Australian Military Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Defence

Legislation au F1997B00119 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Statutory Rules 1951, No. 56.(e)

Subdivisions of regulations.

1. Regulation 2 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the words and figures—

“ Division 3.—Australian Army Medical Corps........	554-550
Division 3a.—Australian Army Dental Corps.........	550a-550g
Division 4.—Australian Army Ordnance Corps.......	551-563
Division 4a.—Australian Army Pay Corps...........	563a-563c
Division 5.—Australian Army Veterinary Corps.......	564-574 ”

and inserting in their stead the words and figures—

“ Division 3.—Royal Australian Army Medical Corps....	544-550
Division 3a.—Royal Australian Army Dental Corps....	550a-550g
Division 4.—Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps...	551-563 ” ;

(b) by omitting the words and figures—

“ Division 8.—Australian Army Chaplains’ Department..

590-600 ”

and inserting in their stead the words and figures—

“ Division 8.—Royal Australian Army Chaplains’ Department

590-600 ” ;

“ Division 10.—Australian Survey Corps............

603-605 ”

and inserting in their stead the words and figures—

“ Division 10.—Royal Australian Survey Corps........

603-605 ” ; and

(d) by omitting the words and figures—

“ Division 12a.—Australian Army Provost Corps.......

609a ”.

2. After regulation 71 of the Australian Military Regulations the following regulation is inserted :—

Prescribed corps.

“ 71a. Subject to these Regulations, a person who is a person within a class of persons specified in sub-section (2.) of section 148 of the Defence Act may, on the recommendation of the Military Board, be appointed as an officer in the Australian Regular Army in one of the following corps:—

The Australian Staff Corps ;

The Royal Australian Survey Corps ;

The Australian Intelligence Corps ;

The Royal Australian Army Chaplains’ Department ;

(e) Made under the Defence Act 1903-1950 on 15th June, 1951 ; notified in Gazette on 18th June, 951.

The Royal Australian Army Service Corps ;

The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps ;

The Royal Australian Army Dental Corps ;

The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps ;

The Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ;

The Australian Army Educational Corps ;

The Australian Army Catering Corps ;

The Royal Australian Army Pay Corps ;

The Australian Army Legal Corps ;

The Royal Australian Army Provost Corps ;

The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps ; and

The Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps.”.

Constitution.

3. Regulation 535 of the Australian Military Regulations is repealed.

Appointment of staff cadets.

4. Regulation 536 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by inserting after the word “ Corps ” the words “ or any other corps of the Australian Regular Army approved for the purpose by the Military Board ”.

Allotment for duty.

5. Regulation 538 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ the Royal Australian Artillery Regiment, the Royal Australian Engineers, the Australian Army Service Corps (Permanent) ” and inserting in their stead the words “ the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, the Royal Australian Artillery, the Royal Australian Engineers, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, the Royal Australian Army Service Corps ”.

Heading to Division 3, Part VII.

6. The heading to Division 3 of Part VII., of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS ” and inserting in their stead the words “ ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS ”.

Composition of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps.

7. Regulation 543a of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ There shall be an Australian Army Medical Corps, which ” and inserting in their stead the words “ The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps ”.

Amendment of certain regulations.

8. Regulations 5-14, 545, 546, 546b, 547 and 548 of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Medical Corps ” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Medical Corps ”.

Women who are officers.

9. Regulation 548a of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Medical Corps ” and the words “ Australian Army Nursing Service ” and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Medical Corps ” and the words “ Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps ”, respectively.

Amendment of sub-heading.

10. The sub-heading preceding regulation 549 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Medical Corps ” and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Medical Corps ”.

Amendment of regulations 549 and 550.

11. Regulations 549 and 550 of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Medical Corps ” and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Medical Corps ”.

Heading to Division 3a of Part VII.

12. The heading to Division 3a of Part VII. of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the heading “ AUSTRALIAN ARMY DENTAL CORPS ” and inserting in its stead the heading “ ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY DENTAL CORPS ”.

Composition of Royal Australian Army Dental Corps.

13. Regulation 550a of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ There shall be an Australian Army Dental Corps, which ” and inserting in their stead the words “ The Royal Australian Army Dental Corps ”.

Amendment of certain regulations.

14. Regulations 550b, 550c, 550cc, 550d and 550e of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Dental Corps ” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Dental Corps ”.

Amendment of sub-heading.

15. The sub-heading preceding regulation 550f of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the wards “ Australian Army Dental Corps ” and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Dental Corps ”.

Amendment of regulations 550f and 550a.

16. Regulations 550f and 550g of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Dental Corps ” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Dental Corps ”.

Heading to Division 4, Part vii.

17. The heading to Division 4 of Part VII. of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ AUSTRALIAN ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS ” and inserting in their stead the words “ ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS ”.

Composition of Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps.

