Air Force Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Defence

Legislation au F1997B00637 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Statutory Rules 1972 No. 89(e)

Period of enlistment.

1. Regulation 92 of the Air Force Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1.) the word “ and ”; and

(b) by omitting sub-paragraph (iii) of that paragraph and inserting in its stead the following sub-paragraphs:—

“ (iii) where the person is enlisting as an airwoman—for a period of three years or a period of six years; or

“ (iv) in any other case—for a period of six years or a period of twelve years;”.

 

(e) Made under the Air Force Act 1923-1965 on 23 June 1972; notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 29 June 1972.


Authority for writing off or disposal of stores.

2. Regulation 514 of the Air Force Regulations is repealed.

Higher duty allowance.

3.—(1.) Regulation 556j of the Air Force Regulations is amended—

(a) by inserting after sub-regulation (1.) the following sub-regulation:—

“ (1a.) Subject to this regulation, where—

(a) an airman (in this regulation referred to as ‘ the acting member ’) holding the rank, not being the rank of Warrant Officer, Flight Sergeant or Sergeant, for a position according to the establishment of the Air Force performs temporarily the duties of the position;

(b) the duties of that position are ordinarily required to be performed by an airman included in a mustering other than the mustering in which the airman is included; and

(c) the airman is in receipt of active pay at a lower rate than the rate applicable to an airman holding the like rank and included in the mustering in which the airman performing the duties of the position is ordinarily required to be included,

an allowance, called ‘ higher duty allowance ’, is payable to the airman.”;

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (6.) the words “ sub-regulations (7.) and (8.) of this regulation ” and inserting in their stead the words “ the next five succeeding sub-regulations ”; and

(c) by omitting sub-regulation (7.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulations:—

“ (7.) Where higher duty allowance is payable to an acting member for the last day on which he performs duty before, and the first day on which he performs duty after, a period for which he is absent from duty on a public holiday or on unit stand-down, higher duty allowance is payable to him in respect of that period.

“ (7a.) Where higher duty allowance is payable to an acting member for the year immediately preceding the commencement of a period of recreation leave granted to him, higher duty allowance is payable to him in respect of that period.

“ (7b.) Where—

(a) higher duty allowance is payable to an acting member for the day immediately preceding the commencement of a period of recreation leave granted to him;

(b) higher duty allowance has, during the two years immediately preceding that day, been payable to him for periods amounting in the aggregate to three hundred and sixty-four days; and

(c) but for that leave, higher duty allowance would have been payable to him for that period,

higher duty allowance is payable to him in respect of that period.

“ (7c.) Subject to sub-regulation (9.) of this regulation, where—

(a) higher duty allowance is payable to an acting member for each day on which he performs duties during a period, being a period that commences with a qualifying period; and


(b) during that period the member is absent from duty on one occasion, or on two or more occasions, by reason of illness, disability or leave granted to him under regulation 130 of these Regulations,

higher duty allowance is payable to him in respect of the day or days on which he is so absent or, if he is so absent for more than three days in the aggregate during the period, for three of those days.”.

(2.) Sub-regulations (7a.) and (7b.) of regulation 556j of the Air Force Regulations, as amended by the last preceding sub-regulation, apply to and in relation to leave that commenced on or after the twenty-third day of September, 1971.

Rates of higher duty allowance.

4. Regulation 556k of the Air Force Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “ the last preceding regulation ”and inserting in their stead the words “ sub-regulation (1.) of the last preceding regulation ”; and

(b) by omitting sub-regulation (3.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulations:—

“ (3.) Where—

(a) higher duty allowance is, under sub-regulation (1.) of the last preceding regulation, payable to an airman holding a rank lower than the rank of Sergeant in respect of his temporary performance of the duties of a position;

(b) those duties are ordinarily required to be performed by an airman included in a mustering other than the mustering in which the airman is included; and

(c) the airman has the special skills required by airmen included in that other mustering,

the amount of the allowance per day payable to him is the amount equal to the difference between the amount of active pay per day payable to him and the amount of active pay per day to which he would be entitled if—

(d) he were included in the mustering in which the airman usually performing the duties of the position is ordinarily required to be included; and

(e) he were promoted—

(i) to the rank next higher than the rank that he holds; or

(ii) to such higher rank (not being a rank higher than the established rank of the position) as the Air Board determines.

“ (4.) Where higher duty allowance is payable to an airman under sub-regulation (1a.) of the last preceding regulation in respect of his temporary performance of the duties of a position, the amount of the allowance per day payable to the airman is the amount equal to the difference between the amount of active pay per day payable to him and the amount of active pay per day to which he would be entitled if he were included in the mustering in which the airman performing the duties of the position is ordinarily required to be included.”.


Supplementary ration allowance.

5. Regulation 565a of the Air Force Regulations is repealed.

Fare warrants and expenses— persons other than members.

6. Regulation 599 of the Air Force Regulations is repealed.

Removal of member’s family, furniture and effects.

7. Regulation 608 of the Air Force Regulations is amended—

(a) by adding at the end of sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (4.) the word “ or ”; and

(b) by omitting sub-paragraphs (iii) and (iv) of that paragraph.

Gratuities payable to certain other officers.

8.—(1.) Regulation 638 of the Air Force Regulations is repealed.

