30.1 An employee must be paid an allowance for the increased cost of living and the climatic conditions in a remote area, if:

30.1.1 Indefinitely stationed and living in a remote area as defined in subclause 30.2 of this clause; or

30.1.2 Not indefinitely stationed in a remote area but because of the difficulty in obtaining suitable accommodation compelled to live in a remote area as defined in subclause 30.2 of this clause.

30.2 Grade of appropriate allowance payable under this clause is determined as follows:

30.2.1 Grade A allowances - the appropriate rate shown as Grade A in Item 6 in Table 2 of Schedule 2, Part B in respect of all locations in an area of the State situated on or to the west of a line starting from the right bank of the Murray River opposite Swan Hill and then passing through the following towns or localities in the following order, namely: Conargo, Coleambally, Hay, Rankins Springs, Marsden, Condobolin, Peak Hill, Nevertire, Gulargambone, Coonabarabran, Wee Waa, Moree, Warialda, Ashford and Bonshaw, and includes a place situated in any such town or locality, except as specified in paragraphs 30.2.2 and 30.2.3 of this subclause;

30.2.2 Grade B allowances - the appropriate rate shown as Grade B in Item 6 in Table 2 of Schedule 2, Part B; in respect of the towns and localities of Angledool, Barringun, Bourke, Brewarrina, Clare, Enngonia, Goodooga, Ivanhoe, Lake Mungo, Lightning Ridge, Louth, Mungindi, Pooncarie, Redbank, Walgett, Wanaaring, Weilmoringle, White Cliffs, Wilcannia and Willandra;

30.2.3 Grade C allowances - the appropriate rate shown as Grade C in Item 6 in Table 2 of Schedule 2, Part B; in respect of the localities of Fort Grey, Mutawintji, Mount Wood, Nocoleche, Olive Downs, Tibooburra and Yathong.

30.3 The dependant rate for each grade is payable where

30.3.1 the employee has a dependant as defined; and

30.3.2 the employee’s dependant(s) resides within the area that attracts the remote area allowance; and

30.3.3 the employee’s spouse, if also employed in the service of the Crown, is not in receipt of an allowance under this clause, unless each spouse resides at a separate location within the remote area.

30.4 For the purposes of this clause dependant is defined as

30.4.1 the spouse of the employee (including a de facto spouse);

30.4.2 each child of the employee aged eighteen years or under;

30.4.3 each son and daughter of the employee aged more than eighteen years but less than twenty-six years who remains a student in full time education or training at a recognised educational institution, or who is an apprentice; and

30.4.4 any other person who is part of the employee’s household and who is, in the opinion of the Secretary, substantially financially dependent on the employee.

30.5 Departmental temporary employees, such as relief employees, who are employed for short periods are not eligible to receive a remote areas allowance.

30.6 An employee who is a volunteer part-time member of the Defence Force and receives the remote area allowance at the non-dependant rate is not paid the allowance while on military leave

30.7 An employee who is a volunteer part-time member of the Defence Forces and receives the remote area allowance at the dependant rate may continue to receive the allowance at the normal rate for the duration of the military leave provided that:

30.7.1 the employee continues in employment; and

30.7.2 the dependants continue to reside in the area specified; and

30.7.3 military pay does not exceed Departmental salary plus the remote areas allowance.

If the military salary exceeds Departmental salary plus the allowance at the dependant rate, the allowance is to be reduced to the non-dependant rate.