Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment)

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Statutory Rules

1976 No. 197

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 ninth day of September, 1976.

JOHN R. KERR

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

D. J. KILLEN

Minister of State for Defence.

Amendments of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations†

General rates of salary payable to members.

1. Regulation 8 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2) and substituting the following sub-regulation:—

“ (2) Subject to sub-regulations (4) and (6), a member who is promoted to a rank specified in Part II of Schedule 7 or Part II of Schedule 8 shall, for the purposes of that Part, be deemed to have completed the number of years service in that rank specified in column 2 of the following table opposite the pay level specified in column 1 of that table that was appropriate, under the Service Financial Regulations, to the member immediately before he was so promoted:—

Column 1	Column 2
Appropriate pay level	Period of service deemed to have been completed in rank
Pay level 2 .......................................	1 year
Pay level 3 .......................................	2 years
Pay level 4 .......................................	3 years
Pay level 5 .......................................	4 years
Pay level 6 .......................................	5 years

* Notified in the Australian Government Gazette on 15 September 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; 1975, Nos. 34, 149, 163 and 197; and 1976, Nos. 3, 13, 48, 81, 120, 130 and 136.

Senior Chaplain’s allowance.

2. Regulation 16 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended by omitting the figures “ $327 ” and substituting the figures “ $332 ”.

Schedules 1-9 (inclusive).

3. Schedules 1 to 9 (inclusive) to the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations are repealed and the following Schedules substituted:—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

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
			$
Rear-Admiral ......	Major-General .......	Air Vice-Marshal .....	29,951
Commodore .......	Brigadier ..........	Air Commodore ......	25,481

SCHEDULE 2 Regulation 7

MalE Officers other than Officers who hold a Rank Specified in Schedule 1 or are Officers described in schedules 3, 4, 5, 6 or 9

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
			$
Acting Sub-Lieutenant .	Second Lieutenant ....	Pilot Officer .........	8,958
(Supplementary List)
Sub-Lieutenant—	Lieutenant—	Flying Officer—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	9,460
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	9,959
Lieutenant— .......
Under 1 year .......	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	10,460
1 year ..........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	10,960
	Captain—	Flight Lieutenant—
2 years .........	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	11,533
3 years .........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	12,107
4 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	12,680
5 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	13,254
6 years .........	4 years ..........	4 years ...........	13,826
7 years .........	5 years ..........	5 years ...........	14,399
Lieutenant-Commander—	Major—	Squadron Leader—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	15,104
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	15,810
2 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	16,515
3 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	17,220
Commander—	Lieutenant-Colonel—	Wing Commander—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	18,115
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	19,009
Captain— .........	Colonel—	Group Captain—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	20,029
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	21,051

SCHEDULE 3 Regulation 7

Female Officers and Officers who are Male Nurses

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
	Second Lieutenant ....	Pilot Officer .........	$
Sister or 3rd Officer—	Lieutenant—	Section Officer or Flying Officer—	7,230
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	7,625
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	8,020
2 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	8,413
3 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	8,809
Senior Sister or 2nd Officer-	Captain—	Flight Officer or Flight Lieutenant—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	9,267
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	9,725
2 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	10,185
3 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	10,643
4 years .........	4 years ..........	4 years ...........	11,101
5 years .........	5 years ..........	5 years ...........	11,560
Superintending Sister or 1st Officer—	Major—	Squadron Officer or Squadron Leader—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	12,124
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	12,688
2 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	13,252
3 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	13,816
Matron or Chief Officer—	Lieutenant-Colonel—	Wing Officer or Wing Commander—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	14,532
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	15,247
Captain—	Colonel—	Group Officer or Group Captain—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	16,063
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	16,880

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
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
			$
		Pilot Officer .........	11,818
Sub-Lieutenant—	Lieutenant—	Flying Officer—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	12,392
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	12,680
Lieutenant—
Under 1 year .....	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	12,968
1 year ..........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	13,254
	Captain—	Flight Lieutenant—
2 years .........	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year	13,541
3 years .........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	13,826
5 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	14,115
7 years .........	5 years ..........	5 years ...........	14,399

