Australian Military Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1924L00201 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1924. No. 201.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918.

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 1903-1918, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this seventeenth day of December, 1924.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

E. K. BOWDEN,

Minister of State for Defence.

 

Australian Military Regulations.

(Statutory Rules 1916, No. 166, as amended to this date.)

Amendments.

A. Paragraph (g) of regulation 11 is amended by omitting sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) thereof and substituting the following paragraphs:—

“(i) The Chief of the General Staff shall in general be charged with all preparations for war; and in particular with:—Intelligence; organization; war establishments; plans and principles of mobilization; plans of operation and concentration; distribution of troops; issue of operation orders; defence schemes; fortifications; matters of principle affecting the design, supply and distribution of ordnance and ammunition; censorship; training; musketry and education; libraries.

(ii) The Adjutant-General shall in general be charged with the provision, enrolment, allocation to approved organizations, mobilization in detail and the discipline of personnel, and in particular with:—Peace organization; peace establishments; reserves; registrations; exemptions; medical inspection; administration of military areas; training localities; allocation upon approved establishments; preparation and issue of standing orders for mobilization; discipline; military prisons; police; detention barracks; military and martial law; duties in aid of the civil power; medical services; sanitation; issue of routine orders; drafting proposed military regulations; administration of Administrative and Instructional Staffs or such organization as will include personnel thereof; appointments, promotions, retirements, posting, exchange and transfer of officers; casualties; discharges; desertion and fraudulent enlistment; medals; ceremonial; chaplains.”

C.19212.—Price 3d.


B. Regulation 62 is amended by—

(a) inserting the number “(1)” next after the number “62”, and

(b) adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation—

“(2) Candidates from other arms of the Service may be permitted to compete in the examinations for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in a unit of the Engineers.”

C. The heading “Division 8—Commanding Officers” immediately preceding regulation 78 is amended by adding thereto the words “and Staff Appointments”.

Regulation 78 is amended by inserting the figure “(1)” next after the number “78”, and by adding the following sub-regulation:—

“(2) Subject to these Regulations an officer appointed to the staff of a command higher than that of a battalion or equivalent command shall not, unless re-appointed, hold the appointment for a longer period than four years.”

D. Regulations 154, 155 and 156 are cancelled and the following regulations substituted:—

“154. (1) Subject to these Regulations, officers who have the requisite qualifying service and have reached the age for retirement of their rank, may, on retirement, be placed upon the Retired List and may be granted one step in honorary rank above the substitutive or brevet rank held immediately prior to retirement in accordance with the following table:—

Substantive or Brevet Rank on Retirement.

 

Requisite Qualifying Service for Retired List with grant of one step in Honorary Rank.

Lieut.-General...........

Thirty years’ commissioned service on the Active List in the Military Forces, including, in the case of an officer holding the substantive or brevet rank of Colonel on retirement, ten years’ continuous service in that substantive or brevet rank.

Major-General...........

Colonel...............

Lieut.-Colonel...........

Twenty years’ commissioned service on the Active List in the Military Forces.

Major................

Captain...............

Fifteen years’ commissioned service on the Active List in the Military Forces.

Lieutenant.............

Quartermasters holding honorary commissioned rank, who have reached the age for retirement and have the qualifying service required by this sub-regulation for officers with corresponding substantive rank, may, on retirement, be placed upon the Retired List and granted one step in honorary rank above the rank so held.

(2) Officers who have ten years’ commissioned service on the Active List of the Military Forces and are ineligible for the grant of honorary rank on retirement under the last preceding sub-regulation may, on retirement, be placed upon the Retired List and be permitted to retain the substantive, brevet, or honorary rank held immediately prior to retirement.


(3) An officer shall not be placed upon the Retired List with a step in honorary rank higher than that of Colonel except upon the recommendation of the Military Board.

(4) One-half of any service in the ranks in the Australian Permanent Forces and one-fifth of any such service in the Active Citizen Forces may be counted for the purpose of this regulation as qualifying commissioned service.

(5) Officers holding temporary rank shall relinquish their temporary rank on retirement and temporary rank shall not be counted for the purposes of this regulation.

(6) Officers not qualified under this regulation for the grant of a step in honorary rank or for permission to retain their rank on retirement shall not be placed upon the Retired List.

