Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment)

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Statutory Rules

1976 No. 3

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1975, THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-1975 AND THE AIR FORCE ACT 1923-1975.*

I, THE ADMINISTRATOR of the Government of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1975, the Naval Defence Act 1910-1975 and the Air Force Act 1923-1975.

Dated this fourteenth day of January, 1976.

A. R. CUTLER

Administrator.

By His Excellency’s Command,

D. J. KILLEN

Minister of State for Defence.

Amendments of the Defence Force (Salaries) REGULATIONS†

Interpretation.

1. Regulation 4 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended by adding at the end of sub-regulation (1) the following definition:—

“ ‘ unit of electricity ’ means one kilowatt hour of electricity.”.

High electric charges allowance.

2. After regulation 9a of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations, the following regulations are inserted:—

“ 9b. (1) This regulation applies to a member who is responsible for the payment of the charges imposed by an electricity supply authority for the supply of electricity for domestic purposes to the premises in which the member ordinarily resides.

“ (2) Where—

(a) a member to whom this regulation applies has paid the charges for the supply during a quarterly charging period, a two-monthly charging period or a monthly charging period of electricity for domestic purposes to the premises in which he ordinarily resides; and

(b) the amount of those charges exceeds the contribution applicable in relation to the member in respect of that charging period,

the member is, subject to and in accordance with the succeeding provisions of this regulation, entitled to be paid an allowance, called ‘ high electricity charges allowance ’, equal to the amount of the excess.

“ (3) The amount of the contribution applicable to a member in respect of a quarterly charging period, a two-monthly charging period or a monthly charging period, being a charging period the whole or any part of which occurred

* Notified in the Australian Government Gazette on 22 January 1976.

† Statutory Rules 1973, No. 100, as amended by Statutory Rules 1973, Nos. 132, 201, 203, 249 and 269; 1974, Nos. 71, 77, 90, 92, 93 and 208; and 1975, Nos. 34, 149, 163 and 197.

during the period from and including 10 April 1974 to and including 26 March 1975 is the amount ascertained by reference to Part A, Part B or Part C, as the case requires, of the following table:—

PART A—QUARTERLY CHARGING PERIOD

Units of electricity used during a quarter	Member’s contribution
	$
Below 480 ...............................................	15.00
480– 509...............................................	15.60
510– 539 ...............................................	16.56
540– 569 ...............................................	17.55
570– 599 ...............................................	18.51
600– 629...............................................	19.50
630– 659 ...............................................	20.46
660– 689 ...............................................	21.45
690– 719 ...............................................	22.41
720– 749...............................................	23.40
750– 779 ...............................................	24.36
780– 809...............................................	25.35
810– 839...............................................	26.31
840– 869 ...............................................	27.30
870– 899 ................................................	28.26
900– 929 ...............................................	29.25
930– 959...............................................	30.21
960– 989...............................................	31.20
990–1,019..............................................	32.16
1,020–1,049..............................................	33.15
1,050–1,079 ..............................................	34.11
1,080–1,109..............................................	35.10
1,110–1,139..............................................	36.06
1,140–1,169..............................................	37.05
1,170–1,199..............................................	38.01
1,200 or more.............................................	39.00

PART B—TWO-MONTHLY CHARGING PERIOD

Units of electricity used during two months	Member’s contribution
	$
Below 320 ..............................................	10.00
320–339 ..............................................	10.40
340–359...............................................	11.04
360–379 ..............................................	11.70
380–399...............................................	12.34
400–419 ..............................................	13.00
420–439...............................................	13.64
440–459...............................................	14.30
460–479 ..............................................	14.94
480–499...............................................	15.60
500–519 ..............................................	16.24
520–539 ..............................................	16.90
540–559...............................................	17.54
560–579...............................................	18.20
580–599 ..............................................	18.84
600–619 ..............................................	19.50
620–639 ..............................................	20.14
640–659 ..............................................	20.80
660–679 ..............................................	21.44
680–699 ..............................................	22.10
700–719...............................................	22.74
720–739 ..............................................	23.40
740–759...............................................	24.04
760–779 ..............................................	24.70
780–799 ..............................................	25.34
800 or more ............................................	26.00

