Australian Military Regulations (Amendment)

Administered by Department of Defence

Legislation au F1997B00128 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1954. No. 113.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1953.*

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 1903-1953.

Dated this twelfth day of November, 1954.

W. J. SLIM

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

(Sgd) JOS FRANCIS

Minister of State for the Army.

AMENDMENTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MILITARY REGULATIONS.

Sub-division of Regulations.

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

“Division 12.—Provost Staff

608-609”

the words and figures—

 

“Division 12A.—Australian Army Psychology

Corps  .. .. .. .. 

609A-609G”.

Definitions.

2. Regulation 3 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting from the definition of “Formation, &c., commander” the words “not below the rank of colonel”.

 

3. Regulation 81 of the Australian Military Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Provisional promotions under section 21 of the Defence Act.

“81. Where an officer is provisionally promoted under sub-section (2.) of section 21 of the Defence Act by reason that he has had no opportunity of passing the prescribed examination, the provisional promotion is subject to his passing the prescribed examination—

(a) in a case to which a succeeding paragraph of this regulation does not apply—within a period of three years after the date of the provisional promotion;

(b) in a case where a time of war exists at the date of the provisional promotion or comes into existence within a period of three years after the date of the provisional promotion

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on                                , 1954.

† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 149, as amended by Statutory Rules 1928, Nos. 23, 28 and 126; 1929, No. 123; 1930, Nos. 26, 27, 67 and 92; 1931, No. 13; 1932, Nos. 80, 87 and 125; 1933, Nos. 49 and 77; 1934, Nos. 20 and 80; 1935, Nos. 99 and 109; 1935, Nos. 21, 40 and 100; 1937, No, 45; 1938, Nos. 75, 90 and 98; 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, 245, 246, 260 and 311; 1942, Nos. 35, 59, 60, 85, 114, 166, 179, 211, 231, 289, 333, 334, 350, 417, 477, 506, 508, 521, 522, 555 and 556; 1943, Nos. 17, 72, 126, 174, 199, 200, 219, 244, 245, 246, 249 and 258; 1944, Nos. 1, 39, 69, 71, 72, 114, 120, 122, 154 and 164; 1945, Nos. 6, 19, 38, 42, 68, 94, 111, 141 and 195; 1946, Nos. 72, 113, 114, 116 and 150; 1947, Nos. 25 and 59; 1948, Nos. 40, 59, 65 and 70; 1949, Nos. 55 and 68; 1950, Nos. 10, 21, 29, 64 and 65; 1951, Nos. 20, 56, 125, 149 and 152; 1952, Nos. 8, 60, 68 and 69; and 1953, No. 87.

3036.—PRICE 5D. 10/13.8.1954.


—within such period, not exceeding a. period of three years, after the cessation of the time of war as the Military Board determines; and

(c) in a case to which the last preceding paragraph, does not apply but where, at the date of the provisional promotion, the officer was serving on active service outside Australia or, within a period of three years after the date of the provisional promotion, the officer commenced to serve on active service outside Australia—within such period after the date of the provisional promotion as the Military Board determines.”.

Eligibility for promotion in Citizen Forces.

4. Regulation 88 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the words “to be examined”.

Transfer and appointment to Reserve of Officers.

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

(a) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1) the words “or the Australian Army Legal Corps” and inserting in their stead the words “, the Australian Army Legal Corps or the Australian Army Psychology Corps”; and

(b) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (2) the words “or the Australian Army Legal Corps” and inserting in their stead the words “, the Australian Army Legal Corps or the Australian Army Psychology Corps”.

Ages for retirement of officers.

6. Regulation 124 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by inserting in paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1), after the words “The Australian Army Legal Corps”, the words “, The Australian Army Psychology Corps”.

Retired list and military title after retirement.

7. Regulation 125 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (2) the words “A lieutenant-colonel” and inserting in their stead the words “A colonel who has thirty years’ commissioned service in the Active Military Forces, a lieutenant-colonel”; and

(b) by omitting sub-regulation (3).

Special cases.

8. Regulation 126 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) the word “rank” (second and third occurring) and inserting in its stead the words “temporary rank”.

Period of re-engagement.

9. Regulation 140 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulations (11.) and (12.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-regulations:—

“(11.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a soldier, whether or not he has attained the age of compulsory retirement prescribed by paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1.) of regulation 191 of these Regulations, may he re-engaged for a period that will expire after he attains that age if—

(a) in the case of a soldier of the Australian Regular Army— the Minister considers that the services of that soldier should be retained beyond that ago and approves his re-engagement; or


(b) in any other case—the Adjutant-General considers that the services of the soldier, or of the soldiers in a class of soldiers in which the soldier is included, should be retained beyond that age and approves the re-engagement of the soldier or the soldiers in that class.

