Budget debate in the Senate yesterday revealed huge spending increases for the Department of Defence, mainly on higher pay.

Minister of Public Safety David Burch called it a “dramatic increase”, but said the hike is long overdue because its been 15 years since salaries have increased for the men and women of the Regiment.

Salaries will spike 36 percent from $2.09m last year to $2.77m in the next fiscal year which begins on April 1.

Wages will be up even more — 109 percent over last year from $1.6m to $3.7m.

Minister Burch, who is also the Government’s leader in the Senate, hopes the pay increases would help the Regiment recruit and retain more people in the service.

He said: “Most of the increases are at the bottom end of the rank structure, the higher you go up the smaller the level of increase.”

Minister Burch is a Regiment Lieutenant Colonel and jokingly pointed out to his Senate colleagues that the pay hike wasn’t retroactive so he couldn’t personally benefit from the increased earnings.

Sen. Kim Swan, who is the Opposition’s Leader in the Senate, said he had never served in the Regiment, but supported the organisation and its conscription policy.

But he wondered out loud: “Are we getting good bang for buck?”

According to the numbers Mr. Swan presented to the Senate yesterday, Regiment spending was up more than 100 percent in the past seven years. He said for the fiscal year 2000/2001 the agency was budgeted at $4.03m and in 2007/2008 the budget will be $8.57m.

Sen. Swan suggested money would be better spent promoting the image of the Regiment to a younger audience who might be intrigued by service which takes them to other parts of the world for training and to help with natural disasters.

He said: “We need to get the message out. Don’t wait until they are 14 or 15. Go to them when they’re seven or eight and show them what the Regiment does.”

He argued the Regiment might be especially valuable to young black males.

Sen. Burch said the Regiment, through conscription, has consistently and harmoniously brought together men and women regardless of their racial and socio-economic backgrounds.

Overall the Regiment’s budget is up 45 percent over last year.

Although there are numerous increases across the Regiment’s budget, there was a sizeable 43 percent decrease budgeted for repairs and maintenance. The percentage represents $164,000.

The same Senate session dealt with Police and Fire Services too.

Sen. Burch said Police brass are recruiting heavily overseas for Police officers and promoting legislation that would enable Police officers to work past age 55.

Since November 35 foreigners have joined the Police Service and another ten are on a shortlist.

A new judicial complex for Police and Magistrates’ Court Services is expected to begin in the next fiscal year. Total Police Service spending is up six percent from $7.8m to $8.1m.

Meantime, Fire Service spending is up 11 percent from $9.7m to $10.6m