155. Notwithstanding anything contained in the last preceding regulation:—

(a) an officer upon whom the local or temporary rank of major-general, lieutenant-general or general has been conferred in time of war may, upon the recommendation of the Military Board, be placed upon the Retired List on his retirement and be granted as honorary rank the rank so conferred;

(b) an officer permanently medically unfit for service owing to wounds or sickness (not due to misconduct) contracted on active service may upon the recommendation of the Military Board, be placed upon the Retired List on his retirement and be permitted to retain the substantive, brevet, or honorary rank held immediately prior to retirement.

155a. (1) Officers on the Retired List may be permitted to wear the uniform of their corps.

(2) Officers on the Retired List when in uniform shall wear the letter “R” on each shoulder-strap.

156. A detailed statement of his service (including service in the ranks if any) certified by the C.O. should accompany every recommendation for the retirement of an officer.”

E. Regulation 224 is amended by deleting the following:—

“Victoria Barracks, Melbourne 1†‡ 1*”.

 

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Government Printer for the State of Victoria

Overview

The Australian Military Regulations, 1924, were introduced as Statutory Rules under the Defence Act 1903-1918, enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide a comprehensive framework for the governance and administration of the Australian military. These regulations aimed to address the need for a structured and systematic approach to the management of military personnel, operations, and logistics. The Governor-General, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, made these regulations, which came into operation immediately upon their enactment. The policy objective was to ensure that the Australian military was well-prepared, disciplined, and efficiently managed, thereby enhancing national defence capabilities. These regulations cover a wide range of areas, including the responsibilities of key military officers, the conditions for retirement and honorary ranks, the administration of military areas and training localities, and the procedures for competitions in military examinations. Notably, the regulations detail specific qualifying service requirements and conditions for officers to be placed on the Retired List and granted honorary ranks, as well as the allowances for officers to retain their ranks upon retirement under certain circumstances. The regulations also provide for the administration of military prisons and the discipline of personnel, ensuring that the military maintains high standards of conduct and order.

Scope and Application

The Australian Military Regulations, made under the Defence Act 1903-1918, apply to all members of the Australian Defence Force and entities or individuals involved in military operations, encompassing both personnel and their conduct as well as the organisation and management of military activities. These regulations are applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a consistent legal framework for military governance and operations. Notably, the regulations outline specific roles and responsibilities for key military officials, such as the Chief of the General Staff and the Adjutant-General, and detail conditions for retirement, including qualifying service requirements and the grant of honorary ranks. Certain exclusions and special provisions apply, such as the recommendation by the Military Board for honorary ranks above Colonel and special provisions for officers injured in service. The scope of these regulations can be extended or refined through subordinate instruments, allowing for adjustments in response to changing military needs or legal interpretations.

Key Provisions

The Australian Military Regulations, as amended, include several key provisions concerning the duties of the Chief of the General Staff and the Adjutant-General, the eligibility for officers to compete in promotion examinations, and the terms of retirement for military personnel. Specifically, Regulation 11(i) assigns the Chief of the General Staff with the responsibility for intelligence, organization, war establishments, and other significant duties (Reg. 11(i)). Meanwhile, Regulation 11(ii) places the Adjutant-General in charge of the provision, enrolment, allocation to approved organizations, and discipline of personnel (Reg. 11(ii)). Furthermore, Regulation 62(2) permits candidates from other arms of the Service to compete in examinations for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in a unit of the Engineers (Reg. 62(2)). Regulation 78(2) limits the term of an officer appointed to the staff of a command higher than that of a battalion or equivalent command to no longer than four years unless reappointed (Reg. 78(2)). These Regulations impose several obligations on military personnel. The Chief of the General Staff must oversee a wide array of responsibilities, including intelligence, organization, war establishments, and training, among others (Reg. 11(i)). The Adjutant-General is tasked with managing the enrolment, allocation, and discipline of personnel, along with other specific duties (Reg. 11(ii)). Additionally, officers who meet certain qualifying criteria may be granted a step in honorary rank upon retirement, while those who do not may be restricted from being placed on the Retired List (Reg. 154). Breach of these Regulations may lead to various civil or criminal consequences. For instance, failure to comply with the specific duties outlined for the Chief of the General Staff or the Adjutant-General could result in disciplinary actions or administrative penalties. Moreover, officers not qualified for the grant of a step in honorary rank or permission to retain their rank on retirement, as per Regulation 154(6), may not be placed on the Retired List. While the Regulations themselves do not specify maximum penalties, breaches of military law or regulations could lead to courts-martial or other disciplinary measures as prescribed by the Defence Act 1903-1918.

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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.