EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1985 NO.170
ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AIR FORCE REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Air Force Regulations (“the Regulations”), made under the Act, provide for the organization and administration of the Air Force, including provisions prescribing retiring ages for officers.
Background
Regulation 88 of the Regulations prescribes the retiring ages for officers in the Air Force. Formerly, sub-regulation 88(2) provided that, in special cases, the Minister for Defence could, in the interests of the Air Force, extend an officer’s retiring age for up to 2 years.
Circumstances occasionally arise where an officer of particular value to the Air Force cannot be immediately replaced, even with a two year extension of that officer’s retiring age. Specialist legal and medical practitioners serving in the Air Force Specialist Reserve are among the classes of officers concerned.
Accordingly, it was proposed to allow the extension of an officer’s retiring age, other than that of an officer in the Permanent Air Force, up to an age not exceeding 60 years in place of the normal retiring age of 55. In the case of Permanent Air Force officers, the maximum available extension of retiring age remains 2 years.
Amendment of the Air Force Regulations
The Statutory Rule amends sub-regulation 88(2) of the Regulations to provide that, in the case of Permanent Air Force officers, the Minister may extend retiring ages for a period not exceeding 2 years, and in other cases, to an age not exceeding 60 years.
Commencement
The Statutory Rule comes into operation on the date of gazettal.