Air Force Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1984 No. 151, issued under the authority of the Minister for Defence, amends the Air Force Regulations to address discrepancies in travel allowance rates between members of the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Public Service. Enacted in 1984, these rules were introduced to ensure parity in travel allowances, reflecting recent increases granted to public service employees. This amendment is a direct consequence of Section 12 of the Defence Amendment Act 1979, which empowers the Minister to make interim determinations to amend or repeal regulations. The policy objective behind these amendments is to maintain equitable compensation standards across different sectors of public service, ensuring that Defence personnel receive fair and commensurate allowances for their authorised travel.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1984 No. 151, issued under the authority of the Minister for Defence, amends Regulation 579 of the Air Force Regulations concerning the payment of travelling allowances to members of the Australian Defence Force who undertake authorised journeys. This amendment specifically adjusts the rates of allowance payable to align with recent increases granted to members of the Australian Public Service. The Act applies to members of the Australian Defence Force who are eligible for travelling allowance under the specified regulations. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of these rules is limited to the Commonwealth, as they pertain to Defence Force personnel and their entitlements. The rules do not specify any exclusions or exemptions, and their application is directly through the statutory amendment without the need for further subordinate instruments. The increased allowance rates are effective from 1 May 1984, ensuring that eligible Air Force members receive updated compensation for authorised travel from that date.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1984 No. 151 are those that amend the Air Force Regulations. Specifically, section 2 of the Statutory Rules focuses on Regulation 579, which pertains to the payment of travelling allowance to members of the Air Force undertaking authorised journeys (Reg 579). The amendment increases the rates at which this allowance is payable, aligning them with the recent increases granted to members of the Australian Public Service. This change ensures that Air Force members receive a travelling allowance commensurate with their public service counterparts. The obligations and requirements imposed by these Statutory Rules primarily concern the Department of Defence and Air Force members. The Department is required to implement the increased rates of travelling allowance as stipulated in the amended Regulation 579, ensuring that all eligible Air Force members are compensated appropriately for their authorised journeys. Air Force members must continue to meet the criteria for eligibility for the travelling allowance and ensure that all claims are substantiated and submitted in accordance with existing Defence Force regulations. Under these Statutory Rules, there are no explicit offences or penalties outlined for breaches of the amended Regulation 579. However, any failure to comply with the Defence Force regulations in general, including improper claims or fraudulent submissions of the travelling allowance, could lead to disciplinary actions under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982. Such actions might include fines, demotion, or other administrative penalties. Additionally, any misrepresentation or fraudulent behaviour could result in civil or criminal liability, depending on the severity and intent behind the breach.