Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment)

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Statutory Rules

1979 No. 163

REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903, THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910 AND THE AIR FORCE ACT 19231

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910 and the Air Force Act 1923.

Dated this seventh day of August 1979.

ZELMAN COWEN

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

J. E. McLEAY

Minister of State for Administrative Services for and on behalf of the Minister of State for Defence

––––––––––

AMENDMENTS OF THE DEFENCE FORCE (SALARIES) REGULATIONS2

Senior Chaplain’s allowance

1. Regulation 16 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended by omitting “$370” and substituting “$382”.

Schedules 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9

2. Schedules 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the Defence Forces (Salaries) Regulations are repealed and the following Schedules substituted:

SCHEDULE 1 Regulation 7

OFFICERS WHO HOLD SPECIFIED RANKS OTHER THAN OFFICERS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE 5

			Column 4
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Rear-Admiral..	Major-General....	Air Vice-Marshal.....	35,156
Commodore...	Brigadier.......	Air Commodore......	30,016

SCHEDULE 2 Regulation 7

OFFICERS OTHER THAN OFFICERS WHO HOLD A RANK SPECIFIED IN SCHEDULE 1 OR ARE OFFICERS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE 4, 5, 6 OR 9

			Column 4
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Acting Sub-Lieutenant..	Second Lieutenant..	Pilot Officer.....	10,986
Sub-Lieutenant–	Lieutenant–	Flying Officer–
Under 1 year........	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year....	11,573
1 year............	1 year.........	1 year........	12,157
2 years...........	2 years........	2 years.......	12,735
3 years...........	3 years........	3 years.......	13,310
Lieutenant	Captain–	Flight Lieutenant–
Under 1 year........	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year....	13,970
1 year............	1 year.........	1 year........	14,629
2 years...........	2 years........	2 years.......	15,289
3 years...........	3 years........	3 years.......	15,950
4 years...........	4 years........	4 years.......	16,608
5 years...........	5 years........	5 years.......	17,265
Lieutenant Commander–	Major–	Squadron Leader–
Under 1 year........	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year....	18,078
1 year............	1 year.........	1 year........	18,890
2 years...........	2 years........	2 years.......	19,700
3 years...........	3 years........	3 years.......	20,511
Commander–	Lieutenant Colonel–	Wing Commander–
Under 1 year........	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year....	21,542
1 year............	1 year.........	1 year........	22,569
Captain–	Colonel–	Group Captain–
Under 1 year........	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year....	23,743
1 year............	1 year.........	1 year........	24,919

SCHEDULE 4 Regulation 7

OFFICERS OF THE NAVY, THE ARMY (OTHER THAN GRADUATES OF AN OFFICER CADET SCHOOL) AND THE AIR FORCE, BEING OFFICERS WHO, IMMEDIATELY BEFORE APPOINTMENT AS OFFICERS WITH A RANK SPECIFIED IN THIS SCHEDULE, WERE MEMBERS WHO HELD A RANK SPECIFIED IN PART II OR III OF SCHEDULE 7

			Column 4
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Acting Sub-Lieutenant..		Pilot officer.....	14,296
Sub-Lieutenant–	Lieutenant–	Flying Officer–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year....	14,957
1 year...........	1 year.........	1 year........	15,289
2 years...........	2 years........	2 years.......	15,619
3 years...........	3 years........	3 years.......	15,950
Lieutenant–	Captain–	Flight Lieutenant–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year....	16,280
1 year...........	1 year.........	1 year........	16,608
3 years...........	3 years........	3 years.......	16,939
5 years...........	5 years........	5 years.......	17,265

SCHEDULE 5 Regulation 7

MEDICAL OFFICERS AND DENTAL OFFICERS

			Column 4
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Officer performing year of compulsory residency (from under-graduate scheme)	Officer performing year of compulsory residency (from under-graduate scheme)	Officer performing year of compulsory residency (from under-graduate scheme)	13,970
Lieutenant–	Captain–	Flight Lieutenant–
Under 1 year......	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year.....	19,438
1 year...........	1 year..........	1 year..........	21,020
2 years..........	2 years..........	2 years.........	21,808
3 years..........	3 years..........	3 years.........	22,597
4 years..........	4 years..........	4 years.........	23,391
5 years..........	5 years..........	5 years.........	24,180
Lieutenant-Commander–	Major–	Squadron Leader–
Under 1 year......	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year.....	25,907
1 year...........	1 year..........	1 year..........	26,772
2 years..........	2 years..........	2 years.........	27,636
3 years..........	3 years..........	3 years.........	28,502
Commander........	Lieutenant-Colonel...	Wing Commander...	32,103
Captain...........	Colonel..........	Group Captain.....	35,466
Commodore........	Brigadier.........	Air Commodore....	32,585
Rear-Admiral.......	Major-General......	Air Vice-Marshal...	35,156

