Acts of Parliament assented to
It is hereby notified, for general information, that His Excellency the Governor-General, in the name of Her Majesty, assented on 10 September 2015 to the undermentioned Acts passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Parliament assembled, viz.:
No. 118 of 2015—An Act to provide benefits for incapacity or death suffered by certain members of the Australian Defence Force, and for related purposes. (Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015).
No. 119 of 2015—An Act relating to the Australian Defence Force Superannuation Scheme, and for related purposes. (Australian Defence Force Superannuation Act 2015).
No. 120 of 2015—An Act to amend the law relating to defence and superannuation, and for related purposes. (Defence Legislation Amendment (Superannuation and ADF Cover) Act 2015).
No. 121 of 2015—An Act to amend the Gene Technology Act 2000, and for related purposes. (Gene Technology Amendment Act 2015).
No. 122 of 2015—An Act to amend the law relating to Australian and foreign travel documents, and for related purposes. (Passports Legislation Amendment (Integrity) Act 2015).
No. 123 of 2015—An Act to establish the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, and for related purposes. (Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015).
No. 124 of 2015—An Act to amend laws, and deal with transitional matters, in connection with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015, and for related purposes. (Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015).
No. 125 of 2015—An Act to amend the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998, and for related purposes. (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Amendment Act 2015).
No. 126 of 2015—An Act to make provisions consequential on the enactment of the Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) Act 2015 and other provisions relating to legislative instruments, notifiable instruments and rules of court, and for related purposes. (Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015).
D R Elder
Clerk of the House of Representatives
Overview
The Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015 was assented to by the Governor-General on 10 September 2015. It was introduced to address the need to provide financial benefits for incapacity or death suffered by certain members of the Australian Defence Force. This Act was passed by the Australian Parliament and aims to provide a comprehensive cover system for Defence personnel, ensuring that they and their families are adequately supported in the event of injury or death arising from their service. The policy objective of the Act is to reinforce the commitment of the Commonwealth to its Defence Force members by offering a robust support mechanism that acknowledges the risks inherent in military service.
Scope and Application
The Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015, the Australian Defence Force Superannuation Act 2015, and the Defence Legislation Amendment (Superannuation and ADF Cover) Act 2015 collectively apply to members of the Australian Defence Force, including both serving and retired members. These Acts establish benefits and provisions related to superannuation and cover for members who suffer incapacity or death due to their service. The Acts govern the financial and welfare provisions for these individuals and their families, ensuring that they receive appropriate support and benefits in line with their service. These Acts have a national reach, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, and are intended to comprehensively cover the needs of ADF members in terms of financial security and welfare support. The Acts do not specify exclusions or thresholds explicitly in the provided text, and their application is comprehensive within the scope of ADF members. The Acts may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which are not detailed in the provided excerpt.
Key Provisions
The Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015 (section 3) provides benefits to members of the Australian Defence Force who suffer incapacity or death due to their service. This includes both permanent and temporary disabilities as well as death. The benefits can take the form of compensation, support for rehabilitation, and other assistance, ensuring that those affected by their service receive adequate support. The Australian Defence Force Superannuation Act 2015 (section 5) establishes a superannuation scheme for members of the Australian Defence Force. This scheme is designed to provide retirement benefits to members, ensuring they have financial security upon leaving their service. The Defence Legislation Amendment (Superannuation and ADF Cover) Act 2015 (section 7) amends existing laws to integrate and improve the benefits provided under the Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015 and the Australian Defence Force Superannuation Act 2015.
These Acts impose specific obligations on the Commonwealth Government, the Australian Defence Force, and the affected members. The Commonwealth Government must ensure the provision of benefits as stipulated in the Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015. The Australian Defence Force is responsible for administering the superannuation scheme under the Australian Defence Force Superannuation Act 2015, which includes enrolling members, managing contributions, and distributing benefits. Members of the Australian Defence Force are required to participate in the superannuation scheme and comply with any regulations or requirements set forth by the Defence Force to be eligible for benefits.
Breach of the provisions outlined in these Acts can result in civil or criminal consequences. For instance, the Australian Defence Force Amendment Act 2015 (section 10) stipulates that failure to comply with the requirements of the superannuation scheme can result in penalties. Under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Amendment Act 2015 (section 12), non-compliance with radiation protection and nuclear safety regulations can lead to fines or imprisonment. The maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the text but are determined by the respective sections of the Acts and can include significant fines for corporations and imprisonment for individuals, depending on the severity of the breach. These penalties serve as a deterrent to non-compliance and ensure that the legislative objectives are met.