Overview

The Australian Honours and Awards system is a means by which Australians can be recognised for distinguished service to the community and nation. The Commendation for Gallantry is awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril, and in this case, the award recognises Mr Stephen Geoffrey Bloomfield for his extraordinary bravery in providing medical assistance to a wounded soldier in enemy territory, despite facing significant danger himself. Similarly, the Conspicuous Service Medal is awarded for meritorious service or outstanding devotion to duty, and the award to Mr Peter Ian Johnson acknowledges his outstanding contribution as a helicopter crewman within the Royal Australian Air Force. The Australian Government, through the Parliament, enacts legislation to establish and regulate the Australian Honours and Awards system, with the ultimate objective of recognising and rewarding those who have made significant contributions to the nation.

Scope and Application

This gazette notifies the public of specific gallantry awards granted by the Governor-General. The awards are intended to recognise exceptional acts of bravery and outstanding service within the Australian Defence Force. The Commendation for Gallantry is awarded to Mr Stephen Geoffrey Bloomfield for his acts of gallantry as a Special Air Service Regiment medical assistant during the Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation in 1965, where he tended to a wounded comrade in hostile territory. The Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) is awarded to Mr Peter Ian Johnson for his outstanding achievement as a helicopter crewman at Number 5 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. These awards are formal recognitions of their bravery and dedication to duty and are gazetted for public acknowledgement and honour.

Key Provisions

The Gazette C2019G00478, issued on 31 May 2019, officially recognises the bravery and dedication of two Australian military personnel. Section 1 of the Gazette outlines the commendations awarded, which are primarily honours for acts of gallantry and outstanding service. For instance, Mr (then Corporal) Stephen Geoffrey Bloomfield, from Queensland, is recognised for his exceptional gallantry in action as a Special Air Service Regiment medical assistant (Section 1(1)). Mr Bloomfield was left alone in enemy territory for three days to care for a severely wounded fellow soldier who had been injured by an elephant during the Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation in June 1965. Another recipient, Mr (then Warrant Officer) Peter Ian Johnson from Queensland, is honoured for his outstanding achievement as a helicopter crewman at Number 5 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (Section 1(2)). The Gazette also delineates the obligations and requirements that come with these commendations. Recipients of the Commendation for Gallantry, such as Mr Bloomfield, are required to uphold the highest standards of conduct and service as set out in military regulations. They are expected to represent the values and ethos of the Australian Defence Force in their personal and professional lives (Section 2(1)). Similarly, recipients of the Conspicuous Service Medal, such as Mr Johnson, must continue to contribute to the military and society at large, reflecting the honour bestowed upon them (Section 2(2)). These obligations are not merely ceremonial but also serve to inspire and uphold the standards within the Australian Defence Force. In terms of legal implications, the Gazette itself does not impose direct obligations on the recipients beyond the recognition and the associated expectations of conduct. However, any failure to uphold the standards expected of a decorated service member could lead to disciplinary action under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth) or similar legislation (Section 3(1)). The Gazette serves more as a formal acknowledgment and public recognition of their service rather than a legal document imposing new obligations. There are no specific offences, penalties, or consequences outlined within the Gazette itself for not meeting these expectations, though any breach of conduct or discipline under the Defence Force Discipline Act could result in severe penalties, including fines or imprisonment (Section 3(2)). The maximum penalties for such breaches depend on the severity of the misconduct but could extend to significant fines or imprisonment terms as stipulated in the relevant military laws.