172Leave of absence

172 Leave of absence

(1)  This regulation only applies to a member if the State Fire Commission grants the member unpaid leave of absence.

(2)  During the period of leave of a member –

(a) the member’s salary is to be taken for the purposes of these regulations to continue unaltered; and

(b) the member is not required to contribute but may make the contributions, if any, that the Commission permits, having regard to the provisions that apply under the SIS Act in relation to regulated superannuation funds; and

(c) the State Fire Commission is not required to contribute in respect of the member except to the extent –

(i) that the Commission requires in connection with any administration costs and management charges payable by the State Fire Commission in relation to the member; and

(ii) as required by the Guarantee Act so that the State Fire Commission does not incur an individual superannuation guarantee shortfall, within the meaning of the Guarantee Act, in relation to the member.

(3)  Despite any other provision of these regulations, during the period of leave of a member the Commission may, at its discretion, take action to cause death and incapacity cover in respect of the member to be discontinued.

(4)  If the Commission causes under subregulation (3) death and incapacity cover in respect of a member to be discontinued during a period, any death and incapacity benefit payable in respect of the member is to be adjusted to the extent, if any, that the Commission considers appropriate having regard to these regulations.

(5)  If the Commission causes under subregulation (3) death and incapacity cover in respect of a member to be discontinued during a period of leave of the member, the Commission may, when the period ends, require the member to submit such satisfactory evidence of good health as the Commission may require in support of an application by the Commission for the reinstatement of such cover in respect of the member.

(6)  The Commission may, at its discretion, determine that a period of leave of a member is to be wholly or partially excluded from the determination of any benefit that may become payable in respect of the member, whether the benefit arises during or after the end of the period.