EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1985 NO. 77
ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
AIR FORCE REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
This Statutory Rule makes necessary amendments to the Air Force Regulations as a consequence of the repeal of the Air Force (Women’s Services) Regulations.
Regulation 1 of the Statutory Rule amends sub-regulation 4(1) of the Air Force Regulations by omitting the definitions of “aircraftwoman”, “airwoman” and “Women’s Service”.
Regulation 2 of the Statutory Rule amends regulation 50 of the Air Force Regulations by omitting sub-regulations (1) and (1A), which set out the ranks of officers, including those of female officers, and inserting a new sub-regulation (1) which does not refer to the female ranks. The effect of the amendment is to abolish separate ranks for female officers.
Regulation 3 of the Statutory Rule repeals regulation 72A of the Air Force Regulations which provides for the dismissal of female officers of the Women’s Services.
Regulation 4 of the Statutory Rule amends regulation 88 of the Air Force Regulations by substituting a new sub-regulation 88(1) which omits references to separate female ranks in the table of prescribed retiring ages.
Regulation 5 of the Statutory Rule amends regulation 414 of the Air Force Regulations by omitting sub-regulation 414(3) which provides for the reduction in rank of officers, warrant officers or non-commissioned officers of a Women’s Service.
The amendments have effect from the date of gazettal of the Statutory Rule.
Overview
The Air Force Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rule 1985 (F1997B00716) was enacted to address the obsolescence of the Air Force (Women’s Services) Regulations and to integrate the ranks and roles of female officers within the broader Air Force structure. This amendment was issued by the authority of the Minister for Defence and aims to ensure that the Air Force Regulations are consistent with contemporary gender equality standards. The amendments made by this Statutory Rule include the removal of definitions specific to female ranks and services, the abolition of separate ranks for female officers, the repeal of provisions relating to the dismissal of female officers, and adjustments to the table of prescribed retiring ages to eliminate gender-specific references. These changes were implemented to modernise the regulatory framework and reflect the integration of women into the Air Force on an equal footing with their male counterparts.
Scope and Application
The Air Force Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rule 1985 No. 77, issued under the authority of the Minister for Defence, amends the Air Force Regulations to reflect the repeal of the Air Force (Women’s Services) Regulations. This amendment applies to all members of the Australian Defence Force, particularly those who were previously part of the Women’s Services, by integrating female officers into the same rank structures as their male counterparts. The rule removes definitions and provisions specific to female officers, effectively abolishing separate ranks and standards for female officers. This change has a national reach as it pertains to the federal Australian Defence Force. The amendments made by this Statutory Rule have immediate effect from the date of gazettal and do not include specific exclusions or thresholds but rather consolidate the regulatory framework to remove gender-based distinctions within the ranks of the Air Force.
Key Provisions
The Air Force Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rule 1985 No. 77 brings about significant changes to the Air Force Regulations, primarily as a result of the repeal of the Air Force (Women’s Services) Regulations (Regulation 1). This amendment involves the removal of specific definitions such as “aircraftwoman”, “airwoman” and “Women’s Service” from sub-regulation 4(1) of the Air Force Regulations. The intention behind these changes is to align the terminology within the regulations with the current structure and nomenclature of the Air Force.
These amendments impose new obligations on the parties governed by the Air Force Regulations. For instance, Regulation 2 modifies regulation 50 by removing sub-regulations (1) and (1A) that detailed the ranks for female officers and introduces a new sub-regulation (1) that no longer distinguishes between male and female officer ranks. This effectively abolishes separate ranks for female officers and standardises the rank structure within the Air Force. Regulation 3 repeals regulation 72A, which previously governed the dismissal of female officers from the Women’s Services, thereby removing any specific provisions that pertained to female officers only. Similarly, Regulation 4 updates regulation 88 by altering sub-regulation 88(1) to eliminate references to separate female ranks in the prescribed table of retiring ages, ensuring a uniform retiring age policy across all ranks.
The Statutory Rule also addresses consequences for non-compliance with the new provisions. While the rule itself does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, it is understood that any failure to comply with the updated Air Force Regulations could lead to disciplinary actions or other administrative penalties as outlined in the broader legislative framework governing the Air Force. The amendments are designed to bring the regulations into conformity with the current operational standards and practices of the Air Force, ensuring that all personnel are governed by a unified set of rules. The amendments come into effect from the date of gazettal of the Statutory Rule, necessitating immediate compliance by all affected parties.