Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment)

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1978 No. 50

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

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 eleventh day of April 1978.

ZELMAN COWEN

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

D. J. KILLEN

Minister of State for Defence

AMENDMENTS OF THE DEFENCE FORCE (SALARIES) REGULATTONS†

Schedules 1-9 (inclusive)

1. Schedules 1 to 9 (inclusive) to the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations are repealed and the following Schedules substituted: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
Navy	Army	Air Force	rate of salary
			$
Rear-Admiral........	Major-General........	Air Vice-Marshal........	32,336
Commodore.........	Brigadier...........	Air Commodore.........	27,607

* Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 13 April 1978.

† 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; 1975, Nos. 34, 149, 163 and 197; 1976, Nos. 3, 13, 48, 81, 120, 130, 136, 197, 239 and 263; 1977, Nos. 69, 80, 95, 96, 101, 128, 139, 159, 215 and 216; and 1978, Nos. 1, 3 and 4.

SCHEDULE 2 Regulation 7

MALE OFFICERS OTHER THAN OFFICERS WHO HOLD A RANK
SPECIFIED IN SCHEDULE 1 OR ARE OFFICERS DESCRIBED IN
SCHEDULE 3, 4, 5, 6 OR 9

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Acting Sub-Lieutenant..	Second Lieutenant.....	Pilot Officer.........	10,105
(Supplementary List)
Sub-Lieutenant—	Lieutenant—	Flying Officer—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	10,645
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	11,182
Lieutenant—
Under 1 year.......	2 years...........	2 years...........	11,713
1 year............	3 years...........	3 years...........	12,242
	Captain—	Flight Lieutenant—
2 years...........	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	12,849
3 years..........	1 year............	1 year............	13,455
4 years...........	2 years...........	2 years...........	14,062
5 years...........	3 years...........	3 years...........	14,670
6 years...........	4 years...........	4 years...........	15,275
7 years...........	5 years...........	5 years...........	15,881
Lieutenant-Commander—	Major—	Squadron Leader—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	16,627
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	17,374
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years...........	18,119
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years...........	18,866
Commander—	Lieutenant Colonel—	Wing Commander—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	19,813
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	20,758
Captain—	Colonel—	Group Captain—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	21,838
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	22,919

SCHEDULE 3 Regulation 7

FEMALE OFFICERS (OTHER THAN MEDICAL OFFICERS AND DENTAL
OFFICERS) AND OFFICERS WHO ARE MALE NURSES

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
	Second Lieutenant.....	Pilot Officer.........	8,231
Sister or 3rd Officer—	Lieutenant—	Section Officer or Flying Officer—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	8,663
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	9,092
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years...........	9,517
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years...........	9,945
Senior Sister or 2nd Officer—	Captain—	Flight Officer or Flight Lieutenant—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	10,438
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	10,932
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years...........	11,422
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years...........	11,906
4 years...........	4 years...........	4 years...........	12,391
5 years...........	5 years...........	5 years...........	12,876
Superintending Sister or 1st Officer—	Major—	Squadron Officer or Squadron Leader—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	13,474
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	14,070
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years...........	14,668
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years...........	15,264
Matron or Chief Officer—	Lieutenant-Colonel—	Wing Officer or Wing Commander—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	16,022
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	16,778
Captain—	Colonel—	Group Officer or Group Captain—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	17,641
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	18,506

SCHEDULE 4 Regulation 7

NAVAL OFFICERS OF THE SPECIAL DUTIES LIST, ARMY OFFICERS COMMISSIONED FROM SERGEANT AND ABOVE AND EQUIVALENT RANKS, OTHER THAN GRADUATES OF AN OFFICER CADET SCHOOL, AND AIR FORCE OFFICERS COMMISSIONED FROM SERGEANT AND ABOVE AND EQUIVALENT RANKS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
		Pilot Officer...........	13,149
Sub-Lieutenant—	Lieutenant—	Flying Officer—
Under 1 year....	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	13,757
1 year........	1 year............	1 year............	14,062
Lieutenant—
Under 1 year....	2 years...........	2 years...........	14,366
1 year........	3 years...........	3 years...........	14,670
	Captain—	Flight Lieutenant—
2 years...........	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	14,973
3 years........	1 year............	1 year............	15,275
5 years........	3 years...........	3 years...........	15,580
7 years........	5 years...........	5 years...........	15,881

SCHEDULE 5 Regulation 7

MEDICAL OFFICERS AND DENTAL OFFICERS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			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)	12,849
Lieutenant—	Captain—	Flight Lieutenant—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	17,879
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	19,334
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years...........	20,058
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years...........	20,784
4 years...........	4 years...........	4 years...........	21,514
5 years...........	5 years...........	5 years...........	22,240
Lieutenant-Commander—	Major—	Squadron Leader—
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	23,828
1 year............	1 year............	1 year............	24,624
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years...........	25,419
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years...........	26,215
Commander........	Lieutenant-Colonel...	Wing Commander....	29,528
Captain...........	Colonel...........	Group Captain......	32,620
Commodore........	Brigadier..........	Air Commodore.....	29,971
Rear-Admiral.......	Major-General......	Air Vice-Marshal....	32,336

