A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

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Reunion and Recreational Leave Travel
33. Not expected to impact significantly, as given the tenure of the postings and the unique
nature of band duties, most personnel would be married accompanied. If the same ratio as applied
to housing was applied to leave travel, then four personnel could incur recreational leave travel
costs and an estimate would be in the order of $8000 annually. 25
Command and Control
34. Basically, the detachment will be a lodger unit of HMAS Stirling for personnel and divisional
matters, while the Maritime Command will retain operational control managed by the Director of
Music—Navy. 26 This is similar to the current arrangements in New South Wales and Victoria.
Travel and Subsistence
35. There will be travel and subsistence (T&S) costs associated with a detachment in Western
Australia of approximately $50,000; but these will be offset by a corresponding reduction for 19
East Coast personnel. Additionally, three deployments by the Melbourne detachment were
undertaken to Western Australia over the past 16 months at a total cost of $70K, with two
additional planned to support returning ships from OP SLIPPER during FY 02/03 at $45,000. This
saving would also be used to offset T&S funding in Western Australia. Unfortunately, there is no
anecdotal evidence in Western Australia on which to base estimates for other than the current
reserve detachment, but similar to the other permanent detachments, resources would be allotted
against a priority of internal and external commitments formulated under the National Band
Program.
Local Area Network
36. The band complex in Perth will require no further action or expenditure.
Transport
37. Transport for the local reserve detachment is already provided under existing contract
provisions within HMAS Stirling and via self-drive vehicles. The contract may need to be amended in
due course depending on the frequency of new detachments requirement. There are no available
estimates of additional costs associated with the proposal at this time. There will be a
corresponding reduction in transport use in Sydney.
Utilities
38. Costs associated with phone and electricity have been difficult to assess but are considered
minimal in the overall costs of the proposal. The existing band complex is manned and operational
every day so power and phones are already in full use. There will be a corresponding reduction in
use in Sydney.
39. As this proposal is a redistribution of band assets, all manpower and additional resources
including transport, power, phones and accommodation have an offset or saving from within the
Sydney detachment.
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
40. A summary of the cost benefit analysis is shown at Annex A.
41. A summary of cost is shown at Annex B.
SUMMARY OF COSTS
25 Two return airfares PA @ $1000 x 4 personnel = $8000
26 The Commanding Officer, HMAS Stirling, has acknowledged the line of command, control and tasking.
Royal Australian Navy Band: A Musical Voyage