On the subject of Afghanistan, where my last two posts have focused, I've had a few figures going through the head. I understand we have 1500 soldiers currently there. I gather from my perusal of the ADF website the other day that our soldiers are each payed a tax free deployment bonus of $200 per day.
1500 X $200 = $300,000
That's $300,000, PER DAY, in bonus alone. That gives you some idea what this is costing the Australian taxpayer. I also discovered that while serving overseas a soldier's salary is tax free. Add to that transport and munitions, logistics and administration, and the mind starts to boggle. How many years have we been there now? I think it might be six. How many more years are we to be there? 5 to 10 I think, it was suggested in the 'debate'.
$300,000 X 365(days) X 10(years) = $1,095,000,000
That's nearly 1.1 billion dollars, in tax free bonuses alone, over a decade. I was always quite good at mental arithmetic, but if my calculations are flawed or facts incorrect I'd appreciate if someone would correct me.
It's almost unbelievable to this Aussie battler who hesitates before incurring the cost of a new pair of work boots.
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This is extraordinary Carey. Over and above basic salaries and logistical expenses. One can only ask, for whose benefit? The wastefulness and teh thoughtlessness of it all
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