Air Board Regulations

Legislation au C1920L00223 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1920. No. 223.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918 AND THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-1918.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, in pursuance of the powers conferred on me by the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918 and all other powers me thereunto enabling, hereby make the following Regulations to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this ninth day of November, 1920.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

G. F. PEARCE,

Minister of State for Defence.

Air Board Regulations.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Air Board Regulations.

Constitution.

2. The Air Board shall consist of—

(i) The Director of Intelligence and Organization.

(ii) The Director of Personnel and Training.

(iii) The Director of Equipment.

(iv) The Finance Member.

Members of the Board and officers appointed in connexion therewith will severally and jointly exercise such powers and perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Air Council.

Members of the Board will allot the duties to their subordinates.

Functions.

3. The Air Board is charged with the control and administration of the Air Force upon the policy laid down by the Air Council.

All conclusions or decisions of the Board which involve an increase of expenditure, transfer of votes of expenditure, or any new principle affecting expenditure will be referred to the Air Council for approval.

Upon all matters which the Air Couneil so direct the Board shall submit for the approval of the Council its conclusions, recommendations or decisions.

The Board shall refer for the consideration of the Air Council such matters as it deems necessary should be approved by higher authority or upon which there is a want of unanimity of opinion of the Members of the Board.

Meeting.

4. The Air Board shall meet weekly or more often as may be necessary.

Three Members of the Board will constitute a quorum.

The Senior Officer present will preside.

The Board shall be empowered to cause the attendance in a consultative capacity at Meetings of such technical or other advisers as may be deemed advisable.

Secretary.

5. There shall be a Secretary to the Board, who will perform such secretarial duties as may be allotted to him, and who will keep and distribute as directed all agenda minutes, recommendations, and decisions of the Board.

Rules of business.

6. (i) Matters of routine will be decided by, and dealt with in the name of, the responsible Member of the Air Board, who, if he thinks fit, may delegate such duty to subordinates as he may decide.

(ii) Any Member of the Board may refer to the Board such matters as he considers should be dealt with or decided by the Board as a whole.

(iii) All decisions of the Board will be communicated to the Air Council and to individual Members thereof for information.

(iv) The Secretary, Air Board, shall prepare an agenda for each meeting of the Board, and Members shall be responsible for the preparation of précis of such matters as shall be submitted by them.

Distribution of duties.

7. The duties assigned to each Member shall be such as the Air Council may from time to time decide on the following principles:—

(1) Upon the following subjects the Air Board shall, in its corporate capacity, submit its recommendations for approval of the Air Council:—

(a) Principles of organization of the Air Force.

(b) The distribution of the Air Force.

(d) Selection of Air Stations, Aerodromes, Landing Grounds, and Training Stations.

(e) Schemes for Air Force development.

(f) Works and buildings not part of approved policy.

(g) Training, policy the selection and distribution of schools and training establishments.

(h) The selection of the Air Staff of and above such ranks as the Air Council may determine.

(2) The Director of Intelligence and Organization—

(a) Intelligence, in co-operation with Navy and Army.

(b) Preparation of maps and charts.

(d) Air schemes of defence. Liaison with Navy and Army.

(e) Air Signal and Meteorological Services.

(f) Plans of mobilization.

(g) Advice regarding specification and design of aircraft, engines, armament, ammunition, and other equipment.

(h) Censorship.

(3) The Director of Personnel and Training shall, in general, be charged with the supply, general control, records, and distribution of all personnel for the Air Force, and, in particular, with—

(a) Recruiting, transfers, postings, promotions, discharges, resignations.

(b) Gazettes.

(d) Pay and allowances.

(e) Discipline and all legal questions in connexion therewith

(f) Personal and ceremonial questions.

(g) Proposals for honours and awards.

(h) Arrangements for medical and sanitary services.

(i) Medical Boards, &c., Chaplains.

(j) The administration of training on the policy laid down by the Board.

(4) The Director of Equipment shall, in general, be charged with the provision, storage and issue of the requirements of the Air Force and in particular—

(a) Provision of aircraft, engines, armament, ammunition, and other equipment.

(b) Receipt, inspection, custody, accounting, allotment, distribution and issue of all air equipment, spares, and stores.

(d) Repair and reconstruction of aircraft and other equipment.

(e) General supervision of technical work in units.

(f) Salvage of material and disposal of same.

(g) Recorde of aircraft and all other equipment.

(h) Transport of personnel and material by land and sea.

(i) Ordnance and Engineer services.

(j) Feeding, housing, and clothing of Air Force personnel, &c.

(k) Canteens and Regimental Institutes.

(l) Postal arrangements (other than by air).

