Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations (Amendment) 1997 No. 37
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1997 NO. 37
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel
Defence Act 1903
Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations (Amendment)
The Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations ("the Principal Regulations"), made under the Defence Act 1903, provide for the establishment and operation of the Army and Air Force Canteen Service on Army and Air Force establishments.
Following new command arrangements in the Defence Force, the Defence Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1997 ("the 1997 Act") amended the Defence Act to change the titles of the service chiefs, from Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff, to Chief of Navy, Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force, respectively. Consequential amendments were also made to references to the generic title "chief of staff' to change it to "service chief'. The 1997 Act also amended other Commonwealth Acts to change references to those titles. As the new generic title does not include the Chief of the Defence Force, specific reference to that title is included where necessary.
This Statutory Rule amends the Principal Regulations by changing references to the tides Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff, to Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force, respectively. The Statutory Rule also changes a reference to the generic title "chief of staff" to a reference to "service chief". In this context, there was no requirement to include the Chief of the Defence Force. In addition, the Statutory Rule makes a number of technical amendments to the Principal Regulations by replacing references to "a Army" with "an Army".
The Statutory Rule comes into operation on the date of gazettal.
Overview
The Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations (Amendment) 1997 No. 37, issued under the authority of the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel, amends the Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations made under the Defence Act 1903. The primary objective of this amendment is to reflect the new command arrangements within the Defence Force, as introduced by the Defence Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1997, which altered the titles of service chiefs. This amendment changes references to the former titles, such as Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff, to the new titles, Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force, respectively. Additionally, it updates the generic title "chief of staff" to "service chief" where applicable, ensuring consistency with the new command structure. The amendment also includes several technical corrections, such as replacing "a Army" with "an Army". These changes aim to align the regulations with the current nomenclature and command structure within the Defence Force, facilitating a smooth transition and maintaining operational efficiency.
Scope and Application
The Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations (Amendment) 1997 No. 37, issued under the authority of the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel, amends the Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations made under the Defence Act 1903. The Regulations apply to the operation of the Army and Air Force Canteen Service on Army and Air Force establishments. The amendment follows changes in command arrangements within the Defence Force, as enacted by the Defence Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1997. The amendment updates references from "Chief of the General Staff" and "Chief of the Air Staff" to "Chief of Army" and "Chief of Air Force", respectively, and changes references to the generic title "chief of staff" to "service chief". These amendments are specific to the service chiefs and do not include the Chief of the Defence Force. The Statutory Rule also includes technical amendments, such as correcting the article from "a Army" to "an Army". The amendment applies nationally across all Army and Air Force establishments, ensuring consistency with the new titles and terminology as per the Defence Act 1903 and related legislation. The Statutory Rule takes effect on the date of its gazettal.
Key Provisions
The main sections of the Army and Air Force Canteen Service Regulations (Amendment) 1997 No. 37 involve the updating of titles and terms within the Principal Regulations to reflect the changes brought about by the Defence Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1997. Specifically, section 2 of the Statutory Rule updates the titles from Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff to Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force, respectively. Similarly, section 3 updates the generic title from "chief of staff" to "service chief". These changes ensure that the terminology used in the regulations is consistent with the updated titles as stipulated in the 1997 Act. Additionally, section 4 makes technical amendments, such as correcting the term "a Army" to "an Army".
These amendments impose obligations on those administering the Army and Air Force Canteen Service to ensure that all references within the regulations and associated documents are updated to reflect the new titles and terminology. This includes reviewing existing policies, forms, and any other documentation to ensure they comply with the changes made by the Statutory Rule. The entities responsible for the canteen service must also ensure that their operations and communications align with these updated regulations.
Breaches of these regulations could potentially lead to legal consequences. While the Statutory Rule itself does not specify particular offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, any failure to adhere to updated regulations could result in disciplinary action, especially if it impacts the smooth operation of the canteen service. This could include internal Defence Force disciplinary measures, as well as potential implications for the administration and management of the canteen service. The precise nature and severity of any penalties would be determined based on the Defence Force's internal rules and policies, but it is clear that compliance is mandatory and essential for the continued proper functioning of the service.