Australian Military Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Defence

Legislation au F1997B00075 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1943. No. 219.

_______

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1941.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1941.

Dated this first day of September , 1943.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Minister of State for the Army.

_______

Amendments of the Australian Military Regulations.†

Subdivision of Regulations.

1. Regulation 2 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by inserting after the words and figures—

“Division 3.—Australian Army Medical Corps……544-550”

the words and figures—

“Division 3a.—Australian Army Dental Corps……..550a-550g”.

2. After regulation 54 of the Australian Military Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Dental officers.

“54a. An officer of the Australian Army Dental Corps shall not be entitled to the presidency of courts-martial or courts of inquiry or boards, or to exercise any military command outside his Corps except over officers and soldiers attached thereto for duty or specially placed under his command.”.

Quartermasters P.M.F.

3. Regulation 56 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by inserting in sub-regulation (2), after the words “Australian Army Medical Corps,”, the words “the Australian Army Dental Corps,”.

 

*Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on                          ,1943.

† .Statutory Rules 1927, No. 149, as amended by Statutory Rules 1928, Nos. 23, 28 and 126; 1929, No. 123; 1930, Nos. 26, 67 and 92; 1931, No. 13, 1932, Nos. 80, 87 and 125; 1933, Nos. 19 and 77; 1934, Nos. 26 and 80; 1935, Nos. 99 and 109; 1936, Nos. 21, 44 and 100; 1937, No. 45; 1938, Nos. 75, 90 and 93; 1939. Nos. 31, 51. 58, 115, 123, 134, 160 and 173; 1940, Nos. 2, 16, 29, 59, 150, 183, 184, 185, 186, 199, 237, 252, 272 and 273; 1941, Nos. 3, 4, 14, 43, 135, 153, 155, 205, 215, 246, 263 and 311; 1942, Nos. 35, 59, 60, 85, 114, 166, 179, 211, 231, 289, 333, 334, 330, 417, 477, 506, 508, 521, 522, 555 and 556; and 1943, Nos. 17, 72, 126 and 174

4675.—Price 3d.         26/30.7.1943.


Precedence of Corps.

4. Regulation 68 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by inserting in sub-regulation (1), after the words “The Australian Army Medical Corps”, the words “The Australian Army Dental Corps,”.

Eligibility for examination for promotion in Citizen Forces.

5. Regulation 88 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by inserting in sub-regulation (3) after the words “Australian Army Medical Corps,” the words “of the Australian Army Dental Corps,”.

Transfer to R. of O.

6. Regulation 120 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended—

(a) by inserting in paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1), after the words “Australian Army Medical Corps,”, the words “the Australian Army Dental Corps,”; and

(b) by inserting in paragraph (b) of sub-regulation. (2), after the words “Australian Army Medical Corps,” the words “the Australian Army Dental Corps,”.

Power of company, &c., commander.

7. Regulation 260 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended—

(a) by inserting in sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1), after the word “drunkenness”, the words “, when not on active service,”; and

(b) by adding, at the end of that sub-paragraph, the words “or, when on active service, not exceeding Three pounds.”.

Competent military authorities commitment.

8. Regulation 353 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-paragraph (v) of sub-regulation (1) the word “and”; and

(b) by adding, at the end of that sub-regulation, the following sub-paragraph:—

“(vii) the Commandant of the military prison or detention barracks in which the military prisoner or soldier under sentence of detention is confined; and”.

Dentists.

9. Regulation 546a of the Australian Military Regulations is repealed.

Positions and ranks.

10. Regulation 549 Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Senior Dental Surgeon …….Captain” and “Dental Surgeons……Captain or Lieutenant”.

11. After regulation 550 of the Australian Military Regulations the following heading and regulations are inserted:—

“DIVISION 3A.—AUSTRALIAN ARMY DENTAL CORPS.

(Citizen Forces.)

Constitution of Australian Army Dental Corps.

“550a. There shall be an Australian Army Dental Corps, which shall constitute a corps of the Citizen Forces and shall consist of officers and soldiers appointed to that Corps, or transferred to or seconded for duty with that Corps, from other portions of the Military Forces.

Eligibility for appointment.

“550b. A person shall not be appointed as an officer of the Australian Army Dental Corps unless he is legally qualified in a State or Territory of the Commonwealth to practise as a dentist or dental surgeon.


First appointment.

“550c. First appointment to commissioned rank in the Australian Army Dental Corps shall be to the rank of Captain, provisionally.

Examinations.

“550d. The syllabus and scope of the examinations for appointment and promotion in the Australian Army Dental Corps shall be as approved by the Military Board.

Allotment for duty.