SCHEDULE 6 Regulation 7

CHAPLAINS

			Column 4
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Chaplain–	Chaplain, 4th Class–	Chaplain–
Under 1 year......	Under 1 year....	Under 1 year......	13,970
1 year.........	1 year.......	1 year.........	14,629
2 years.........	2 years......	2 years........	15,289
3 years.........	3 years......	3 years........	15,950
	Chaplain, 3rd Class–
4 years.........	Under 2 years...	4 years........	16,608
6 years.........	2 years......	6 years........	17,265
8 years.........	4 years......	8 years........	17,855
10 years........	6 years......	10 years........	18,444
12 years........	8 years......	12 years........	19,033
14 years........	10 years......	14 years........	19,622
16 years........	12 years......	16 years........	20,213
18 years........	14 years......	18 years........	20,800
20 years........	16 years......	20 years........	21,391
22 years........	18 years......	22 years........	21,979
	Chaplain-General..	Principal Air Chaplain.	22,569

SCHEDULE 7 Regulation 8

MEMBERS OTHER THAN OFFICERS AND MEMBERS UNDERGOING TRAINING IN A CAPACITY REFERRED TO IN SCHEDULE 9

Part I

Ranks			Annual rates of salary
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Pay	Pay	Pay	Pay	Pay	Pay
			level	level	level	level	level	level
Navy	Army	Air Force	1	2	3	4	5	6
			$	$	$	$	$	$
Seaman.....	Private....	Aircraftman	8,084	8,610	9,123	9,644	10,163	10,675
Able Seaman..	Lance Corporal	Leading Aircraftman	8,285	8,808	9,320	9,844	10,355	10,873
Leading Seaman	Corporal..	Corporal...	8,625	9,139	9,652	10,170	10,683	11,204

Part II

			Column 4
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Petty Officer–	Sergeant –	Sergeant–
Under 1 year........	Under 1 year...	Under 1 year.....	9,030
1 year.............	1 year.......	1 year.........	9,544
2 years............	2 years.......	2 years........	10,053
3 years............	3 years.......	3 years........	10,568
4 years............	4 years.......	4 years........	11,087
5 years............	5 years.......	5 years........	11,610
6 years............	6 years.......	6 years........	12,131

Part III

			Column 4
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Artificer, 1st Class–	Staff Sergeant–	Flight Sergeant –
Under 1 year.....	Under 1 year........	Under 1 year....	12,131
1 year.........	1 year.............	1 year........	12,648
2 years........	2 years............	2 years.......	13,167
Chief Petty Officer –	Warrant Officer, Class 2–
Under 1 year.....	Under 1 year........	3 years.......	13,689
1 year.........	1 year.............	4 years.......	14,211
Warrant Officer–	Warrant Officer, Class 1–	Warrant Officer–
Under 1 year.....	Under 1 year........	Under 1 year....	14,770
1 year.........	1 year.............	1 year........	15,327

