Air Board Regulations

Legislation au C1922L00161 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1922. No. 161.

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 which shall be deemed to have come into force as from the 2nd day of October, 1922.

Dated this eighteenth day of October, 1922.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

W. MASSY GREENE,

Minister of State for Defence.

Air Board Regulations.

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

Constitution.

2. (1) The Air Board shall consist of two Air Members with flying experience and a Finance Member:—

(a) The First Air Member.

(b) The Second Air Member,

(2) The Chief of the Air Staff shall be the First Air Member and the Chief of the Administrative Staff shall be the Second Air Member.

(3) 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 Minister.

(4) 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 Minister.

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

Upon all matters which the Air Council 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 or upon which there is a want of unanimity of opinion of the members of the Board.

Meetings.

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

Two members of the, Board will constitute a quorum.

The First Air Member will be Chairman of the Board.

The Board shall be empowered to cause the attendance in a consultative capacity at meetings of such technical or other advisors 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. (1) 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 duties to subordinates as he may decide.

(2) 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.

(3) The First Air Member may assemble meetings of the Board to deal with such matters and any matters dealt with by individual members of the Board, if he thinks them matters for action by the Board as a whole.

(4) 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.

(5) The decisions of the Air Board and the decisions of individual members on important subjects shall be signed by the Secretary to the Board and shall be promulgated as the Air Board directs.

Distribution of duties.

7. The duties assigned to each member shall be such as the Minister 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) Selections of Air Stations and Aerodromes;

(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; and

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

(2) The First Air Member shall in general be charged with all preparations for war, and in particular—

(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 development and mobilization of the Air Force;

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

(h) Censorship; and

(i) Works, buildings, communications, &c.

(3) The Second Air Member shall, in general, be charged with the supply, general control, records, and distribution of all personnel, and the provision, storage and issue of the requirements of 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) Provision of aircraft, engines, armament, ammunition, and other equipment;

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

(l) Administration of store and repair depôts and parks;

(m) Repair and reconstruction of aircraft and other equipment;

(n) General supervision of technical work in units;

(o) Salvage of material and disposal of same;

(p) Records of aircraft and all other equipment;

(q) Transport of personnel and material by land and sea;

(r) Ordnance services, furniture, &c.;

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

(t) Canteens and Regimental Institutes; and

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

(4) 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 sub-heads of Air Force Votes, as approved by the Air Board;

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

Repeal.

8. The Air Board Regulations (being Statutory Rules 1920, No. 223, as amended by Statutory Rules 1920, No. 269) are hereby repealed.

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, 1922, were enacted under the powers conferred by the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, establishing the framework for the Air Board within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations were made by the Governor-General in pursuance of these Acts and came into force on the 2nd of October, 1922. The policy objective of these regulations was to provide a structured administrative body for the control and management of the newly established Royal Australian Air Force, ensuring effective governance and coordination in line with the Defence policies of the time. The Air Board was tasked with administering the Air Force based on the policies set by the Minister, while also ensuring that any decisions involving increased expenditure or new principles affecting expenditure were subject to the approval of the Air Council.

Scope and Application

The Air Board Regulations, established under the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, specify the constitution, functions, and duties of the Air Board within the Commonwealth of Australia. The Air Board comprises three members: the First Air Member, the Second Air Member, and the Finance Member, each with distinct responsibilities pertaining to the control and administration of the Air Force. The First Air Member, who is also the Chief of the Air Staff, is tasked with preparing for war, including intelligence, air organization, and defence schemes. The Second Air Member, or Chief of the Administrative Staff, oversees personnel management, supply, and distribution of Air Force requirements. The Finance Member handles all financial and accounting matters for the Air Force. These Regulations outline the processes for decision-making, including the submission of decisions involving expenditure increases or new principles to the Air Council for approval, and the authority of individual members to delegate duties. The Air Board is empowered to convene meetings as necessary, with two members constituting a quorum, and decisions are to be documented and promulgated as directed by the Board. The Regulations also provide for the appointment of a Secretary to handle administrative tasks and the distribution of duties among Board members, with the Minister deciding on the allocation of these duties. This legislation effectively governs the structure and operational framework of the Air Board, ensuring coordinated and efficient administration of the Air Force in accordance with the overarching policies set by the Minister.

Key Provisions

The Air Board Regulations, as stipulated in Statutory Rules 1922, No. 161, establish the structure and functions of the Air Board under the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918. Section 2(1) sets out the composition of the Air Board, which includes two Air Members with flying experience and a Finance Member. The Chief of the Air Staff serves as the First Air Member and the Chief of the Administrative Staff as the Second Air Member, with the First Air Member also serving as the Chairman of the Board. The Board, along with any officers appointed in connection with it, exercises the powers and performs the duties assigned by the Minister (section 2(3)). The Air Board is tasked with the control and administration of the Air Force, operating under the policy set by the Minister (section 3). Any decisions involving increased expenditure or new principles affecting expenditure must be referred to the Air Council for approval (section 3). The Board is required to meet as often as necessary, with two members constituting a quorum (section 4). A Secretary is appointed to perform secretarial duties and manage the distribution of agendas, minutes, and decisions of the Board (section 5). The Regulations impose specific obligations on the Air Board and its members. The Board is responsible for recommending principles of organization, distribution, and development of the Air Force to the Air Council (section 7(1)). The First Air Member is tasked with preparations for war, including intelligence, map preparation, air organization, and development plans (section 7(2)). The Second Air Member handles supply, personnel management, and the provision of equipment (section 7(3)), while the Finance Member oversees all financial and accounting matters for the Air Force (section 7(4)). The Board must ensure that any decisions requiring approval from the Air Council are submitted in a timely manner, and all significant decisions are properly documented and distributed (section 6). Breaches of these Regulations may lead to civil or criminal consequences, though specific offences, penalties, and maximum penalties are not detailed within the text of the Regulations themselves. However, under the broader Acts under which these Regulations are made—the Defence Act 1903-1918 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918—failure to comply with statutory obligations could result in penalties as prescribed by the relevant legislation. These could include fines, imprisonment, or other legal actions as deemed appropriate by the courts. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, and any subsequent legal proceedings.

Area of Law: Administrative Law; Defence Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Repeal & Amendment; Delegation & Subordinate Legislation; Administrative Discretion; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

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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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