the initial leave provided under section 5.

Section 7 provides the mechanisms for how the duration of a leave type is reduced when a member takes leave of that leave type.

Section 8 provides that the leave provided under this Determination counts as effective service for benefits provided under the Defence Determination or a determination made under section 58H of the Defence Act, as in force from time to time. It also excludes eligibility for other types of parental leave under Chapter 5 Part 7 Divisions 2 and 3 of the Defence Determination in relation to the same child.

Section 9 provides that any of the leave under sections 5 and 6 must be applied for using Form AF088  Application for leave.

Section 10 provides that this Determination is repealed on 19 June 2024.

 

Annex B

Defence (Individual benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3)

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Overview of the Determination

The purpose of this Determination is to provide a leave benefit under special circumstances to two members who are dualserving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This Determination does not provide benefits over and above those for which members would have otherwise been eligible.

Human rights implications

Right to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work

The protection of a person's right to remuneration engages Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 7 guarantees just and favourable conditions of work, including remuneration, safe and healthy conditions, equal opportunity and reasonable limitations.

Assessment of compatibility

This Determination is compatible with the principles of human rights because it provides members with favourable conditions of service through access to paid leave in special circumstances. These benefits are provided as a part of the members’ conditions of service package.

Conclusion

This Determination is compatible with human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview

The Defence (Individual Benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3), enacted under section 58B of the Defence Act 1903, aims to provide a leave benefit under special circumstances to two members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This legislation, approved by the Acting Assistant Secretary People Policy and Employment Conditions, addresses the need for equitable benefits for specific ADF members, ensuring they receive appropriate leave under exceptional conditions. The policy objective of this Determination is to offer a leave benefit that aligns with the members' conditions of service, without exceeding what they would ordinarily be entitled to in similar circumstances. The enactment of this Determination by the relevant legislature is subject to the scrutiny and interpretation principles outlined in the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 and the Legislation Act 2003, ensuring that the benefits provided are both lawful and equitable.

Scope and Application

The Defence (Individual benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3) applies specifically to two members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) identified by their employee identification numbers, 8197872 and 8202402. The Determination provides them with additional leave benefits under special circumstances, ensuring they do not receive more than what they would have been eligible for in similar situations. This legislation is made under section 58B of the Defence Act 1903 and is subject to the interpretation principles in the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. The Determination also incorporates the Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of service (Defence Determination), as in force from time to time. Geographic or jurisdictional reach of the Determination is limited to the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically affecting members of the ADF. The Determination is disallowable under the Legislation Act 2003 and can be reviewed under the ADF redress of grievance system or by lodging a complaint with the Defence Force Ombudsman. It is compatible with human rights as it provides favourable conditions of service through access to paid leave.

Key Provisions

The Defence (Individual Benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3) outlines specific leave benefits for two members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under special circumstances, as stated in Section 5 (58B of the Defence Act 1903). This Determination grants the member with employee identification number 8197872 the equivalent of 10 weeks of leave at full pay, as well as an additional 20 working days of leave. Similarly, the member with employee identification number 8202402 is eligible for the equivalent of 20 working days of leave. These benefits are provided without exceeding the entitlements that the members would otherwise be eligible for in similar circumstances. The leave must be applied for using Form AF088 – Application for leave as per Section 9, and the leave granted counts as effective service for benefits under the Defence Determination or a determination made under section 58H of the Defence Act. This Determination also ensures that any unused leave credits are re-credited to the members without any detriment to them, and it excludes eligibility for other types of parental leave under specified sections of the Defence Determination. The Defence (Individual Benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3) imposes specific obligations on the ADF members and the Defence Force administration. Firstly, the members identified in the Determination must apply for the leave benefits using the prescribed form, Form AF088 – Application for leave. Secondly, the Defence Force administration is required to process these applications in accordance with the conditions specified in the Determination. Additionally, the Defence Force must ensure that any leave granted under this Determination is correctly recorded as effective service for benefit purposes and that the members’ entitlements are adjusted accordingly to reflect any unused leave credits. The Defence Force is also obligated to provide the members with any necessary information regarding the conditions and application process for the leave benefits. Breach of the obligations or conditions set out in the Defence (Individual Benefits) Determination 2023 (No. 3) could result in administrative or legal consequences. While the Determination itself does not specify criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to the application process or the conditions for leave benefits could lead to the denial of the benefits in question. Additionally, if the Defence Force fails to correctly record the leave as effective service, it could result in incorrect calculation of benefits for the members. These outcomes, however, do not carry specific statutory penalties as outlined in the Determination, but they could have significant administrative repercussions for the affected members.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.