Defence Act 1911

Legislation au C1911A00015 Not in force Act

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DEFENCE.

 

No. 15 of 1911.

An Act to amend Sections one hundred and twenty-seven, one hundred and thirty-four, one hundred and thirty-five, and one hundred and forty-two of the Defence Act 1903–1910.

[Assented to 22nd December, 1911.]

BE it enacted by the Kings Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Defence Act 1911.

(2.) The Defence Act 1903–1910 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Defence Act 1903–1911.

Amendment of section 127.

2. Section one hundred and twenty-seven of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting, between the first proviso and the second proviso, a new proviso as follows:—

Provided also that in the Senior Cadets the duration of a whole-day drill shall not be less than four hours, of a half-day drill not less than two hours, and of a night drill not less than one hour;

(b) by inserting in the second proviso, after the words Provided also that, the words in the Citizen Forces:

(c) by omitting from the third proviso the words seventy-two, and inserting in their stead the words sixty-four; and

(d) by inserting, at the end of the section, new provisos as follow:—

Provided also that the Minister may, by Gazette notice, declare that whole-day drills or half-day drills may be substituted for night drills in any districts, or localities specified in the notice.

Provided also that in the case of Senior Cadets, who reside over two miles from the place appointed for training, attendance for a less number of hours than prescribed above may be allowed to count as prescribed for the full statutory duration of drills, and power may be given to the prescribed officers to grant leave of absence from training required by this Act when the conditions of the weather, by reason of


excessive rain or heat, would render attendance a hardship, and equivalent attendance as prescribed may be required in lieu thereof.

Amendment of section 134.

3. Section one hundred and thirty-four of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting in sub-section (1.) after the words Citizen Forces the words and no parent or guardian shall prevent any son or ward who is so serving or liable to serve;

(b) by omitting from sub-section (1.) the words or in any way penalize or attempt to penalize, and inserting in their stead the words and no employer shall in any way penalize or prejudice in his employment or attempt to penalize or prejudice in his employment; and

(c) by inserting in sub-section (2.) after the word penalized, wherever that word occurs, the words or prejudiced in his employment.

Amendment of section 135.

4. Section one hundred and thirty-five of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the proviso to sub-section (1.) thereof.

Amendment of section 142.

5. Section one hundred and forty-two of the Principal Act is amended by adding thereto the following sub-section:—

(2.) Any proceedings for an offence against this section may be instituted at any time within two years after the commission of the offence.

 

Overview

The Defence Act 1911 was enacted to amend several sections of the Defence Act 1903–1910, responding to the need for adjustments in the regulations governing military training and service. Assented to on 22 December 1911, the Act was introduced by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. It aimed to refine the structure and obligations of military training and service, including the duration of drills, prohibitions against penalising individuals for their service, and the timeframe within which offences against the Act could be prosecuted. The policy objective was to ensure that the Defence Act remained effective and relevant in supporting the nation's defence capabilities.

Scope and Application

The Defence Act 1911 is a Commonwealth Act that amends several sections of the Defence Act 1903–1910, which is now referred to as the Principal Act. The Defence Act 1911 applies to persons involved in the defence forces, specifically the Citizen Forces and Senior Cadets, and their parents or guardians. The Act also affects employers who may be penalising employees who are serving or liable to serve in the defence forces. The Act's amendments cover the duration of drills, the substitution of drills, and provisions for leave of absence due to weather conditions. Furthermore, the Act prohibits parents, guardians, and employers from penalising or prejudicing the employment of those serving or liable to serve in the defence forces. Lastly, the Act extends the time limit for instituting proceedings for offences against section 142 of the Principal Act to two years after the commission of the offence. The Act applies nationally across Australia as a Commonwealth Act.

Key Provisions

The Defence Act 1911 introduces amendments to the Defence Act 1903-1910, specifically targeting sections 127, 134, 135, and 142. Section 127 now mandates a minimum duration for drills in the Senior Cadets, with whole-day drills not being less than four hours, half-day drills not less than two hours, and night drills not less than one hour (section 2(a)). Additionally, the Act provides the Minister with the authority to substitute whole-day or half-day drills for night drills in specified districts through a Gazette notice (section 2(d)). For Senior Cadets residing over two miles from their training location, attendance for fewer hours than prescribed may be accepted, with equivalent attendance required in lieu if weather conditions make attendance difficult (section 2(d)). The Act also reduces the age at which members of the Citizen Forces can serve from seventy-two to sixty-four (section 2(c)). Under section 134, parents, guardians, and employers are prohibited from penalising or prejudicing individuals who are serving or liable to serve in the Citizen Forces (section 3). The prohibition extends to any form of employment-related penalty or disadvantage, ensuring that individuals cannot be harmed in their employment due to their service obligations (section 3). Section 135 is amended by removing the existing proviso in sub-section (1), thereby eliminating any previously specified conditions or limitations related to this section (section 4). Lastly, section 142 is updated to allow proceedings for offences against this section to be instituted at any time within two years after the offence was committed (section 5(2)). This amendment provides a clear timeframe within which legal action can be taken. Breach of the provisions in the Defence Act 1911 may result in various legal consequences. For instance, parents, guardians, and employers found to be penalising or prejudicing individuals for their service in the Citizen Forces may face legal action as stipulated under section 134. Non-compliance with the specified duration of drills for Senior Cadets or failure to grant leave of absence under exceptional weather conditions could also result in disciplinary actions as outlined in section 127. Furthermore, any offence under section 142 must be prosecuted within two years of the offence's commission, as mandated in section 5(2). While the Act does not explicitly detail penalties for breaches, legal action may be pursued under the Defence Act 1903-1910 or other relevant legislation.

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Area of Law
Defence & Military Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Offence Provisions

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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.