PART C—MONTHLY CHARGING PERIOD

Units of electricity used during a month	Member’s contribution
	$
Below 160 .............................................	5.00
160–169 ...............................................	5.20
170–179 ...............................................	5.52
180–189 ...............................................	5.85
190–199 ...............................................	6.17
200–209 ...............................................	6.50
210–219 ...............................................	6.82
220–229 ...............................................	7.15
230–239 ...............................................	7.47
240–249 ...............................................	7.80
250–259 ...............................................	8.12
260–269 ...............................................	8.45
270–279 ...............................................	8.77
280–289 ...............................................	9.10
290–299 ...............................................	9.42
300–309 ...............................................	9.75
310–319 ...............................................	10.07
320–329 ...............................................	10.40
330–339 ...............................................	10.72
340–349 ...............................................	11.05
350–359 ...............................................	11.37
360–369 ...............................................	11.70
370–379 ...............................................	12.02
380–389 ...............................................	12.35
390–399 ...............................................	12.67
400 or more ............................................	13.00

“ (4) The amount of contribution applicable in relation to a member in respect of a quarterly charging period, a two-monthly charging period or a monthly charging period commencing on or after 27 March 1975 is the amount ascertained by reference to Part A, Part B, or Part C, as the case requires, of the following table:—

PART A—QUARTERLY CHARGING PERIOD

Units of electricity used during a quarter	Member’s contribution
	$
Below 480 .............................................	18.45
480– 509 .............................................	19.20
510– 539 .............................................	20.40
540– 569 .............................................	21.60
570– 599 .............................................	22.80
600– 629 .............................................	24.00
630– 659 .............................................	25.20
660– 689 .............................................	26.40
690– 719 .............................................	27.60
720– 749 .............................................	28.80
750– 779 .............................................	30.00
780– 809 .............................................	31.20
810– 839 .............................................	32.40
840– 869 .............................................	33.60
870– 899 .............................................	34.80
900– 929 .............................................	36.00
930– 959 .............................................	37.20
960– 989 .............................................	38.40
990–1,019 ............................................	39.60
1,020–1,049 ............................................	40.80
1,050–1,079 ............................................	42.00
1,080–1,109 ............................................	43.20
1,110–1,139 ............................................	44.40
1,140–1,169 ............................................	45.60
1,170–1,199 ............................................	46.80
1,200 or more ...........................................	48.00

PART B—TWO-MONTHLY CHARGING PERIOD

Units of electricity used during two months	Member’s contribution
	$
Below 320 .............................................	12.30
320–339 ..............................................	12.80
340–359 ..............................................	13.60
360–379 ..............................................	14.40
380–399 ..............................................	15.20
400–419 ..............................................	16.00
420–439 ..............................................	16.80
440–459 ..............................................	17.60
460–479 ..............................................	18.40
480–499 ..............................................	19.20
500–519 ..............................................	20.00
520–539 ..............................................	20.80
540–559 ..............................................	21.60
560–579 ..............................................	22.40
580–599 ..............................................	23.20
600–619 ..............................................	24.00
620–639 ..............................................	24.80
640–659 ..............................................	25.60
660–679 ..............................................	26.40
680–699 ..............................................	27.20
700–719 ..............................................	28.00
720–739 ..............................................	28.80
740–759 ..............................................	29.60
760–779 ..............................................	30.40
780–799 ..............................................	31.20
800 or more ............................................	32.00

PART C—MONTHLY CHARGING PERIOD

Units of electricity used during a month	Member’s contribution
	$
Below 160 .............................................	6.15
160–169 ...............................................	6.40
170–179 ...............................................	6.80
180–189 ...............................................	7.20
190–199 ...............................................	7.60
200–209 ...............................................	8.00
210–219 ...............................................	8.40
220–229 ...............................................	8.80
230–239 ...............................................	9.20
240–249 ...............................................	9.60
250–259 ...............................................	10.00
260–269 ...............................................	10.40
270–279 ...............................................	10.80
280–289 ...............................................	11.20
290–299 ...............................................	11.60
300–309 ...............................................	12.00
310–319 ...............................................	12.40
320–329 ...............................................	12.80
330–339 ...............................................	13.20
340–349 ...............................................	13.60
350–359 ...............................................	14.00
360–369 ...............................................	14.40
370–379 ...............................................	14.80
380–389 ...............................................	15.20
390–399 ...............................................	15.60
400 or more ............................................	16.00

“ (5) High electricity charges allowance is not payable to a member in respect of so much of the electricity supplied in any one charging period as exceeds—

(a) where an electric hot water service is used in the premises in which the member ordinarily resides—400 units of electricity in any one monthly charging period, 800 units of electricity in any two-monthly charging period or 1200 units of electricity in any one quarterly charging period, as the case may be; or

(b) in any other case—300 units of electricity in any one monthly charging period, 600 units of electricity in any one two-monthly charging period or 900 units of electricity in any one quarterly charging period, as the case may be.

