Antarctic Medal Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations 1997, enacted under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, were introduced to amend the existing Antarctic Medal regulations to reflect changes in the designation and style of the award. This was achieved through Letters Patent dated 2 June 1987, which established the Antarctic Medal to recognise outstanding service in connection with Australian Antarctic expeditions. The need for these amendments arose from the desire to update the medal's title to the Australian Antarctic Medal and to provide for the designation of medal holders, ensuring that recipients could have the letters "AAM" placed after their names on appropriate occasions. These regulations were issued under the authority of the Governor-General and aim to streamline the administration of the award by establishing a Registrar who maintains a Register of award recipients, and outlining the process for the cancellation and reinstatement of the medal.

Scope and Application

The Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations, as amended by Letters Patent dated 18 December 1997, apply to the Australian Antarctic Medal, which recognises individuals who render outstanding service in connection with Australian Antarctic expeditions. The Act applies to any person awarded the Australian Antarctic Medal, as well as the Registrar who maintains the Register of the names of recipients. The geographic scope of the Act is national, as it pertains to Australian Antarctic expeditions and the award of the Australian Antarctic Medal by the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act does not explicitly outline exclusions or thresholds for eligibility, but it does provide provisions for the cancellation and reinstatement of awards. The application of the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments issued by the Governor-General.

Key Provisions

The Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations (C2010Q00051) amend the existing Antarctic Medal regulations to change the name from the Antarctic Medal to the Australian Antarctic Medal. The Regulations include the short title of the amended legislation and redefine the term “Medal” to include any clasps to the Medal. The Regulations also provide for the designation of the holder of the Medal and establish a Registrar to maintain a register of awardees. The Regulations allow the Governor-General to cancel or restore an award, with the corresponding entries in the Register to be adjusted accordingly. The Regulations impose several obligations on the parties governed by them. The Registrar, appointed by the Governor-General, must maintain a register of awardees and keep any additional records directed by the Governor-General. Recipients of the Australian Antarctic Medal awarded after 2 June 1987 are entitled to have the letters ‘AAM’ placed after their names on all occasions when such use is customary. The Governor-General has the authority to cancel or restore awards of the Medal, which involves the erasure or reinstatement of the awardee’s name in the Register and the return or re-issuance of the Medal. Under the Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations, there are no explicit offences or penalties mentioned for breaches of the Regulations. However, failure to comply with the obligations set forth, such as the Registrar not maintaining the Register or not following the directions of the Governor-General, may lead to administrative consequences. Additionally, if a Medal is not returned to the Registrar upon the cancellation of an award, it may be considered non-compliance with the Regulations, although specific penalties are not outlined in the text. The potential consequences would depend on the context and severity of the breach.