Overview

The Australian Police Medal Determination 2023, which was enacted by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General the Honourable David Hurley, aims to update and clarify the design, specifications, and manner of wearing the Australian Police Medal. This Determination revokes the previous Australian Police Medal Determination made in 1992 to ensure the regulations governing the medal remain current and accurately reflect its design and the guidelines for its use. The policy objective of this legislation is to maintain the integrity and recognition of distinguished service within the Australian Police Force by providing clear and precise guidelines for the medal and its associated insignia. The updated Determination ensures that the medal's design and the manner of wearing are consistent with the Australian honours system and the established protocols for insignia.

Scope and Application

The Australian Police Medal Determination pertains to the design, specifications, and guidelines for wearing the Australian Police Medal, which is an award designed to recognise distinguished service within the Australian police force. The Act applies to individuals who have been awarded the Australian Police Medal, as well as the entities involved in the production and distribution of the medal and its associated insignia. The Act encompasses the entire Commonwealth of Australia and is subject to the regulations governing the award of the Australian Police Medal. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but it is implicitly understood that only those who have demonstrated exceptional service and meet the criteria set by the Australian Police Medal Regulations are eligible for the award. The application of the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments such as the Australian Police Medal Regulations, which outline the terms and conditions for the award and the design and wearing of the medal.

Key Provisions

The Australian Police Medal Determination (C2023G00654) outlines the design, specifications, and wearing of the Australian Police Medal. The main operative sections (1-7) detail the physical attributes of the medal, its miniature piece, lapel badge, and ribbon bar, including dimensions, materials, and inscriptions. The Australian Police Medal itself is a nickel-silver circular medal 38 millimetres in diameter, featuring the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the inscription "AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL - FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE" on the reverse. The miniature piece is a half-size replica of the main medal, while the lapel badge is a 10 millimetre replica, both adhering to specified dimensions. The ribbon bar is a 32 millimetres wide strip of full-sized ribbon, without any emblem. The legislation imposes specific obligations on the parties it governs, particularly concerning the design and wearing of the Australian Police Medal. The medal and its associated insignia must conform to the technical specifications outlined in the Determination, ensuring uniformity and adherence to established standards. The wearing of the medal is governed by strict guidelines, with the full-size medal worn on the left breast when full-size orders, decorations, and medals are worn, and the miniature piece worn on all occasions when miniatures of such insignia are worn. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time on uniform or civilian dress at the discretion of the recipient, while the Lapel Badge may be worn with civilian dress at any time. The manner of wearing is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia, and the order of wear is specified by The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards. The Australian Police Medal Determination does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of its provisions. However, the importance of adhering to the specified design and wearing guidelines suggests that non-compliance could lead to informal or formal disciplinary actions within relevant organisations, such as police forces. While the Determination itself does not state maximum penalties, breaches of related regulations or protocols could result in administrative or reputational consequences for the individuals or entities involved.