Section 8(9B) of the SRCA authorises determining authorities to increase normal weekly earnings (NWE) for ex-employees by reference to a prescribed index – the Wage Price Index (WPI).
Regulation 5 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Regulations 2002 prescribes the 'Wage Price Index, Australia (Total hourly rates of pay – excluding bonuses/all Australia/all industries/all occupations) published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics' for this purpose. Regulation 6 prescribes the manner in which an increase in NWE is calculated using the WPI.
On 1 July each year, determining authorities will increase NWE for ex-employees based on any increase in the WPI for the year ending with the previous December quarter.
Historical rates for WPI are set out in the following Table:
Date |
WPI Increase |
1 July 2002 |
3.4% |
1 July 2003 |
3.4% |
1 July 2004 |
3.7% |
1 July 2005 |
3.5% |
1 July 2006 |
4.2% |
1 July 2007 |
4.0% |
1 July 2008 |
4.2% |
1 July 2009 |
4.2% |
1 July 2010 |
2.9% |
The WPI indexation amount is paid in full on each payment date, i.e. it is NOT paid on a pro-rata basis where the member has been discharged for less than a full year.
This means that wage increases after 1 October 2001 (other than WPI) cannot be passed on to discharged full or part-time members of the ADF:
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=node/19993%23comment-form