(2.) An officer appointed to a short-service commission before the first day of July, 1972, continues, notwithstanding the repeal of regulation 638 of the Air Force Regulations by the last preceding sub-regulation, to be entitled to payment of a gratuity under and in accordance with that regulation in respect of service under that commission.

Repeal.

9.—(1.) Regulations 640 and 641 of the Air Force Regulations are repealed.

(2.) An officer appointed to a short-service commission before the first day of July, 1972, continues notwithstanding the repeal of regulations 640 and 641 of the Air Force Regulations by the last preceding sub-regulation, to be entitled to payment of a gratuity under and in accordance with those regulations in respect of service under that commission.

Allowances and other benefits.

10. Regulation 647 of the Air Force Regulations is amended by omitting from the table in sub-regulation (4.) the words and figures:—

“ Cadet Pilot Officer .................

10.00

10.00 ”.

Fourth Schedule.

11. The Fourth Schedule to the Air Force Regulations is amended by omitting from the table headed “ (i) Modifications. the third and fourth paragraphs (in the fourth column) opposite to the figures “ XV. | I. | 1092 ” and inserting in their stead the following paragraph:—

“ Omit clause 3.”.

Transitional.

12.—(1.) Where—

(a) on or after the third day of December, 1965, and before the twenty-sixth day of August, 1971, an airman performed, temporarily, the duties of a position;

(b) higher duty allowance was not payable to him under regulation 556j of the Air Force Regulations in respect of the performance of those duties; and

(c) higher duty allowance would have been payable to him under the Air Force Regulations, as amended by paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1.) of regulation 3, and by regulation 4, of these Regulations in respect of the performance of those duties, if those amendments had come into operation on the third day of December, 1965, and paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1a.) of regulation 556j of the Air Force Regulations as so amended had not contained the words “, not being the rank of Warrant Officer, Flight Sergeant or Sergeant,”,

an allowance, equal to the higher duty allowance that would have been so payable to him, is, by virtue of this sub-regulation, payable to him.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1972 No. 89, enacted on 23 June 1972, were made under the authority of the Air Force Act 1923-1965. This legislative instrument addresses various administrative and financial aspects related to the Australian Air Force, such as enlistment periods, allowances for temporary duty, and the authority for writing off or disposal of stores. The primary policy objective appears to be the efficient and fair management of personnel and resources within the Air Force. These regulations were notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 29 June 1972 and aim to streamline and modernise certain administrative processes to better align with contemporary operational needs and financial management practices.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1972 No. 89, made under the Air Force Act 1923-1965, amends the Air Force Regulations to modify various provisions related to enlistment periods, allowances, and benefits for airmen in the Australian Defence Force. The amendments apply to all airman and officers within the Air Force, impacting their terms of service, entitlements, and financial benefits. This legislation has a national jurisdictional reach, affecting all members of the Australian Defence Force Air Force across the Commonwealth of Australia. The changes include adjustments to enlistment periods for airmen, modifications to the higher duty allowance to provide better financial compensation for temporary duty assignments, and adjustments to the rates of higher duty allowance. Notably, certain allowances and benefits are repealed or amended to streamline and update the financial support system for airmen. The regulations also include transitional provisions to ensure that airmen who performed duties before the amendments took effect are appropriately compensated for periods during which they were not entitled to certain allowances under the previous regulations.

Key Provisions

This legislation, Statutory Rules 1972 No. 89, amends the Air Force Regulations in several respects, as outlined in the sections above. Firstly, it modifies the period of enlistment for Air Force members. Specifically, airwomen can enlist for either three or six years, while other members can enlist for six or twelve years (Regulation 92). This change aims to provide more flexible enlistment options for individuals joining the Air Force. Secondly, the legislation repeals certain regulations regarding authority for writing off or disposal of stores (Regulation 514), supplementary ration allowance (Regulation 565a), fare warrants and expenses for persons other than members (Regulation 599), gratuities payable to certain other officers (Regulation 638), and gratuities for short-service commissioned officers (Regulations 640 and 641). These changes may be intended to streamline the Air Force's administrative processes and eliminate outdated or redundant regulations. Additionally, the legislation introduces a new higher duty allowance for airmen temporarily performing duties of a higher rank. This allowance is payable when certain conditions are met, such as the airman holding a rank lower than Warrant Officer, Flight Sergeant, or Sergeant, and performing duties ordinarily required to be performed by a member of a different mustering (Regulation 556j). The rates of this allowance are determined based on the difference between the airman's current pay and the pay they would receive if they held the higher rank (Regulation 556k). The legislation also outlines when this allowance is payable, including during periods of recreation leave, public holidays, or unit stand-down (Regulation 556j). Furthermore, the legislation imposes specific obligations and requirements on the parties or entities it governs. For example, it requires airmen who temporarily perform duties of a higher rank to be eligible for the higher duty allowance, provided they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the regulations. The legislation also outlines the circumstances under which the allowance is payable and the rates at which it is paid. Failure to comply with these obligations and requirements may result in the airmen not receiving the higher duty allowance to which they are entitled. Lastly, the legislation does not explicitly outline any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, failure to comply with the obligations and requirements imposed by the legislation may result in airmen not receiving the higher duty allowance to which they are entitled. This could potentially lead to dissatisfaction or grievances among affected airmen, which may need to be addressed through internal Air Force processes or dispute resolution mechanisms.

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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.