SCHEDULE 9 Regulation 9

MEMBERS UNDERGOING TRAINING

Item	Training capacities	Annual rate of salary
		$
1	Normal entry recruits during basic recruit training...........................	7,035
2	Trainees, including sailors in the Navy who hold the rank of Seaman, who have attained the age of 17 years and who have not completed their category training–
	1st year....................................................	7,233
	2nd and subsequent years........................................	8,487
3	Junior trainees, being junior musicians, apprentice musicians and other apprentices–
	1st year....................................................	4,050
	2nd year...................................................	5,304
	3rd year...................................................	7,233
	4th year...................................................	8,487
4	Sailors in the Navy who hold the rank of Seaman and who have not attained the age of 17 years and junior recruits in the Navy	4,024
5	Royal Military College cadets, air cadets at the Air Force Academy and subordinate officers (that is to say, officers of the Navy who hold the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant or a lower rank) who entered the Royal Australian Naval College by way of senior entry–
	1st year....................................................	5,812
	2nd year...................................................	6,561
	3rd year...................................................	7,310
	4th year...................................................	8,059
	5th year...................................................	8,807
	6th year...................................................	9,557
6	Subordinate officers (that is to say, officers of the Navy who hold the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant or a lower rank) who entered the Royal Australian Naval College by way of junior entry–
	1st year....................................................	4,473
	2nd year...................................................	5,141
	3rd year...................................................	5,812
	4th year...................................................	6,561
	5th year...................................................	7,310
	6th year...................................................	8,059
	7th year...................................................	8,807
	8th year...................................................	9,557
7	Members, not being members to whom item 5 or 6 applies, undertaking degree courses–
	with 3 years to graduation........................................	6,561
	with 2 years to graduation........................................	7,310
	in final year.................................................	8,059
8	Members of the Navy, and air cadets not at the Air Force Academy, undertaking diploma courses–
	1st year....................................................	5,141
	2nd year (or matriculation or equivalent entry)..........................	5,812
	3rd year...................................................	6,561
	4th year...................................................	7,310
9	Officer trainees of the Army and Air Force, not being members referred to in item 5, 6, 7 or 8–
	If not completed degree course....................................	7,310
	If completed degree course.......................................	8,059
10	Officer trainees of the Navy, not being members referred to in item 5, 6, 7 or 8–
	1st year....................................................	7,310
	2nd year...................................................	8,059

Application

3. The Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations as amended by regulations 1 and 2 apply in relation to service by —

(a) members of the Navy and of the Army after 5 July 1979; and

(b) members of the Air Force after 4 July 1979.

NOTES

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 14 August 1979.

2. Statutory Rules 1973 No. 100 as amended to date. For previous amendments see Note 2 to Statutory Rules No. 4 and see also Statutory Rules 1979 Nos. 4, 23, 69, 84, 92, 119, 152 and 161.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1979 No. 163, enacted under the authority of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Federal Executive Council, amends the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations to address issues pertaining to the remuneration of personnel within the Navy, Army, and Air Force. This legislative instrument revises the annual salaries for various ranks, including officers and non-commissioned members, and updates the allowances for senior chaplains. The amendments are designed to align salaries with current economic conditions and maintain the competitiveness of Defence Force remuneration. The changes apply to service members from specific dates in July 1979, ensuring that the updated salary structures are implemented uniformly across the Defence Force.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1979 No. 163, made under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910, and the Air Force Act 1923, amend the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations, adjusting the salary of the Senior Chaplain and replacing the previous schedules with new ones detailing the annual rates of salary for officers and other members of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, based on their ranks and years of service. These regulations apply to members of the Navy and Army from 5 July 1979, and to members of the Air Force from 4 July 1979. The changes include detailed salary schedules for officers at various ranks, chaplains, and members undergoing training, among others. The regulations also provide specific allowances for certain categories of personnel, such as junior trainees, officer trainees, and members undertaking degree or diploma courses. This legislation ensures that remuneration within the Australian Defence Force is structured and equitable, aligning with the roles, responsibilities, and experience levels of the personnel involved.

Key Provisions

The main sections of this legislative instrument involve amendments to the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations (Regulations). Regulation 1 increases the allowance for Senior Chaplains from $370 to $382. Regulation 2 repeals existing Schedules 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 and substitutes them with new schedules detailing annual rates of salary for officers and other members of the Navy, Army, and Air Force based on their rank and years of service. These new schedules are comprehensive, listing the salary for each rank and the duration of service in the Navy, Army, and Air Force, as well as for chaplains and other specific categories of service members. The Regulations impose obligations on the Defence Force to pay the specified salaries to members of the Navy, Army, and Air Force based on their rank and length of service. These obligations are detailed in the new schedules, which must be adhered to in the payment of salaries to Defence Force personnel. The Regulations also establish a framework for the classification of service members according to their rank and the corresponding salary rates, ensuring that all members receive compensation in line with their service conditions. Breaches of these Regulations, particularly in the non-payment or incorrect payment of salaries as stipulated, could result in administrative or legal consequences. While the Regulations themselves do not explicitly detail penalties for breaches, non-compliance with statutory obligations could potentially lead to disciplinary action against Defence Force personnel responsible for payroll or to legal action by affected service members for breach of employment conditions or contract. The severity of any penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and applicable laws governing employment and Defence Force regulations.

Area of Law: Defence & Security Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Annual rate of salary; Regulation 7

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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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