20Amount of contributions on reduction in pay

#### 20 Amount of contributions on reduction in pay (1) Where the annual rate of pay applicable to a contributing member changes, otherwise than by reason of the member ceasing to hold an acting or temporary rank, or of the amendment of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (Annual Rates of Pay) Regulations made by section 9 of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Amendment Act 1981 and, as a result of the change, the amount of each fortnightly contribution to be paid by him would, if he did not make an election under this subsection, become less, he may, by notice in writing given to CSC within a period of 90 days after the change, or within such further period as CSC, in special circumstances, allows, elect to have that change in his annual rate of pay disregarded, and, if he so elects, the change shall be disregarded for the purposes of this Act. (2) Where a contributing member who is entitled to make an election under subsection (1) does not make that election, he is entitled to a refund, payable by the Commonwealth, of so much of the contributions paid by him under section 17 as is equal to the difference between the amount of the contributions payable by him under that section before the change referred to in subsection (1) and the amount of the contributions that would have been so payable by him if the amount of each fortnightly contribution so payable by him had not exceeded the amount that is the amount of each fortnightly contribution payable by him after the change, and the amount of any contributions in respect of which he becomes so entitled to a refund shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed not to have been paid by him.