18. Regulation 551 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ There shall be an Australian Army Ordnance Corps which ” and inserting in their stead the words “ The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps ”.

Amendment of sub-headings.

19. The sub-headings preceding regulations 552, 559 and 563aa of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Ordnance Corps ” and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps ”.

Amendment of certain sub-regulations.

20. Regulations 552, 553, 554, 557, 559, 560, 561, 563 and 563aa of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Ordnance Corps ” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps ”.

Repeal.

21. Divisions 4a and 5 of Part VII. of the Australian Military Regulations are repealed.

Composition of Australian Army Legal Corps.

22. Regulation 576 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “ There shall be an Australian Army Legal Corps, consisting ” and inserting in their stead the words “The Australian Army Legal Corps shall consist ”.

5265.—10

Heading to Division 8, Part VII.

23. The heading to Division 8 of Part VII. of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ AUSTRALIAN ARMY CHAPLAINS’ DEPARTMENT ” and inserting in their stead the words “ ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY CHAPLAINS’ DEPARTMENT ”.

Amendment of regulations 590 and 591.

24. Regulations 590 and 591 of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Army Chaplains’ Department ” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Army Chaplains’ Department ”.

Repeal.

25. Regulation 601 of the Australian Military Regulations is repealed.

Heading to Division 10, Part VII.

26. The heading to Division 10 of Part VII. of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ AUSTRALIAN SURVEY CORPS ” and inserting in their stead the words “ ROYAL AUSTRALIAN SURVEY CORPS ”.

Amendment of certain regulations.

27. Regulations 603, 604, 605 and 605a of the Australian Military Regulations are amended by omitting the words “ Australian Survey Corps ” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “ Royal Australian Survey Corps ”.

Repeal.

28. Division 12a of Part VII. of the Australian Military Regulations is repealed.

Overview

The Australian Military Regulations, 1951, were introduced to address the need for a comprehensive and updated set of regulations governing the Australian Regular Army. Enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament under the authority of the Defence Act 1903-1950, this legislative instrument aims to provide a structured and authoritative framework for the management and operation of various corps within the Australian Regular Army. It seeks to clarify and formalise the roles, responsibilities, and hierarchies within the military, ensuring that all personnel are governed by a consistent and coherent set of rules. The regulations cover the composition, duties, and administrative processes for different corps, including the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps, and the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, among others.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1951, No. 56 amends various divisions of the Australian Military Regulations, primarily focusing on renaming and restructuring certain military corps within the Australian Defence Force. The amendments update the nomenclature of several Australian Army corps, changing their titles to include "Royal Australian" in their names, thereby reflecting their royal affiliations and status. The changes apply to the Australian Staff Corps, the Royal Australian Survey Corps, the Australian Intelligence Corps, the Royal Australian Army Chaplains’ Department, the Royal Australian Army Service Corps, the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps, the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, the Australian Army Educational Corps, the Australian Army Catering Corps, the Royal Australian Army Pay Corps, the Australian Army Legal Corps, the Royal Australian Army Provost Corps, the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps, and the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps. These amendments are applicable to all personnel within the specified corps, ensuring that the updated titles are reflected in all relevant documentation and communications. The amendments also include the repeal of certain divisions and regulations that pertain to now defunct or restructured corps. These changes are made under the authority of the Defence Act 1903-1950 and are intended to align the military regulations with the current structure and nomenclature of the Australian Defence Force.

Key Provisions

The legislative instrument amends the Australian Military Regulations, primarily by renaming certain divisions and corps within the Australian Regular Army. Specifically, it changes the names of several corps from "Australian" to "Royal Australian" where appropriate. For example, it replaces "Australian Army Medical Corps" with "Royal Australian Army Medical Corps" and "Australian Army Dental Corps" with "Royal Australian Army Dental Corps". The instrument also renames divisions and updates references to these new names throughout the regulations. Moreover, it inserts a new regulation allowing appointments to specific corps, subject to Military Board recommendations, and amends other regulations to align with these changes. Additionally, it repeals certain divisions and regulations that are no longer applicable, such as Division 4a and Division 12a. The obligations imposed by these changes are primarily administrative and require updates to the Australian Military Regulations to reflect the new names and structures of the corps and divisions. These updates are necessary to ensure that all references within the regulations are consistent and up-to-date, avoiding any confusion or legal ambiguity. Personnel within the Australian Regular Army and those responsible for enforcing the regulations must ensure that these changes are correctly implemented and that all documentation, training materials, and procedures are updated accordingly. There are no specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences outlined in this legislative instrument for failing to comply with these changes. However, non-compliance with updated regulations could potentially lead to administrative issues, such as misidentification of corps or divisions, which could affect the operational efficiency and legal standing of military personnel and activities. Ensuring that all changes are correctly implemented is essential to maintain the integrity and functionality of the Australian Regular Army's structure.

Area of Law: Military Law
Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Repeal & Amendment; Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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