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.....	12,849
1 year.......	1 year..........	1 year..........	13,455
2 years.......	2 years.........	2 years.........	14,062
3 years.......	3 years.........	3 years.........	14,670
	Chaplain, 3rd Class—
4 years.......	Under 2 years....	4 years.........	15,275
6 years.......	2 years.........	6 years.........	15,881
8 years.......	4 years.........	8 years.........	16,423
10 years......	6 years.........	10 years........	16,964
12 years......	8 years.........	12 years........	17,506
14 years......	10 years........	14 years........	18,048
16 years......	12 years........	16 years........	18,591
18 years......	14 years........	18 years........	19,131
20 years......	16 years........	20 years........	19,675
22 years......	18 years........	22 years........	20,215
	Chaplain-General...........	Principal Air Chaplain.....	20,758

SCHEDULE 7 Regulation 8

MALE 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 level	Pay level	Pay level	Pay level	Pay level	Pay level
Navy	Army	Air Force	1	2	3	4	5	6
			$	$	$	$	$	$
Seaman.....	Private.....	Aircraftman	7,435	7,919	8,391	8,871	9,347	9,818
Able Seaman.	Lance Corporal	Leading Air-craftman	7,620	8,102	8,573	9,054	9,524	10,001
Leading Seaman	Corporal....	Corporal....	7,934	8,406	8,878	9,354	9,826	10,305

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.......	8,305
1 year..........	1 year...........	1 year............	8,778
2 years.........	2 years..........	2 years...........	9,246
3 years.........	3 years..........	3 years...........	9,720
4 years.........	4 years..........	4 years...........	10,197
5 years.........	5 years..........	5 years...........	10,678
6 years.........	6 years..........	6 years...........	11,158

SCHEDULE 7—continued

Part III

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Artificer, 1st Class, Mechanician, 1st Class, Naval Shipwright, 1st Class—	Staff Sergeant—	Flight Sergeant—
Under 1 year....	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year......	11,158
1 year........	1 year...........	1 year...........	11,634
2 years........	2 years..........	2 years..........	12,111
Chief Petty Officer—	Warrant Officer, Class 2—
Under 1 year....	Under 1 year......	3 years..........	12,591
1 year........	1 year...........	4 years..........	13,070
Warrant Officer—	Warrant Officer, Class 1—	Warrant Officer—
Under 1 year....	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year......	13,585
1 year........	1 year...........	1 year...........	14,098

SCHEDULE 8 Regulation 8

FEMALE 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 level	Pay level	Pay level	Pay level	Pay level	Pay level
Navy	Army	Air Force	1	2	3	4	5	6
			$	$	$	$	$	$
Wran.......	Private......	Aircraft Woman	7,435	7,919	8,391	8,871	9,347	9,818
Senior Wran..	Lance Corporal	Leading Air-craftwoman	7,582	8,006	8,535	9,018	9,490	9,963
Leading Wran.	Corporal....	Corporal...	7,835	8,310	8,781	9,259	9,729	10,208

Part II

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			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......	8,133
1 year...........	1 year...........	1 year...........	8,607
2 years..........	2 years..........	2 years..........	9,077
3 years..........	3 years..........	3 years..........	9,551
4 years..........	4 years..........	4 years..........	10,024
5 years..........	5 years..........	5 years..........	10,505
6 years..........	6 years..........	6 years..........	10,983

SCHEDULE 8—continued

Part III

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
Chief Petty Officer—	Staff Sergeant—	Flight Sergeant—	$
Under 1 year..	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year......	10,983
1 year.......	1 year...........	1 year...........	11,369
2 years......	2 years..........	2 years..........	11,750
	Warrant Officer, Class 2—
	Under 1 year......		12,134
	1 year...........		12,518
Warrant Officer—	Warrant Officer, Class 1—	Warrant Officer—
Under 1 year..	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year......	12,928
1 year.......	1 year...........	1 year...........	13,338

25260/78—6

SCHEDULE 9 Regulation 9

MEMBERS UNDERGOING TRAINING

Item	Training capacities	Annual rate of salary
		$
1	Normal entry recruits during basic recruit training..................	6,471
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............................................	6,653
	2nd and subsequent years................................	7,806
3	Junior trainees, being junior musicians, apprentice musicians and other apprentices—
	1st year............................................	3,726
	2nd year............................................	4,879
	3rd year............................................	6,653
	4th year............................................	7,806
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	3,701
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............................................	5,346
	2nd year............................................	6,035
	3rd year............................................	6,724
	4th year............................................	7,413
	5th year............................................	8,101
	6th year............................................	8,791
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............................................	4,114
	2nd year............................................	4,729
	3rd year............................................	5,346
	4th year............................................	6,035
	5th year............................................	6,724
	6th year............................................	7,413
	7th year............................................	8,101
	8th year............................................	8,791
7	Members, not being members to whom item 5 or 6 applies, undertaking degree courses—
	with 3 years to graduation................................	6,035
	with 2 years to graduation................................	6,724
	in final year.........................................	7,413
8	Members of the Navy, and air cadets not at the Air Force Academy, undertaking diploma courses—
	1st year............................................	4,729
	2nd year (or matriculation or equivalent entry)..................	5,346
	3rd year............................................	6,035
	4th year............................................	6,724
9	Male officer trainees, being officer cadets (Army) and aircrew cadets (Air Force)—
	If not completed degree course.............................	6,724
	If completed degree course...............................	7,413
10	Female officer trainees—
	If not completed degree course.............................	5,380
	If completed degree course...............................	5,930
11	Members of the Navy, other than members to whom another item of this Schedule applies, who hold the rank of Midshipman of the Supplementary List—
	1st year............................................	6,724
	2nd year............................................	7,413

