Ben Roberts Smith VC. News Ltd misquote

[bob10]

Ben Roberts Smith VC, has been reported as agreeing to the 1.5 % pay rise offered , not true. From President of the RSL;


Sent: Monday, 10 November 2014 11:45 AM
To:
Subject: Ben Roberts Smith Misquoted by News Media
Good afternoon colleagues,
Ben Roberts Smith VC MG telephoned me this morning to explain that the current news media item about him is a misquote.
News Limited reps claim he supports the Government's position on the recent ADF pay decision handed down by the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal.
Ben told me he was taken out of context in that when talking to the journalists he conceded that the Government had a tough task balancing the budget; and that this comment has apparently been taken as meaning he agrees with the Government's position re the pay deal.

He has assured me that his stance is to fully support what the RSL sought for ADF pay - and not the 1.5% per year that was the substance of the "agreed" case.
I thanked Ben for alerting me to this matter and advised I would forward this information to members of the RSL Board.
Regards
Ken

Rear Admiral Ken Doolan AO RAN (Retd)
RSL National President


RSL National Office
GPO Box 303
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6248 7199
Fax: (02) 6247 7637

[101RRS]

That may be very well the case but I saw the interview with him on TV and I did form the opinion that he did support the DFRT decision to only award 1.5%.

It is unfortunate that the CDF also has agreed that the Government cannot afford a bigger payrise and has not appealed the DFRT decision.

Garry

[Andrew D]

I don't have an issue with the 1.5%. I believe it is in line with the rest of the government employees. (I don't work with defence)

People are also mixing up the message and associating service in Iraq etc with the 1.5% implying that's all the government thinks of them in these dangerous situations. (this line is to be expected with media)

Who can tell me how much the service people receive for serving in Iraq. Pretty sure it's the base + their pay rise of 1.5% + plus some danger money then plus some more. I'm sure when you take a holistic look at whether they are reimbursed appropriately they would be. It would be pretty stupid to keep working there if you weren't. Also why keep going back? Up the Danger money or location allowances if need be. (Which is probably not needed).

How much of the Defence is Admin? What percentage of them never leave Australia or see any action. Why should these employees receive greater than 1.5%.

There has been a wage freeze in Australia for at least 3 years so I personally would take 1.5% over what I have and most other people have received of late. For the record that is 0%.

Regards
Andrew

[ame]http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac/Pay_Current_Rates.pdf[/ame]

[101RRS]

I don't have an issue with the 1.5%. I believe it is in line with the rest of the government employees. (I don't work with defence)

There has been a wage freeze in Australia for at least 3 years so I personally would take 1.5% over what I have and most other people have received of late. For the record that is 0%.

Regards
Andrew

Government employees will negotiate what they can - nothing to automatically restrict their increases and not restricted to 1.5%. I don't believe there has been a wage freeze as such but it has been harder to negotiate for employees to negotiate higher pay.

The point is that the Defence Force has to accept what is offered, irrespective whether it is acceptable or not. Other government employees are able to negotiate with their employer and if the offer is not acceptable then their are other avenues open to them to pursue their claims - the military do not have this option.

Cheers

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Government employees will negotiate what they can - nothing to automatically restrict their increases and not restricted to 1.5%. I don't believe there has been a wage freeze as such but it has been harder to negotiate for employees to negotiate higher pay.

The point is that the Defence Force has to accept what is offered, irrespective whether it is acceptable or not. Other government employees are able to negotiate with their employer and if the offer is not acceptable then their are other avenues open to them to pursue their claims - the military do not have this option.

Cheers

Other Government Employees also don't have to go to conflict zones and have other people trying to kill them.

Can you imagine the complaints to ComCare if parliamentary staffers had to worry about stepping on IEDs when walking the corridors of power.

BTW MPS received a 2.4% pay rise last year and although there is currently a pay freeze on them the Australian PM earns over $500K more even than the US president.

[nat_89]

A fella i work with was a sniper in the defence force for quite a few years i asked him a week or two ago and he said they get about $47000 a year wage and when they are in war if your actually in conflict best case scenario it can go up to about $9000 a month. But thats only if your in war and all of that. Sounds confusing. Could be different believe he has only been out for about 5 years.

[nat_89]

BTW MPS received a 2.4% pay rise last year and although there is currently a pay freeze on them the Australian PM earns over $500K more even than the US president.

On a totally unrelated note i read the other day that the US Presidents Air force ones flying costs are just over $220000 an hour!! I nearly fell over when i read it!!

[Andrew D]

Other Government Employees also don't have to go to conflict zones and have other people trying to kill them.

We hear this often, but honestly, what were they signing up for?

A bit like a nurse not wanting to deal with sick people in hospitals or better yet not wanting to work in any hospital because there are sick people there.

Regards
Andrew

[bob10]

We hear this often, but honestly, what were they signing up for?

A bit like a nurse not wanting to deal with sick people in hospitals or better yet not wanting to work in any hospital because there are sick people there.

Regards
Andrew

Like Nursing, it's a calling. But some may not understand. Bob


[ame="http://youtu.be/wzLjkIKWH6c"]"Tommy" by Rudyard Kipling (read by Tom O'Bedlam) - YouTube[/ame]

[AndrewMilne]

Late this morning, I logged on to AULRO, and found the "Lest we forget" words set out, and a l-o-o-o-n-g pause before anything else came up.
I thought it was great to see the fact that today is Armistice / Remembrance Day acknowledged in this way, with a respectful pause before "business as usual".
I can recall city traffic stopping (Perth) and pedestrians all standing still for a minute or two, when I was a kid.
All too often, such marks of respect and reflection get lost or ignored in present times.
I would like to commend whoever was responsible for seeing that AULRO did not.