Defence Committee Regulations (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1929. No. 26.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1908-1927, THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-1918, AND THE AIR FORCE ACT 1923.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1927, the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, and the Air Force Act 1923, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this eighth day of March, 1929.

STONEHAVEN

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

T. W. GLASGOW

Minister of State for Defence.

Defence Committee Regulations.

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Defence Committee Regulations.

Object.

2. The Defence Committee shall be an advisory and consultative body to advise the Minister on the initiation and maintenance of a consistent Defence policy directing the common action of the Naval, Military and Air Services and to provide the technical co-ordinating link between the Naval, Military and Air Boards and the Minister.

Function.

3. The functions of the Defence Committee shall be to advise the Minister on—

(a) the Defence policy as a whole;

(b) the co-ordination of the operations and requirements of the Naval, Military and Air Boards in their administrative sphere;

(c) the co-ordination of the operations of the Munitions Supply Board in relation to the requirements of the several Services;

(d)the financial requirements of the Defence policy and the allocation to the respective Services of the funds made available;

(e) the co-ordination of civil aviation with Defence requirements; and

(f) all matters of policy or principle affecting the organization and distribution of such Air Forces as may be established.

478.—Price 3d.

 

Constitution.

4. (1) The Defence Committee shall consist of:—

The Chief of the Naval Staff;

The Chief of the General Staff;

The Chief of the Air Staff; and

An Officer of the Secretariat of the Department of Defence to be appointed by the Minister.

(2) In cases of urgency, in the event of the unavoidable absence of the Chief of Staff of any Service, be may be represented by the Second Member of the Board of that Service.

(3) The Controller General of Munitions Supply will be consulted by the Committee when questions which affect, or are affected by, the activities of the Munitions Supply Board are under discussion.

(4) The Controller of Civil Aviation will be consulted by the Committee when questions which affect, or are affected by, the activities of civil aviation are under discussion.

Chairmanship.

5. The Senior Officer of the three Services shall be the Chairman of the Defence Committee.

Meetings.

6. (1) Meetings of the Defence Committee shall be convened by the Chairman.

(2) If the Chairman is not present at the meeting the Senior of the Chiefs of Staff present shall preside.

(3) A quorum shall consist of three Service members, not more than one of whom may be the Second Member of one of the Service Boards.

Minutes.

7. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Committee.

Matters to be dealt with by the Committee.

8. In the performance of its functions the Defence Committee shall investigate and advise upon—

(a) any matter referred to it by the Minister;

(b)any matter arising out of its functions, which is directly initiated by the Committee, andof which it considers the Minister should be advised; and

(c) any matter referred to it by any of the Service Boards.

Reference by Boards to Committee.

9. Every matter affecting more than one Service upon which a Service Board makes a recommendation for the decision of the Minister will be submitted through the Defence Committee to the Minister.

Sub-Committees

10. For the investigation of any matter arising out of its functions, the Defence Committee may appoint sub-committees consisting of officers whose services shall be made available by the Service Boards or Civil Branches concerned.

How decisions communicated.

11. The decision of the Minister on all matters upon which the Defence Committee has advised will be communicated to the Secretary of the Defence Committee and to the Service Boards by the Secretary, Department of Defence.

Secretary.

12. The Secretary to the Defence Committee will be an officer appointed by the Minister.

Repeal.

13. Statutory Rules 1920, No. 222 relating to the Air Council Regulations are hereby repealed.

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By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.