Uniformed personnel are disappointed with a lower-than-inflation pay rise but the Australian Defence Force insists it's the best it could do.
About 11,000 defence members have had a say on the proposed 1.5 per cent annual pay increase since it was announced on Friday, with 90 per cent unhappy with the three-year proposal.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott pinned the blame on Labor and the budget deficit for his government's refusal to offer a bigger base pay rise as troops deploy to Iraq.
He insists the government wants to do the right thing by the nation's armed forces.
"Any member of the armed forces who is deployed to a combat zone will receive very significant allowances on top of his or her pay," he said on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, the Defence Force Welfare Association and the RSL were challenging the proposal at the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal.
There a ADF lawyer told the tribunal even "Blind Freddie" could see the offer was the best that could be managed given budget constraints.
Acting chief of defence Vice Admiral Ray Griggs conceded personnel were disappointed the proposal was "well below" normal.
"People are working hard. There is no doubt about that. We ask a lot of them," he said before his closed evidence at the tribunal.
"(But) I think we are, if not the best, one of the best compensated military for operational service."
The DFWA urged the tribunal to reject the proposal, however when asked what alternatives the organisation proposed lawyer Gerard Nelson conceded he didn't have one.
"On the basis of the evidence of the admiral, not much better can be done," he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten wrote to the tribunal asking them to reject the offer, saying over the past three years ADF wages had increased by an average of three per cent each year.
The tribunal reserved its decision to a date to be set.
It has the power to accept or knock back the proposal but can't force the ADF to implement a different pay structure.
If knocked back, the ADF would potentially have to try to renegotiate with the government before fronting the tribunal again if a second proposal was challenged.
The changes will cut pay rises to most defence salaries in half, however allowances won't be affected:
* A private/seaman or aircraftman on entering the service would have their pay increase from $43,766 to $44,422 ($656) instead of $45,078 ($1312).
* A sergeant or petty officer on entering the service would have their pay increase from $59,875 to $60,773 ($898) instead of $61,671 ($1796).
* A lieutenant, sub-lieutenant, or flight officer on entering the service would have their pay increase from $69,384 to $70,424 ($1,040) instead of $71,465 ($2081).
Some allowances:
* Service allowance $12,924 per year
* Base housing or a rental allowance of up to $536.42 a fortnight ($13,947 per year)
* Medical and dental bills paid
* Meals provided when on service or a meal allowance
* Paid flights to visit family recreationally within Australia once a year
(Salary and allowance figures obtained from ADF/CPS)
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