“ (6) High electricity charges allowance is not payable to a member if the amount calculated in accordance with sub-regulation (2) in relation to the member would be less than $3 in any one quarterly charging period or $2 in any one two-monthly charging period or $1 in any one monthly charging period, as the case may be.

“ (7) Where airconditioning allowance is payable under regulation 9C to a member to whom this regulation applies in respect of an approved month or approved months during a charging period, the number of units of electricity supplied for domestic purposes during the charging period to the premises in which the member ordinarily resides shall, for the purpose of calculating the amount of high electricity charges allowance payable to the member under this regulation, be deemed to be reduced by a number equal to the prescribed number in relation to that approved month or the sum of the prescribed numbers in relation to each of those approved months, as the case may be.

“ (8) A member who is responsible for the payment of charges imposed by an electricity supply authority for the supply of electricity over a period that is less than the charging period in respect of that supply is entitled to be paid an allowance in respect of each day of the first-mentioned period calculated at the rate of—

(a) in relation to a quarterly charging period—one-ninetieth;

(b) in relation to a two monthly charging period—one-sixtieth; or

of the amount of high electricity charges allowance that would have been payable to the member under this regulation if electricity had been supplied during the whole of the charging period at the same rate at which electricity was supplied during the first-mentioned period.

“ (9) In this regulation—

‘ approved month ’ has the same meaning as in regulation 9C;

‘ electricity supply authority ’, in relation to charges for the supply of electricity imposed by the Department of Defence, means the Department of Defence;

‘ prescribed number ’, in relation to an approved month, means the number that is the prescribed number in relation to that approved month for the purposes of sub-regulation 9C (3).

Airconditioning allowance

“ 9C. (1) Where the home maintained by a category M member for his dependants is in married quarters in a prescribed locality, being married quarters in which airconditioning facilities have been installed by, or at the expense of—

(a) Australia; or

(b) with the consent of the Minister—the member,

the member is, subject to and in accordance with the succeeding provisions of this regulation, entitled to be paid an allowance, called ‘ airconditioning allowance ’, in respect of the cost of operating those facilities during an approved month.

“ (2) Where married quarters referred to in sub-regulation (1) are unoccupied during the whole of an approved month, airconditioning allowance is not payable to a member in respect of that month.

“ (3) The amount of airconditioning allowance payable to a member under sub-regulation (1) in respect of an approved month is an amount calculated in accordance with the formula—

where—

A is the prescribed number in relation to that approved month; and

B is the amount (exclusive of any fixed charge or service fee) payable by a person for the supply of one unit of electricity in the prescribed locality.

“ (4) For the purposes of sub-regulation (3), the prescribed number in relation to an approved month, other than an approved month referred to in sub-regulation (5), is 480.

“ (5) For the purposes of sub-regulation (3), the prescribed number in relation to an approved month, being an approved month during which the married quarters referred to in sub-regulation (1) are occupied by the member referred to in sub-regulation (1) or by a dependant of the member for part only of that approved month, is the number calculated in accordance with the formula—

where C is the number of days during that prescribed month on which the married quarters were not occupied by the member or by a dependant of the member.

“ (6) Where a scale of charges applies in respect of the supply of electricity for domestic purposes in a prescribed locality, the reference in sub-regulation (3) to the amount (exclusive of any fixed charge or service fee) payable by a person for the supply of one unit of electricity for domestic purposes in that locality shall be read as a reference to the lowest amount (exclusive of any fixed charge or service fee) provided for in that scale of charges in respect of the supply of one unit of electricity for domestic purposes.

“ (7) For the purposes of this regulation, Exmouth in the State of Western Australia is a prescribed locality.

“ (8) A reference in this regulation to an approved month shall be read as a reference to a month approved, in respect of a prescribed locality, by the Minister for the purposes of this sub-regulation.

