LABOR and the Greens have played politics with the interests of Australia’s servicemen and women by gagging debate and voting to cut defence pay in the Senate today, according to Senator Linda Reynolds.

Senator Reynolds described The Greens and Labor’s decision to support Independent Jacqui Lambie’s Private Member’s Bill as insanity and questioned how any party could support a Bill that would result in a decline in pay and conditions for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

“Earlier this month the Government proposed a pay offer to the DFRT that would increase remuneration from 1.5 per cent to 2pc per annum over the life of the latest WRA,” Senator Reynolds said.

The stated intent of Senator Lambie’s Bill is to mandate a link between ADF pay increases with those of Federal Parliamentarians or the Consumer Price Index –whichever is greater.

“One of the many problems with this approach is that with Federal Politicians pay frozen at 0 per cent for the foreseeable future and CPI at 1.7pc and predicted to decline, this would reduce the pay of all service men and women, to between 0pc and 1.7pc or less,” she said.

In a speech to the Senate this morning, Senator Reynolds detailed the many other unintended, but serious implications for ADF pay and allowances that would result if the bill was enacted.

“I have no doubt this was not Senator Lambie’s intention, but it is certainly the consequence,” she said.

“If Labor and The Greens didn’t understand the serious implications of supporting this Bill they do not understand the important work our ADF personnel do to protect our nation’s interests.”

–ENDS–

Media contact: Jessica Hayes 0427333147