Defence pay determination needed a complete overhaul, the Opposition spokesman for Defence Science and Personnel, Allan Rocher, said yesterday.
He was commenting after the Defence Force Advocate, Bob Buchanan, QC, resigned because those responsible for managing Defence resources were also responsible for approving and the initiation of pay cases.
The advocate, a part-time position, represents those putting pay cases to the Defence Forces Remuneration Tribunal.
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel said, “”Mr Buchanan also cited as a reason for his resignation what he saw as interference with and obstruction of ADF pay proposals by both the Department of Defence and the Department of Industrial Relations.”
However, Mr Bilney said he could not understand Mr Buchanan’s position. The Government could not give a blank cheque on pay negotiations.
The tribunal was established in 1984 to bring Australian Defence Force pay setting within the framework of industrial-relations principles.
Mr Rocher said the Department of Industrial Relations “”should be booted out of this process, especially the determination of those allowances unique to the ADF”.
Mr Buchanan had pointed to the conflict of interest in the role the Departmentof Defence had. The process should be reviewed to eliminate delays which caused lower morale.