Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to his answer yesterday about Australian Defence Force personnel and the government's unfair pay deal when he said: 'They are not worse off.' Can the minister confirm that the government has cut the members with dependents food allowance for service men and women, which is worth $4,900 a year, and replaced it with a one-off payment of $385? How can an ADF member who loses more than $4,500 a year in allowances not be worse off?

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the Senator understood exactly what the food or larder allowance was, he would understand that the changes we have made—in fact, that the CDF has made—are very reasonable changes. It is recognised that living away from families incurs living expenses that members would not normally be required to meet. Food allowance was paid fortnightly to members categorised as those who live off-base to assist with food expenses and setting up a new pantry. However, the normal need for an ADF member to provide for their own meals is not considered to be one of those living expenses, and the member would be required to fund their own meals if they were living with their dependents. In addition, single members who live out are required to provide their own meals. On this basis, food allowance has been ceased and replaced with a one-off larder payment. This payment recognises the expense a member faces setting up a second pantry away from their primary residence. A range of other benefits remain—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

$4,500 worse off, then!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, you have asked your question.

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

which include reunion travel, assistance with utility costs, separation allowance and the waiver of rental contributions for members who live in off-base accommodation. ADF members categorised as members with dependents who live in on-base accommodation will retain the free meal entitlement when using mess facilities.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are they worse off or not?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Senator Wong, you have your deputy leader on his feet. Order on my right as well.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer the minister to the national director of the Defence Force Welfare Association who said: 'The government is using Defence personnel as a whipping boy to reduce its pay offer for other public servants.' Why is the defence minister letting the government use its unfair deal for our service men and women to implement its political agenda to cut the real pay and conditions of all Commonwealth public servants?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister may answer the parts of that question which are relevant to his portfolio.

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The one fact those sitting opposite me do not want to address is that they so badly managed the finance of this country that we are left with a fiscal situation we have decided to take responsibility for. We are taking responsibility—

Senator Lines interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Senator Lines.

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are taking responsibility for the financial mess their incompetence, their negligence, their stupidity and whatever else you want to call it bequeathed to us because they could not get their numbers to add up. We shouldered that responsibility honestly and determinedly. You can try and pretend as much as you like that you did not make any fiscal mess but I can tell you: the people out there are waking up to the fact that we now pay one thousand million dollars a month in interest. (Time expired)

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are they worse off or not?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong. Could both leaders desist from talking across the table.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My time has still been running.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You will be allowed to ask your question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the minister been invited to attend the meeting between the Prime Minister and Senator Lambie on ADF pay? Can the minister confirm reports he has yet again been sidelined, with the Prime Minister set to back Labor's call for a better pay deal for ADF personnel?

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not aware of when or what will be taking place between, as you suggest, Senator Lambie and the Prime Minister. I can tell you one thing: this Prime Minister takes a legitimate interest in this portfolio of mine. He does not send his bodyguard along to NSC—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock. Senator Conroy, you have asked your question. Order! Senator Carr.

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the last budget we took Defence spending as a share of GDP from 1.5 per cent to six per cent, and we were last there in 1938—courtesy of the Labor Party. That is 1938 spending on Defence. So this Prime Minister takes a personal interest in my portfolio and I am very thankful for that because Rudd and Gillard treated it with disdain. They ripped it off. (Time expired)