Schedule 4

2. Schedule 4 to the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended by omitting the heading and substituting the following heading:

“ OFFICERS OF THE SPECIAL DUTIES LIST OF THE NAVY, OFFICERS OF THE ARMY (OTHER THAN GRADUATES OF AN OFFICER CADET SCHOOL) AND OFFICERS OF 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 ”.

Application

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

(a) by members of the Navy or of the Army—after 2 March 1978; and

(b) by members of the Air Force—after 1 March 1978.

Overview

The Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations 1978, enacted under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910 and the Air Force Act 1923, were introduced to establish and adjust the salary rates for various ranks within the Australian Defence Force, including the Navy, Army, and Air Force. The Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, promulgated these regulations. These regulations provide detailed annual salary rates for officers and enlisted personnel based on their rank, years of service, and specific duties. The policy objective is to ensure that members of the Defence Force are compensated fairly and in accordance with their roles and experience. The regulations are structured in multiple schedules, each detailing the salary rates for different categories of personnel, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for remuneration within the Defence Force.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1978 No. 50 under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910, and the Air Force Act 1923 detail amendments to the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations. These Regulations apply to various ranks within the Australian Defence Force, including officers and members, and outline their respective annual rates of salary. The regulations specify different salary schedules for male and female officers, medical officers, chaplains, and members of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Notably, the regulations include distinctions based on rank, years of service, and specific duties. The new regulations replace the previous schedules and come into effect on different dates for the Navy, Army, and Air Force. The application of these regulations is nationwide, covering all members of the Australian Defence Force who serve after the specified dates. These Regulations do not specify any exclusions or thresholds, but they do provide detailed breakdowns of salary rates based on service conditions and length of service. The application of these regulations can be further extended or modified through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

These Regulations, specifically Schedules 1 to 9, establish the annual salary rates for various ranks of officers and members in the Navy, Army, and Air Force, effective from specified dates in 1978. Schedule 1 sets out salary rates for Rear-Admirals, Major-Generals, and Air Vice-Marshals, with an annual salary of $32,336. Schedule 2 details the salary rates for male officers in various ranks across the Navy, Army, and Air Force, with rates ranging from $10,105 for Acting Sub-Lieutenants, Second Lieutenants, and Pilot Officers to $15,881 for Captains, Majors, and Squadron Leaders with 7 years of service. Schedule 3 specifies salary rates for female officers and male nurses, with rates from $8,231 for Second Lieutenants, Pilot Officers, and Sisters or 3rd Officers to $18,506 for Captains, Colonels, and Group Officers or Group Captains. Schedule 4 sets out salary rates for officers on the Special Duties List, commissioned from sergeant and above, with rates from $13,149 for Pilot Officers and Sub-Lieutenants to $15,881 for Captains, Flight Lieutenants, and Squadron Leaders with 7 years of service. Schedule 5 outlines salary rates for medical and dental officers, ranging from $12,849 for officers performing their compulsory residency to $32,620 for Captains, Colonels, and Group Captains. Schedule 6 specifies salary rates for chaplains, from $12,849 for Chaplains with under 1 year of service to $19,675 for Chaplain-Generals with 20 years of service. Schedule 7 details salary rates for male members other than officers and those undergoing training, with rates from $7,435 for Seamen and Privates to $13,585 for Chief Petty Officers, Warrant Officers, Class 2, and Warrant Officers, Class 1. Schedule 8 provides salary rates for female members other than officers and those undergoing training, ranging from $7,435 for Wrans and Privates to $13,338 for Warrant Officers, Class 1. Schedule 9 sets out salary rates for members undergoing training in various capacities, from $3,701 for junior recruits to $8,791 for Royal Military College cadets and subordinate officers in their 7th and 8th years. The Regulations impose obligations on the Defence Force to adhere to the specified salary rates for officers and members in the Navy, Army, and Air Force, as detailed in Schedules 1 to 9. These salary rates must be applied to the respective ranks and service conditions as outlined in the Regulations. Any failure to comply with the salary rates specified in the Regulations may result in legal consequences, although the exact nature of such consequences is not explicitly stated in the provided text. It is implied that non-compliance could lead to disputes regarding remuneration, which might be addressed through the administrative or judicial processes available under Australian law. However, the specific penalties or legal repercussions for non-compliance are not detailed in the provided excerpt.

Area of Law: Defence & Military Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Regulatory Standards; Salary & Remuneration

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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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