(5) The Finance Member shall, in general, be responsible for all Air Force Finance and Accounting and in particular for—

(a) Consideration and compilation of Parliamentary Estimates, and submission to the Air Council, after review by the Air Board.

(b) Review of proposals for new expenditure or the redistribution of the sums allotted under the different subheads of Air Force Votes, as approved by the Air Council.

(d) Claims, compensations, pay, &c.

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

Overview

The Air Board Regulations, 1920, were enacted by the Governor-General pursuant to the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, to provide a structured governance framework for the administration and control of the newly established Australian Air Force. The regulations establish the composition of the Air Board, consisting of the Director of Intelligence and Organization, the Director of Personnel and Training, the Director of Equipment, and the Finance Member, each assigned specific responsibilities pertinent to the operation and development of the Air Force. The Air Board is tasked with implementing the policy decisions made by the Air Council and is required to seek the Council’s approval on matters involving significant expenditures or policy changes. This legislative instrument ensures that the Air Force operates under a coherent administrative structure, facilitating effective coordination and oversight within the defence framework.

Scope and Application

The Air Board Regulations, enacted under the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, pertain to the establishment, functions, and procedures of the Air Board within the Australian Defence Force. These regulations apply to the members of the Air Board, which includes the Director of Intelligence and Organization, the Director of Personnel and Training, the Director of Equipment, and the Finance Member, who are collectively responsible for the administration and control of the Air Force in accordance with the directives of the Air Council. The regulations delineate the roles and responsibilities of each directorate within the Air Board, detailing specific areas such as intelligence, personnel management, equipment provision, and finance. The Air Board's jurisdiction extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring that its decisions and recommendations align with the overarching defence policies and expenditure approvals as stipulated by the Air Council. The regulations also outline the procedural aspects, including meeting frequency, quorum requirements, and the preparation of agendas and minutes by the Board's Secretary.

Key Provisions

The Air Board Regulations, made under the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, outline the structure, functions, and procedures of the Air Board. The Air Board, as established under section 2, comprises the Director of Intelligence and Organization, the Director of Personnel and Training, the Director of Equipment, and the Finance Member. Each of these directors and the finance member are to be appointed by the Air Council and will perform duties assigned to them by the Air Council (section 2). The Air Board is primarily responsible for the control and administration of the Air Force, subject to the policy laid down by the Air Council (section 3). Any decisions involving increased expenditure, transfer of votes of expenditure, or any new principle affecting expenditure must be referred to the Air Council for approval (section 3). The Air Board must also submit its conclusions, recommendations, or decisions to the Air Council upon direction and refer matters for consideration when necessary (section 3). The Air Board is required to meet weekly or more frequently as needed, with a quorum consisting of three members (section 4). The Senior Officer present is to preside over the meetings, and the Board has the authority to call upon technical or other advisers as deemed necessary (section 4). There is to be a Secretary to the Board who will manage secretarial duties, including the distribution of agendas, minutes, recommendations, and decisions of the Board (section 5). The Board’s business is to be managed such that routine matters are handled by the responsible Member, who may delegate duties to subordinates if necessary (section 6(i)). Any member may refer matters to the Board for collective decision-making (section 6(ii)). All Board decisions are to be communicated to the Air Council and individual members for their information (section 6(iii)). The Secretary is responsible for preparing the agenda for each Board meeting, while members are responsible for preparing summaries of the matters they submit (section 6(iv)). The duties of each Air Board member are to be assigned by the Air Council, adhering to specific principles outlined in section 7. The Air Board, in its corporate capacity, is to submit recommendations to the Air Council on various matters, such as principles of organization, distribution, demands for aircraft, and the selection of air stations (section 7(1)). The Director of Intelligence and Organization is responsible for intelligence, maps and charts, air organization, air schemes of defence, liaison, signal and meteorological services, mobilization plans, and advice on aircraft specifications and equipment (section 7(2)). The Director of Personnel and Training handles recruitment, transfers, postings, promotions, discharges, gazettes, casualties, leave, pay, allowances, discipline, legal questions, honours, medical and sanitary services, and the administration of training (section 7(3)). The Director of Equipment is tasked with providing, storing, and issuing Air Force requirements, including aircraft, engines, armament, ammunition, and other equipment, as well as the administration of stores, repair depots, and parks (section 7(4)). The Finance Member is responsible for Air Force finance and accounting, including the consideration and compilation of parliamentary estimates, review of expenditure proposals, treasury requirements, and claims, compensations, and pay (section 7(5)). Failure to comply with the provisions of the Air Board Regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, it is implied that non-compliance with the regulatory framework could lead to disciplinary actions, legal proceedings, or other administrative sanctions as deemed necessary by the Air Council or other governing authorities under the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918.

Area of Law: Administrative Law
Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Delegation & Subordinate Legislation; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations; Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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