Australian Military Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Defence

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STATUTORY RULES

1969 No.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1966.*

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 1903-1966.

Dated this thirtieth day of June, 1969.

Paul Hasluck

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Sgd. Phillip Lynch

Minister of State for the Army.

Amendments of the Australian Military Regulations†

Commencement.

1. These Regulations shall come into operation on the first day of July, 1969.

Qualifications for appointment as officer.

2. Regulation 72 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“ (b) an officer of the Military Forces included on the Administrative and Technical Officers List of a Corps,”.

Administrative and Technical Officers List.

3. Regulation 73 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting the words “ the Quartermaster List ” and inserting in their stead the words “ the Administrative and Technical Officers List ”.

Promotion of officers.

4. Regulation 79 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) all the words before the word “ officer ” (first occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “ Except as provided by the next three succeeding regulations, where the Military Board determines that an ”;

(b) by omitting paragraphs (e) and (f) of sub-regulation (7.) and inserting in their stead the following paragraphs:—

“ (e) an officer serving in the Australian Engineer and Railway Staff Corps;

(f) an officer serving in the Australian Army Band Corps; or

(g) an officer included on the Administrative and Technical Officers List of a Corps.”; and

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1969.

† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 149 as amended to date. For previous amendments of the Australian Military Regulations, see footnote † Statutory Rules 1969, No. 76, and see also Statutory Rules 1969, Nos. 76.

17553/69—Price 8c 10/13.6.1969

“ (8.) An officer—

(a) serving in the Australian Army Band Corps; or

(b) included on the Administrative and Technical Officers List of a Corps,

is not eligible for promotion to a higher rank unless he has been selected for promotion to that rank by the officers appointed by the Adjutant-General for the purpose of considering and selecting persons serving in that Corps or included on such a list for promotion.”.

Ages for retirement of officers.

5. Regulation 124 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (1.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulations:—

“ (1.) Subject to this regulation, the age for the compulsory retirement of an officer, for the purpose of section 27 of the Act, is the age set out in the following table in relation to his rank and the name of his corps, service or department:—

Corps, Service or Department.	Rank
Corps, Service or Department.	General or Lieutenant-General	Major-General	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant-Colonel	Major	Captain	Lieutenant	Second-Lieutenant
The Australian Staff Corps....................	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Royal Australian Armoured Corps............	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery........	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Royal Australian Engineers................	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Royal Australian Corps of Signals............	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Royal Australian Infantry Corps.............	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Australian Army Aviation Corps.............	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Australian Intelligence Corps...............	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Royal Australian Army Service Corps (other than the Australian Army Canteen Service)	60	57	55	55	50	47	47	47	47
The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (other than the Australian Army Printing and Stationery Service)	..	..	57	57	53	50	50	50	50
The Royal Corps, of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	..	..	57	57	53	50	50	50	50
The Royal Australian Army Provost Corps.........	..	..	57	57	53	50	50	50	50
The Royal Australian Survey Corps..............	..	60	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Royal Australian Army Chaplains’ Department...	..	60	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Australian Army Canteen Service............	..	..	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps.........	..	60	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Royal Australian Army Dental Corps..........	..	..	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Royal Australian Army Educational Corps......	..	..	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Australian Army Catering Corps.............	..	..	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Royal Australian Army Pay Corps............	..	..	57	57	35	55	55	55	55
The Australian Army Legal Corps...............	..	..	57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Australian Army Printing and Stationery Service..			57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Australian Army Psychology Corps...........			57	57	55	55	55	55	55
The Australian Army Band Corps...............	..	..	55	55	55	55	55	55	55
The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps.........	..	..	55	55	55	55	55	55	55
The Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps........	..	..	55	55	55	55	50	50	50

“ (1a.) For the purpose of section 27 of the Act, the age for the compulsory retirement of an officer who is included on the Administrative and Technical Officers List of a Corps is, subject to the succeeding sub regulations of this regulation, the age of fifty-five years.”.

Transitional.

6. The Quartermaster List of a Corps kept immediately before the commencement of these Regulations shall be incorporated with, and shall be deemed to form part of, the Administrative and Technical Officers List of the Corps.

Printed for the Government of the Commonwealth by W. G. Murray at the
Government Printing Office, Canberra

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1969 No. 76, enacted under the Defence Act 1903-1966, were introduced to amend the Australian Military Regulations, which provide for the organisation, discipline, and administration of the Australian Military Forces. These Regulations were made by the Governor-General in Council under the authority of the Defence Act and were published in the Commonwealth Gazette on 10 July 1969. The policy objective was to update the qualifications and procedures for the appointment, promotion, and retirement of military officers to better align with the evolving structure and needs of the Australian Defence Force. The Regulations made specific changes to the qualifications for officer appointments, the process for officer promotions, and the ages for compulsory retirement, with a focus on officers in administrative and technical roles.

Scope and Application

The Regulations Under the Defence Act 1903-1966, made by the Governor-General on 30 June 1969, amend the Australian Military Regulations to bring about changes in the qualifications for appointment as an officer, the lists applicable to officers, and the promotion and retirement ages of officers within the Military Forces. These regulations apply to officers of the Military Forces and are intended to ensure that they meet specific qualifications and adhere to particular criteria for promotion and retirement. The regulations also encompass the transition of the Quartermaster List to the Administrative and Technical Officers List. These amendments extend to the Commonwealth of Australia and may be further regulated or restricted through subordinate instruments issued under the authority of the Defence Act 1903-1966.

Key Provisions

These Regulations, which come into operation on 1 July 1969, amend the Australian Military Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1966. Key changes include modifications to the qualifications for officer appointments, the promotion criteria for certain officers, and the retirement ages for officers in various corps and services within the Military Forces. Specifically, Regulation 2 amends Regulation 72 by specifying that an officer must be included on the Administrative and Technical Officers List of a Corps to be eligible for appointment. Regulation 3 updates Regulation 73 to replace references to the Quartermaster List with the Administrative and Technical Officers List. Regulation 4 modifies Regulation 79 to detail exceptions to the general promotion criteria, including officers from the Australian Engineer and Railway Staff Corps, the Australian Army Band Corps, and those on the Administrative and Technical Officers List. It also introduces new eligibility criteria for promotion for officers in the Australian Army Band Corps and those on the Administrative and Technical Officers List. These amendments impose specific obligations on parties involved in the appointment and promotion of officers. Officers must now meet the updated criteria for inclusion on the Administrative and Technical Officers List to be eligible for appointment. Promotion criteria have also been clarified, particularly for officers in the Australian Army Band Corps and those on the Administrative and Technical Officers List, who must be selected for promotion by officers appointed by the Adjutant-General. Additionally, these Regulations set out specific retirement ages for officers based on their rank and corps, service, or department, ensuring a structured and consistent approach to retirement within the Military Forces. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences detailed in these Regulations. However, non-compliance with the stipulated criteria for officer appointments and promotions could potentially lead to administrative reviews or disciplinary actions within the Military Forces. The Regulations themselves do not specify maximum penalties for breaches, implying that any resultant disciplinary measures would be governed by the broader framework of military law and regulations.

Area of Law: Military Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Commencement Provisions; Qualifications for appointment as officer; Promotion of officers; Ages for retirement of officers

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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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