“(12.) The period of re-engagement of a soldier under the last preceding sub-regulation shall not exceed—

(a) in the case of a soldier of the Australian Regular Army— five years;

(b) in the case of a soldier of a part of the Permanent Forces other than the Australian Regular Army—three years; or

(c) in any other case—one year,

and, in any case, shall not exceed a period that will expire after the soldier will attain the age of sixty years.”.

 

Scale of punishments for purpose of commutation.

 

10. Regulation 254 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by inserting in paragraph (a), after the words—

“Reversion to permanent rank.”,

the words—

“Deduction from pay under paragraph (fa) of sub-regulation (2) of regulation 256.”.

Summary punishments.

11. Regulation 256 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (e) of sub-regulation (2) the words—

“A fine not exceeding in any case five pounds, but, in the Citizen Forces not on war service, exceeding ten shillings.”

and inserting in their stead the words—

“A fine not exceeding Five pounds.” ;

(b) by omitting paragraph (f) of sub-regulation (2) and inserting in its stead the following paragraphs:—

“(f) For an offence committed, when not on war service, by a non-commissioned officer or private soldier of the Permanent Forces or Citizen Forces, being an offence (other than an offence to which the next succeeding paragraph applies) which causes damage to a building or other property:—

A fine not exceeding Five pounds.

“(fa) For an offence committed, when not on war service, by a non-commissioned officer or private soldier of the Permanent Forces or Citizen Forces, being an offence which causes loss of, or damange or destruction to, any arms, ammunition, equipment, clothing, instruments or regimental necessaries:—

 (i) Where the articles are on issue to the member—a deduction from pay not exceeding Twenty pounds; or

(ii) Where the articles are not on issue to the member—a deduction from pay not exceeding Five pounds.”; and


(c) by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (5) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(b) For an offence committed when not on war service by a private soldier of the Permanent Forces or Citizen Forces:—

A fine not exceeding Two pounds.”; and

(d) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (7) the words “when on war service and inserting in their stead the words “whether on war service or not”.

Power of company, &c., commander.

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

(a) by omitting from paragraph (d) of sub-regulation (1) the words “Citizen Forces” and inserting in their stead the words “Permanent Forces or Citizen Forces”; and

(b) by omitting from that paragraph the words “five shillings” and inserting in their stead the words “Two pounds”.

Deductions for barracks, &c., damages.

13. Regulation 294 of the Australian Military Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (3) the words “, and shall not exceed five shillings”.

14. After Division 12 of Part VII. of the Australian Military Regulations the following Division is inserted:—

“DIVISION 12A.—AUSTRALIAN ARMY PSYCHOLOGY CORPS.

Constitution of Australian Army Psychology Corps.

609A. The Australian Army Psychology Corps shall consist of officers and soldiers who—

(a) are appointed to or enlisted in that Corps; or

(b) are transferred to, or seconded for duty with, that Corps from other parts of the Military Forces.

Qualification for appointment as an officer.

609B. A person shall not be appointed as an officer of the Australian Army Psychology Corps unless—

(a) he is the holder of, or qualified for admission to, a degree of a University approved by the Military Board; and

(b) he has such qualifications as the Military Board considers necessary for the practice of psychology.

Rank on appointment— Citizen Forces.

“609C. The first appointment of a person to commissioned rank, as an officer of the Citizen Forces, in the Australian Army Psychology Corps shall be a provisional appointment to the rank of captain.

Rank on appointment— Permanent Forces.

609D.—(1.) The first appointment of a person to commissioned rank, as an officer of the Permanent Forces, in the Australian Army Psychology Corps shall be to the substantive rank of lieutenant with the temporary rank of captain.

“(2.) Where an officer appointed to the substantive rank of lieutenant under the last preceding sub-regulation qualifies for promotion to the substantive rank of captain, he may, notwithstanding regulation 85 of these Regulations, be promoted to the substantive rank of captain after three years’ service in the rank of lieutenant.

Examinations.

609E. The syllabus and scope of the examinations for appointment and promotion in the Australian Army Psychology Corps shall be as approved by the Military Board.


Allotment for duty.

609F. Officers of the Australian Army Psychology Corps may be allotted for duty with units and staffs of the Military Forces.

Reserve of Οfficers, Australian Army Psychology Corps.

609G.—(1.) A person who—

(a) is qualified under sub-regulation (2) of regulation 120 of those Regulations to be appointed to commissioned rank in the Reserve of Officers by reason that he possesses the professional qualifications prescribed by these Regulations for appointment to commissioned rank in the Australian Army Psychology Corps; and

(b) is competent to perform the duties of an appointment in that Corps specified in the first column of the table to this sub-regulation,

may be appointed as an officer of the Reserve of Officers, Australian Army Psychology Corps, and may be granted the honorary rank specified in the second column of that table opposite to that appointment.

