Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, , 7:58:31 to 8:03:04
A comparison of ADF wage increases against public service pay rises and rising rental costs within Defense Housing Australia (DHA).
Topics: Government spending, Employment
Speakers: Malcolm Roberts, Justine Greig, Hon Murray Watt, Meghan Quinn, Raff Ciccone
>> Yes, I have got I've got two more brackets but I'll just go through um just go through one of them. Yep. Think >> Minister, are you aware that Defense Housing Australia has increased rent prices by 5.61%.
>> Uh, Senator, there's actually a dedicated session with Defense Housing Australia a little bit later on. So, that's probably the best place to ask that sort of question.
>> Okay. Are you also aware that water cost has I will Are you also aware that water cost has gone up by 1.5%.
>> This is in DHA housing? >> Yes. Uh again, I'd suggest we cover that off when the relevant officials are here
>> So, um it's a 5.61% increase for rent and a 1.5% increase for water and cost of living is going up plus additional household costs and family costs. >> Do you believe that a 3% increase in defense wages is enough to cover these increases during this cost of living crisis?
>> Um Senator, I'm not for a moment accepting the sort of figures that you've put to me. What I'm saying is that I'd require the, you know, relevant officials to be here with me to help answer those questions. Um, if you've got, if your questions are more about, uh, the wages of defense personnel generally, leaving aside the DHA issues, we could probably cover that here. >> Yeah, that's that's I suspect. Um
>> um M minister uh Senator some some of your question pertains to defense some of it to the defense housing authority
>> just the ones to defense.
>> So what one of your questions sorry Justine Greig deputy secretary people one of your questions I think was pertaining to um rental costs. the Australian Defense Force for those uh ADF members that are part of our rental scheme, their rent is subsidized by 50%. But the uh quantum of that is renewed each year in terms of the um relevant economic indicators. I can certainly provide you on notice um what those changes have been over the last 12 months.
>> Thank you. Well, in in light of the fact I'm told that that the Australian public service staff received a 3.4% increase from 5th of August 2026 on top of other increases in some roles they pay increasing uh upwards of 5%. Do you think that giving the ADF 3% do you think u that's that's fair?
>> So you're asking for a sort of a matter of opinion. Um the reality is that the housing costs faced by ADF reflect the broader market conditions. Uh and
>> excuse me, I'm not not talking about housing cost. The minister has correctly said I should discuss that with
>> rental costs then. Uh so
>> I'm talking about the pay increase which I'm told is 3% versus the public service 3.4%. And in some cases up to 5%. So the
ADF um so we're we're in a there's a bargaining process at the moment for APS uh arrangements that that that has not been completed yet. So it's ongoing. Uh and the
>> they haven't received a 3.4% increase from 5th of August 2026
>> public servants.
repeat that timing? I missed the timing. Senator
>> APS staff Australian public service received a 3.4% 4% increase from 5th of August 2026 on top of other increases in some roles increasing upwards of 5%.
>> No. Well, that for the defense um public service um I can come back with to you with the three pay rises over the last three years which were uh aligned uh same for the Australian Defense
>> So we have a concurrence between the APS There sometimes is a difference in timing because of the arrangements uh that are made uh slightly separate but there is a concurrence that's generally maintained between the two parts of the department.
>> If you could give me the last five years please for APS versus defense.
>> Yes s
thank you very much. I'll come back with another set later.
>> Okay. Uh, I know Senator Lambie had some other follow on questions on recruitment and then I'll turn to other senators to see who else has further questions. Senator Lambie.