Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Regulations 1919 (Amendment)

Legislation au C1919L00263 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

STATUTORY RULES.

1919. No. 263.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS’ REPATRIATION ACT 1917-1918.

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 Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917-1918, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this twelfth day of November, 1919.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

W. A. WATT,

for Minister of State for Repatriation.

 

Amendment of Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Regulations 1919.

(Statutory Rules 1919, No. 123.)

1. The definition of “Industrial Trainee” or “Trainee” in Regulation 3 of the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Regulations is amended by omitting the words “and includes an improver” and inserting after the word “workshop” the words “or Training Institution.”

2. Regulation 33 of the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Regulations is repealed and the following Regulations inserted in its stead:—

Soldiers’ Industrial Committees.

“33. (1) The Minister may within any State appoint in respect of any trade or calling a Soldiers’ Industrial Committee which shall consist of a Chairman and an equal number of representatives of the employers and employees respectively in the trade or calling.

(2) The Chairman shall be a person agreed upon by the representatives of the employers and employees respectively or in the absence of such agreement a person selected by the Minister.

Meetings of Soldiers’ Industrial Committees.

33a. (1) Meetings of a Soldiers’ Industrial Committee shall be held regularly.

(2) The place of any member of a Committee shall become vacant if he without leave of the Committee absent himself from two consecutive meetings of the Committee, unless he furnish reasons in writing for his absence to the satisfaction of the Committee.

(3) The Chairman of the Committee shall, upon receiving from any two members of the Committee a request to hold a special meeting, and provided the business proposed to be dealt with at the meeting is stated with the request, convene a special meeting of the Committee.

(4) The Chairman, one representative of the employers and one representative of the employees shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.”


3. Regulation 34 of the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Regulations is repealed and the following Regulation inserted in its stead:—

Powers and duties of Soldiers’ Industrial Committees.

“34. Any such Committee when appointed may decide after trial as to suitability of a trainee for a particular calling and shall—

(a) consider opportunities for employment of soldiers or their dependants,

(b) determine the number of persons to be entered as trainees in any trade or calling,

(c) advise as to the syllabus of training to be carried out, training facilities to be adopted, and the qualifications of and salaries to be paid to Instructors,

(d) when the trainee is being trained in a training institution determine, subject to the approval of the Director of Vocational Training appointed under the Act, when the trainee shall leave the institution,

(e) assess the efficiency of the trainee at the commencement of his training and thereafter at the end of every three months, or such shorter periods as the Committee thinks fit,

(f) deal with disputes between persons entered for training in private workshops and the employer and in particular disputes as to the ruling rate of wage.”

4. After Regulation 68 of the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Regulations the following Regulations are inserted:—

Proportion of trainees to journeymen

“68a. An employer may employ in each section of the trade or calling carried on by him in any establishment one trainee for each six or fraction of six fully paid journeymen employed in that section,

Provided that if the fraction is less than three the employer shall only employ a trainee in respect of that fraction with the unanimous consent of the Soldiers’ Industrial Committee.

Provided further that no employer shall employ a trainee unless the employer has employed a fully paid journeyman continuously for at least six months immediately preceding the date of the employment or proposed employment of the trainee and continues to so employ the journeyman.

Provided also that the six months’ limitation shall not apply to new businesses established within that period.

Notification of number of trainees placed.

68b. The Department shall, upon an applicant being entered for training in any training institution or placed with an employer in a trade or calling, forthwith notify that fact to the Industrial Organization of Employees which is represented on the Soldiers’ Industrial Committee appointed in respect of that trade or calling.

Trainees to work near journeymen.

68c. A trainee in a private workshop shall as far as practicable work near a journeyman in order that he may be given every opportunity of receiving advice and instruction in the trade or calling.”

 

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

Overview

The Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Regulations 1919, enacted under the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917-1918, were introduced to address the need for structured vocational training and employment opportunities for returned soldiers. These regulations were made by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and they aimed to facilitate the reintegration of soldiers into civilian life by ensuring they had access to appropriate training and employment. The policy objective was to support the vocational rehabilitation of soldiers by creating a framework for their training in trades and callings, with the establishment of Soldiers’ Industrial Committees to oversee and manage the training process. These committees were designed to balance the interests of employers and employees, ensuring fair and effective training arrangements for returned soldiers.

Scope and Application

The Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Regulations 1919, as amended by Statutory Rules 1919, No. 263, provide a comprehensive framework for the vocational training and employment of returned soldiers under the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917-1918. These regulations apply to returned soldiers, referred to as trainees or industrial trainees, who are to be placed in trades or callings, whether in workshops or training institutions. The regulations establish Soldiers’ Industrial Committees, consisting of a chairman and representatives from employers and employees, to oversee the training process, decide on the suitability of trainees, and manage employment opportunities. These committees are tasked with considering employment prospects for soldiers and their dependants, determining the number of trainees, advising on training syllabuses and facilities, assessing trainee efficiency, and resolving disputes between trainees and employers. The regulations also dictate the proportion of trainees that can be employed relative to fully paid journeymen, the notification of trainee placements, and the requirement for trainees to work near journeymen to facilitate learning. The provisions apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, as indicated by the regulations being made under federal authority, and are enforced through the Department of Vocational Training. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the scope of these regulations, which extend the application of the Act by detailing specific processes and requirements for the vocational training of returned soldiers.

Key Provisions

The primary provisions of these Regulations (No. 263 of 1919) under the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917-1918 focus on the establishment and operation of Soldiers’ Industrial Committees, the conditions under which trainees can be employed, and the duties of these committees in overseeing the training of soldiers or their dependants. Section 1 amends the definition of "Industrial Trainee" to include Training Institutions, while Section 3 details the composition and responsibilities of Soldiers’ Industrial Committees. Section 33 establishes the appointment process for these Committees, specifying that they must consist of an equal number of employer and employee representatives, with a Chairman chosen by mutual agreement or by the Minister in the absence of such agreement. Section 34 outlines the powers and duties of these Committees, including deciding on the suitability of trainees, advising on training syllabuses and facilities, and dealing with disputes. The Regulations impose specific obligations on the parties involved. Employers are required to adhere to the trainee-to-journeyman ratio specified in Section 68a, which allows for one trainee for every six or fraction of six fully paid journeymen, with certain conditions and exceptions. Employers must also ensure that any fully paid journeyman has been employed for at least six months before a trainee is employed, unless the business is newly established. Additionally, the Department is mandated under Section 68b to notify the Industrial Organization of Employees about trainees placed in training institutions or with employers. The Soldiers’ Industrial Committees have the responsibility, as per Section 34, to assess trainee suitability, manage training programs, and resolve disputes related to training. Violations of these Regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences. For instance, employers failing to comply with the trainee-to-journeyman ratio or other specified conditions could face penalties, although the exact nature and extent of penalties are not detailed in the Regulations. The Act itself or subsequent legislation may provide for specific penalties for breaches, but these are not explicitly stated here. The enforcement of these provisions would likely fall under the broader legal framework established by the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917-1918, which could include fines or other legal actions for non-compliance.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Employment & Labour Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Regulatory Standards
Licensing & Registration
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.