“ (9) The Minister shall not approve, in respect of a prescribed locality, a month for the purposes of sub-regulation (8) unless, after having considered the records of climatic conditions prevailing in that locality, he is of the opinion that a member and his dependants resident in that locality are likely, owing to the climatic conditions prevailing in that locality, to suffer hardship during that month without the use of airconditioning facilities.”.

Rations and quarters charge.

3. Regulation 19 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the words “ or is admitted to hospital ”;

(b) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (5) the words “ or is in hospital ”; and

“ (aa) is in hospital; ”.

Commencement.

4. (1) The amendment effected by regulation 1 shall be deemed to have come into operation on 1 December 1973.

(2) The amendment effected by regulation 2 in so far as it relates to the payment of airconditioning allowance shall be deemed to have come into operation on 1 December 1973.

(3) The amendment effected by regulation 2 in so far as it relates to the payment of high electricity charges allowance shall be deemed to have come into operation on 10 April 1974.

(4) The amendments effected by regulation 3 shall be deemed to have come into operation on 22 July 1975.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1976 No. 3, made under the Defence Act 1903-1975, the Naval Defence Act 1910-1975, and the Air Force Act 1923-1975, addresses the need for adjustments to allowances for electricity charges and rations and quarters charges for members of the Australian Defence Force. Enacted by the Administrator of the Government of Australia with the advice of the Executive Council, these regulations aim to provide financial relief to members facing high electricity charges and to clarify the conditions under which rations and quarters charges apply. The policy objective is to ensure that members of the Defence Force receive appropriate financial support in relation to their living expenses, particularly in areas affected by high electricity costs or specific climatic conditions necessitating air conditioning use.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1975, the Naval Defence Act 1910-1975 and the Air Force Act 1923-1975 apply to members of the Australian Defence Force who are responsible for paying domestic electricity charges and those residing in prescribed localities where air conditioning is deemed necessary due to climatic conditions. Specifically, the regulations address allowances for high electricity charges and air conditioning costs, providing financial support to members whose domestic electricity usage exceeds certain thresholds. The allowances are subject to conditions such as the number of units of electricity used and the duration of electricity supply. These regulations do not apply to electricity usage exceeding specified limits and have specific exclusions, such as when the amount of allowance would be less than certain minimum thresholds. The regulations extend their application through detailed tables that outline the member's contribution based on the units of electricity used during different charging periods. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, as they apply to members residing in various locations across Australia, including prescribed localities such as Exmouth in Western Australia. The regulations came into operation at different times, with the amendments concerning air conditioning allowance and high electricity charges allowance taking effect on 1 December 1973 and 10 April 1974, respectively, while the amendment concerning rations and quarters charge came into operation on 22 July 1975.

Key Provisions

The Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations, as amended, primarily introduce and regulate the allowances for high electricity charges and air conditioning for members of the defence forces. Regulation 2 introduces a 'high electricity charges allowance' which applies to members responsible for paying electricity charges for domestic use. This allowance is calculated based on the excess of the actual charges over a predefined contribution for a specific charging period (quarterly, two-monthly, or monthly). The contribution amount is determined by the units of electricity used during the relevant period, with different rates applying before and after March 1975. The allowance is subject to certain caps on the units of electricity used and a minimum allowance threshold. Regulation 9b outlines specific scenarios where the allowance is not payable, such as when the member uses an electric hot water service or when the calculated allowance is below a certain amount. Furthermore, if air conditioning allowance is payable, the units of electricity used are reduced by a prescribed number for the calculation of the high electricity charges allowance. These regulations impose specific obligations on the members of the defence forces, such as accurately reporting the units of electricity used for domestic purposes and ensuring that any claims for allowances are made within the specified timeframes. Members must also ensure that any claims for high electricity charges allowance comply with the limits and thresholds set out in the regulations. For air conditioning allowance, members must ensure that their home is maintained in married quarters within a prescribed locality where air conditioning facilities are installed and operational during the approved months. Breaches of these regulations may result in the non-payment of allowances to which the member is entitled or, in more severe cases, may be subject to disciplinary action under the relevant Defence Acts. While the regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, breaches could potentially lead to administrative penalties or actions under the general provisions of the Defence Acts. It is important for members to adhere to the reporting requirements and the conditions for the allowances to avoid any negative consequences.

Area of Law: Defence Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Offence Provisions; Regulatory Standards

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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.

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