On 18 March 2021 the Senate referred the following matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by Thursday, 24 June 2021: Accuracy of information provided to Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) members.
Terms of Reference
The accuracy of information provided to Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) members, including:
- the accuracy of information provided to DFRDB members about the effects of commutation on future retirement pay entitlement, the consequences of this, and what remedial action (if any) could be taken;
- whether retirement payments were indexed as required by legislation and, if not, what remedial action (if any) could be taken;
- policy and legislative issues, including provisions for:
- use of certain life expectancy tables,
- permanency of reductions to commuted pensions,
- indexation arrangements; and
- recommendations on any potential changes to administrative arrangements, policy or legislation;
- advice on costs associated with any recommendations;
- all relevant existing information and previous reviews in relation to DFRDB, including the findings of the Ombudsman’s investigation;
- the level of understanding among DFRDB members about how the legislation works, and ways to improve this; and
- any related issues.
- Status: Accepting submissions
Date Referred: 18 March 2021
Submissions Close: 30 April 2021
Reporting Date: 24 June 2021 - Track Inquiry
