Air Force Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1973 No. 96 are regulations made under the Air Force Act 1923-1965, and they were enacted to revise the pay rates for airmen apprentices within the Royal Australian Air Force. These regulations were issued by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and they address the need to update the remuneration for airmen apprentices to reflect changes in economic conditions and to provide a structured system of pay increments based on good conduct. This legislative instrument aims to ensure that the compensation provided to airmen apprentices is fair and reflective of their service duration and performance, thereby maintaining the motivation and morale within the air force.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1973 No. 96, which are Regulations under the Air Force Act 1923-1965, pertain to the amendments in the pay scales for airmen apprentices and the introduction of good conduct increments for certain personnel within the Australian Air Force. The amendments apply to airmen apprentices undergoing their training on or after 18th May 1972, and specifically address their rates of pay for different stages of training. Additionally, these Regulations introduce good conduct increments for airwomen of the Permanent Air Force who are serving in musterings other than aircrew musterings and hold the rank of corporal or lower, with such increments being payable from 1st January 1972 onwards. This legislation does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions and applies within the Commonwealth of Australia, governing the remuneration and conditions of service for airmen apprentices and eligible airwomen in the Air Force. The scope and application of these regulations are directly tied to the Air Force Act 1923-1965 and may be further refined or extended through subsequent subordinate instruments as deemed necessary.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Air Force Act 1923-1965 primarily amend the existing Air Force Regulations to revise pay scales and increment conditions for airmen apprentices and permanent air force members. Regulation 551 (1) introduces new daily pay rates for airmen apprentices during their training years, replacing the previous scale (regulation 1). These rates are to be applied from 18 May 1972 onwards. Regulation 549b (4) and regulation 552 (4) are omitted, and regulation 552 is repealed and replaced with a new provision that specifies good conduct increments for airwomen of the Permanent Air Force who are not in aircrew musterings and hold the rank of corporal or below (regulation 3). The new increments are payable after five and ten years of service, at a rate of fourteen cents per day each (regulation 552 (2)). The amended Regulations impose specific obligations on airmen apprentices and permanent air force members. Airmen apprentices must now receive the updated pay rates during their training period, as specified in regulation 551 (1). Airmen of the Permanent Air Force serving in a mustering other than an aircrew mustering and holding the rank of corporal or a lower rank must be eligible for good conduct increments after completing five and ten years of service, as outlined in regulation 552. These increments are payable from 1 January 1972 onwards, as per regulation 7. Breaches of the Regulations may not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences within the text provided. However, the Air Force Act 1923-1965, under which these Regulations are made, may have provisions that address non-compliance with such legislative instruments. Typically, breaches of military regulations could result in disciplinary action, fines, or other penalties as determined by the relevant military authority.