Appointment in Australian Army Psychology Corps.

Honorary Rank.

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

Colonel or Lieutenant-Colonel

Senior Psychologist............................

Major

Psychologist................................

Captain

“(2.) Officers of the Reserve of Officers, Australian Army Psychology Corps may be employed from time to time on such work in the practice of psychology as the Military Board approves.”.

Printed for the GOVERNMENT of the COMMONWEALTH by A. J. ARTHUR at the Government Printing Office, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1954, No. 113, enacted under the Defence Act 1903-1953, addresses specific amendments to the Australian Military Regulations to incorporate the newly formed Australian Army Psychology Corps. This legislation was introduced by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the relevant Federal Executive Council. The primary objective of these regulations is to establish the foundational structure and operational guidelines for the Australian Army Psychology Corps, including qualifications for officers, rank appointments, and the scope of duties. These regulations aim to integrate the psychological services within the military framework, ensuring that the psychological needs of military personnel are addressed through a formal and structured approach. The regulations also adjust various other provisions within the Australian Military Regulations to accommodate the new corps, including modifications to the definitions, eligibility criteria for promotions, and the conditions for re-engagement of soldiers. The establishment of the Australian Army Psychology Corps represents an important step in recognising the significance of mental health and psychological well-being within the military, aiming to enhance the overall effectiveness and support for military personnel.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1953, as amended, apply to the Australian Military Forces, specifically targeting officers and soldiers within the new Australian Army Psychology Corps. These regulations govern the establishment, qualifications, rank appointments, and duties of personnel within this corps. The provisions outlined affect both the Citizen Forces and Permanent Forces, ensuring a structured approach to integrating psychology services within the military framework. Notably, the Regulations also extend to the Reserve of Officers, detailing the honorary ranks and conditions for appointment within the Australian Army Psychology Corps. The amendments cater to both provisional and substantive promotions, the conditions under which such promotions are subject, and the scale of punishments for military offences. Geographically, these Regulations apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, encompassing all states and territories, thereby ensuring a uniform application of military governance throughout the nation. The Regulations do not specify any exclusions or exemptions but rely on the overarching provisions of the Defence Act 1903-1953 for any further limitations or exceptions.

Key Provisions

The Regulations, made under the Defence Act 1903-1953, primarily focus on amending the Australian Military Regulations to introduce and establish the Australian Army Psychology Corps (AA Psych Corps). Section 1 of the Regulations inserts Division 12A into the Australian Military Regulations, which pertains to the AA Psych Corps, outlining its constitution and operations. Section 2 modifies the definition of "Formation, &c., commander" by removing the requirement for the rank of colonel. Section 3 repeals Regulation 81 and replaces it with a new provision regarding provisional promotions, stipulating that provisional promotions are contingent on passing the prescribed examination within specified timeframes. Section 4 removes the requirement for an examination for eligibility for promotion in the Citizen Forces. Section 5 amends Regulation 120 to include the AA Psych Corps in the list of corps to which officers can be transferred or appointed. Section 6 similarly updates Regulation 124 to include the AA Psych Corps in the list of corps for which retirement ages apply. The Regulations impose several obligations on the parties governed by them. Firstly, they mandate that appointments to the AA Psych Corps must be based on the qualifications and requirements set forth in the Regulations. Section 609B specifies that officers must hold or be qualified for admission to a university-approved degree and possess the qualifications deemed necessary for the practice of psychology by the Military Board. Furthermore, the Regulations dictate the rank on appointment for officers within the AA Psych Corps, with provisional appointments to the rank of captain for Citizen Forces officers and substantive appointments to the rank of lieutenant with a temporary rank of captain for Permanent Forces officers (Section 609C and 609D). Additionally, the Regulations outline the process for allotment of officers to various units and staffs within the Military Forces (Section 609F). Breach of the Regulations may result in various penalties and consequences. For instance, failure to pass the prescribed examination within the stipulated timeframes for provisional promotions may result in the loss of the provisional rank. Additionally, misconduct or failure to adhere to the qualifications and requirements for appointments may lead to disciplinary actions. Section 256 of the Regulations outlines specific punishments, including fines and deductions from pay, for various offences committed by non-commissioned officers and private soldiers. For example, a non-commissioned officer or private soldier found guilty of an offence causing damage to property may be fined up to five pounds (Section 256(f)). Furthermore, the Regulations empower company commanders to impose summary punishments for certain offences, with the maximum fine set at two pounds for private soldiers (Section 260). These penalties serve to enforce compliance with the Regulations and maintain discipline within the Australian Military Forces.

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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.