Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment)

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Statutory Rules

1980 No. 217

REGULATION 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 Regulation under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910 and the Air Force Act 1923.

Dated this twenty-ninth day of July 1980.

ZELMAN COWEN

Governor-General

By His Excellencys Command,

J. E. MCLEAY

Minister of State for Administrative Services for and

on behalf of the Minister of State for Defence

 

AMENDMENT OF THE DEFENCE FORCE (SALARIES) REGULATIONS2

  After Part II of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations the following Part is inserted:

PART IIICOMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO CLOTHING OR PERSONAL EFFECTS OF MEMBERS

Member includes a chief of staff

 23. In this Part, member includes a chief of staff.

Compensation for loss of, or damage to, clothing or personal effects

 24. (1) Subject to sub-regulation (2), where

 (a) a member sustains loss of, or damage to, clothing or personal effects; and

 (b) the loss or damage is attributable to the service of the member,

the member shall be paid in respect of the loss or damage an amount equal to the amount required to compensate the member fully for the loss or damage sustained by him.

 (2) The amount that would, but for this sub-regulation, be payable to a member in respect of the loss of, or damage to, his clothing or personal effects shall be reduced by the sum of

 (a) any amount paid or payable to the member otherwise than in accordance with this regulation by way of damages or compensation for that loss or damage or under a contract of insurance in respect of that loss or damage; and

 (b) any amount by which it is reasonable to reduce that first-mentioned amount because the member contributed to the loss or damage by his failure to take the precautions that he might reasonably have been expected to have taken to avoid the loss or damage.

 (3) Where the loss of, or damage to, the clothing or personal effects of a member

 (a) occurs while he is protecting or endeavouring to protect the property of the Commonwealth from loss or damage;

 (b) is caused by a fault or a defect in goods or other property belonging to the Commonwealth; or

 (c) results from an act of, or omission by, another member or any other person employed by the Commonwealth,

that loss of or damage shall be deemed not to be attributable to the service of the member if the clothing is, or is to be, or the personal effects are, or are to be, replaced or repaired at the expense of the Commonwealth.

 (4) Where the loss of, or damage to, the clothing or personal effects of a member is sustained by the member in circumstances other than those set out in paragraph (3) (a), (b) or (c), that loss or damage shall be deemed not to be attributable to the service of the member where

 (a) the loss or damage would not have occurred if he had taken the precautions that he might reasonably have been expected to have taken to avoid the loss or damage;

 (b) he could reasonably have been expected to have insured himself against loss or damage occurring in the circumstances in which the loss or damage occurred;

 (c) he could reasonably be expected to take proceedings for the recovery of an amount equal to the amount of the loss or damage sustained by him from a person who may be liable to the member for the loss or damage;

 (d) he has received, or is entitled to receive, from a person liable to the member for the loss or damage an amount equal to the amount of the loss or damage;

 (e) proceedings have been instituted by the member against a person who may be liable to the member for the loss or damage sustained by him and those proceedings have not been finally disposed of; or

 (f) the clothing or personal effects are to be, or have been, replaced or repaired at the expense of the Commonwealth.

 (5) Nothing in this regulation affects any right a member may have to recover damages from the Commonwealth or from any other person in respect of the loss or damage, but if, after an amount has been paid to a member under this regulation, the member recovers damages in respect of the loss or damage, an amount equal to the amount paid under this regulation, or, if that amount is greater than the amount recovered as damages, an amount equal to the amount recovered as damages, is recoverable from the member as a debt due to the Commonwealth.

 (6) In this regulation, Commonwealth includes a body corporate (not being an incorporated company, society or association) incorporated for a public purpose by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a Territory..

NOTES

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 August 1980.

2. Statutory Rules 1973 No. 100 as amended to date. For previous amendments see Note 2 to Statutory Rules 1980 No. 1 and see also Statutory Rules 1980 Nos. 1, 4, 9, 20, 23, 34, 42, 43, 55, 73, 132, 142, 148, 155, 174 and 216.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1980 No. 217, enacted under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910, and the Air Force Act 1923, introduced amendments to the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations, specifically adding a new Part III to address compensation for loss of or damage to clothing or personal effects of members. This regulation was made by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The primary policy objective of these amendments is to provide a systematic and fair approach for compensating Defence Force members who suffer losses or damages to their personal belongings due to their service, while ensuring that the compensation does not overlap with other forms of recovery or insurance. The regulation aims to balance the need for support to members with the principle of avoiding unnecessary duplication in compensation.

Scope and Application

The regulation applies to members of the Australian Defence Force, which includes personnel serving in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force, as well as chiefs of staff within these branches. It pertains to compensation for loss or damage to members' clothing or personal effects attributable to their service. The regulation is applicable nationally as it is made under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910, and the Air Force Act 1923, thereby extending to all Commonwealth areas. There are specific exclusions from compensation under the regulation, such as cases where the loss or damage would not have occurred if the member had taken reasonable precautions, or where the member could have reasonably been expected to insure against such loss or damage. Additionally, if the member recovers damages from another source for the same loss or damage, they must repay the Commonwealth an amount equivalent to the compensation received under this regulation.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations Amendment (Compensation for Loss of or Damage to Clothing or Personal Effects of Members) Regulations 1980, which is a legislative instrument, pertain to compensation for loss of, or damage to, clothing or personal effects of members of the defence force. Specifically, regulation 24 outlines the circumstances under which a member may be compensated for such loss or damage. If a member sustains loss of, or damage to, clothing or personal effects attributable to their service, they shall be paid an amount that fully compensates them for the loss or damage sustained. This amount is subject to reduction if the member has already received compensation or damages from another source, or if it is reasonable to reduce the amount due to the member's failure to take reasonable precautions to avoid the loss or damage. Regulation 23 provides a definition for the term "member" within the context of these regulations, clarifying that it includes a chief of staff. The obligations imposed on parties governed by these regulations primarily involve the timely and accurate assessment and payment of compensation to members who have sustained loss or damage to their clothing or personal effects in the course of their service. The regulations require that compensation be calculated based on the full amount necessary to compensate the member, with appropriate deductions made where applicable. The regulations also outline specific circumstances under which compensation is not payable. For instance, if the loss or damage is due to the member's failure to take reasonable precautions, or if they could reasonably have insured themselves against the loss or damage, compensation is not required. Furthermore, if the member has already received compensation from another source or has instituted proceedings against a liable party, compensation under these regulations is not payable. Additionally, if the Commonwealth is responsible for replacing or repairing the lost or damaged items, compensation is not required. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed within the text. However, it is noted that if a member recovers damages from another source after receiving compensation under these regulations, the amount paid to the member may be recoverable from them as a debt due to the Commonwealth.

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