“550e. Officers of the Australian Army Dental Corps may be allotted for duty with units and stalls of the Military Forces.

“Reserve or Officers—Australian Army Dental Corps.

Appointment to R. of O.

“550f. Any person, qualified under A.M.R. 120 (2), who is competent to perform the duties of an appointment specified in the following table may be appointed an officer of the Reserve of Officers, Australian Army Dental Corps, and may be granted the honorary rank shown in the table opposite that appointment:—

Appointment in Australian Army Dental Corps.

Honorary Rank.

Consultant..............................

Senior Dental Surgeon......................

Dental Surgeon...........................

Colonel or Lieutenant-Colonel

Major

Captain

Duties of officers of R. of O., A.A.D.C.

“550g. Officers of the Reserve of Officers, Australian Army Dental Corps may be employed for dental duties as approved from time to time by the Military Board.”.

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By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules of 1943, No. 219, issued under the Defence Act 1903-1941, introduce significant amendments to the Australian Military Regulations to formally establish the Australian Army Dental Corps. These regulations, made by the Governor-General with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, aim to address the need for a dedicated dental service within the military framework. The policy objective behind these amendments is to provide a structured and legally recognized role for dental officers within the Citizen Forces, ensuring that they are appropriately qualified and their duties clearly defined. This includes establishing eligibility criteria for appointments, defining the scope of their duties, and specifying their precedence and powers, thus integrating dental services into the broader military organisational structure.

Scope and Application

The Australian Military Regulations, as amended by the legislative instrument F1997B00075, pertain to the establishment and regulation of the Australian Army Dental Corps within the Australian Defence Force. This legislation applies to individuals and entities involved in the Australian Defence Force, specifically targeting personnel within the Australian Army Dental Corps. It sets out the qualifications, ranks, duties, and conditions of service for dental officers within the Australian Defence Force. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, as it applies across all states and territories of Australia within the scope of the Defence Act 1903-1941. There are no explicit exclusions or thresholds mentioned in the text, though the specific qualifications for dental officers imply a professional standard must be met. The Regulations extend and detail the application of the Defence Act through subordinate instruments by providing specific rules and amendments to existing regulations concerning the Australian Army Dental Corps.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1941 amend the Australian Military Regulations (AMR) to establish the Australian Army Dental Corps as a distinct entity within the Citizen Forces. Regulation 2 introduces Division 3a, titled "Australian Army Dental Corps" (AMR 550a-550g). Regulation 54a specifies that officers of the Australian Army Dental Corps are not entitled to the presidency of courts-martial or courts of inquiry or boards, nor can they exercise military command outside their Corps, except over officers and soldiers attached to or specially placed under their command. Regulation 56, dealing with Quartermasters, is amended to include the Australian Army Dental Corps alongside the Australian Army Medical Corps (AMR 56(2)). Regulation 68 adjusts the precedence of Corps to include the Australian Army Dental Corps (AMR 68(1)). Eligibility for examination for promotion in the Citizen Forces is extended to the Australian Army Dental Corps by Regulation 88 (AMR 88(3)). Transfers to the Reserve of Officers are amended to include the Australian Army Dental Corps by Regulation 120 (AMR 120(1)(b) and (2)(b)). Regulation 260 modifies the penalty for drunkenness, limiting it to three pounds when on active service (AMR 260(1)(b)). Regulation 353 adds the Commandant of the military prison or detention barracks as a competent military authority (AMR 353(1)(vii)). Regulation 546a is repealed, and Regulation 549 adjusts the positions and ranks within the Australian Army Dental Corps by removing references to "Senior Dental Surgeon" and "Dental Surgeons" (AMR 549). These Regulations impose specific obligations on the Australian Army Dental Corps, including qualifications for appointment, examination requirements, and the scope of duties. To be appointed as an officer of the Australian Army Dental Corps, a person must be legally qualified in a State or Territory of the Commonwealth to practise as a dentist or dental surgeon (AMR 550b). Appointments to commissioned ranks must be to the rank of Captain, provisionally (AMR 550c). Examinations for appointment and promotion must follow a syllabus and scope approved by the Military Board (AMR 550d). Officers of the Australian Army Dental Corps may be allotted for duty with units and stalls of the Military Forces (AMR 550e). The Regulations also detail the honorary ranks for officers of the Reserve of Officers, Australian Army Dental Corps, and specify that these officers may be employed for dental duties as approved by the Military Board (AMR 550f and 550g). The Regulations do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, breaches of the Defence Act 1903-1941 and associated regulations can result in civil or criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach and other relevant legislation. The maximum penalties would be determined by the specific provisions of the Defence Act and any other applicable laws.

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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.