Group Rent Scheme update – effective 22 July 2010

The amount that ADF members contribute for their housing is determined by the Department of Defence in the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN). The 2010 contribution increase, effective from 22 July 2010, is the result of an annual review by Defence. Defence Housing Australia (DHA) does not set ADF members' Group Rent Scheme (GRS) contributions. Members pay their GRS contributions to Defence; DHA does not receive any member payments.

The Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Force have directed the implementation of a subsidy correction program to set the Defence subsidy of members’ housing at 50 per cent of the national cost of housing provision. The 2010 update of members' GRS contributions includes a subsidy correction factor in addition to the normal adjustment for the annual increase in Defence's rental costs.

The Department of Defence released advice to members of the 2010 GRS adjustments six weeks prior to the date of effect via the chain of command through an all-units signal and DEFGRAM in early June 2010, and by public release of information in the Service newspapers and the Defence Internet and Intranet sites. Information was also provided to Defence Families Australia for circulation in their email newsletter.

Further information on Member entitlements and the 2010 adjustment of the GRS is available on our Member entitlements page. For any policy-related questions, please send your enquiries to Defence at Housing.PolicyInquiry@defence.gov.au.