Air Force personnel offered bonuses to stay on

Source: ABC News Online 9 Sep 2008

Around 150 Air Force traffic controllers will be offered $30,000 to stay on in their jobs for an extra year.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon announced the money in Darwin today as part of $6 million to prevent the controllers leaving for the civilian marketplace.

He says trades personnel will also be offered a $20,000 bonus to stay on as an interim measure in a tight labour market.

"It does give us that breathing space as we develop other initiatives," he said.

"We are of course currently doing a Defence white paper and alongside that white paper a number of companion reviews looking at a range of issues across Defence, including the important people challenge."