SCHEDULE 5 Regulation 7

Medical Officers and Dental Officers

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
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 undergraduate scheme)	Officer performing year of compulsory residency (from undergraduate scheme)	11,533
Lieutenant—	Captain—	Flight Lieutenant—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	13,765
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	14,923
2 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	15,502
3 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	16,081
4 years .........	4 years ..........	4 years ...........	16,659
5 years .........	5 years ..........	5 years ...........	17,240
Lieutenant-Commander—	Major— ...........	Squadron Leader—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year .......	18,505
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	19,139
2 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ...........	19,772
3 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ...........	20,409
Commander .......	Lieutenant-Colonel ....	Wing Commander .....	23,048
Captain ...........	Colonel ...........	Group Captain .......	25,363
Commodore .......	Brigadier ..........	Air Commodore ......	27,716
Rear-Admiral ......	Major-General .......	Air Vice-Marshal .....	29,951

SCHEDULE 6 Regulation 7

Chaplains

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
			$
Chaplain—	Chaplain, 4th Class—	Chaplain—
Under 1 year .......	Under 1 year ......	Under 1 year ......	11,533
1 year ..........	1 year ...........	1 year ...........	12,107
2 years .........	2 years ..........	2 years ..........	12,680
3 years .........	3 years ..........	3 years ..........	13,254
	Chaplain, 3rd Class—
4 years .........	Under 2 years .....	4 years ..........	13,826
6 years .........	2 years ..........	6 years ..........	14,399
8 years .........	4 years ..........	8 years ..........	14,911
10 years .........	6 years ..........	10 years .........	15,423
12 years .........	8 years ..........	12 years .........	15,934
14 years .........	10 years .........	14 years .........	16,447
16 years .........	12 years .........	16 years .........	16,960
18 years .........	14 years .........	18 years .........	17,471
20 years .........	16 years .........	20 years .........	17,984
22 years .........	18 years .........	22 years .........	18,495
	Chaplain-General .....	Principal Air Chaplain	19,009

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 Navy	Column 2 Army	Column 3 Air Force	Pay Level 1	Pay Level 2	Pay Level 3	Pay Level 4	Pay Level 5	Pay Level 6
			$	$	$	$	$	$
Seaman .....	Private .....	Aircraftman ..	6,503	6,945	7,377	7,816	8,255	8,693
Able Seaman	Lance Corporal	Leading Aircraftman	6,672	7,113	7,543	7,983	8,420	8,861
Leading Seaman	Corporal ..	Corporal ..	6,959	7,391	7,822	8,262	8,700	9,144

Part II

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
			$
Petty Officer—	Sergeant—	Sergeant—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	7,298
1 year ..........	1 year ..........	1 year ..........	7,730
2 years .........	2 years .........	2 years .........	8,161
3 years .........	3 years .........	3 years .........	8,601
4 years .........	4 years .........	4 years .........	9,044
5 years .........	5 years .........	5 years .........	9,489
6 years .........	6 years .........	6 years .........	9,935

Part III

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
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 .....	9,935
1 year ..........	1 year ..........	1 year ..........	10,386
2 years .........	2 years .........	2 years .........	10,837
Chief Petty Officer—	Warrant Officer, Class 2—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	3 years .........	11,290
1 year ..........	1 year ..........	4 years .........	11,743
Warrant Officer—	Warrant Officer, Class 1—	Warrant Officer—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	12,229
1 year ..........	1 year ..........	1 year ..........	12,714

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 Navy	Column 2 Army	Column 3 Air Force	Pay Level 1	Pay Level 2	Pay Level 3	Pay Level 4	Pay Level 5	Pay Level 6
			$	$	$	$	$	$
Wran ......	Private .....	Aircraftwoman	6,503	6,945	7,377	7,816	8,255	8,693
Senior Wran ..	Lance Corporal	Leading Aircraftwoman	6,638	7,080	7,510	7,950	8,387	8,827
Leading Wran	Corporal ....	Corporal ....	6,869	7,303	7,733	8,174	8,610	9,054

Part II

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
			$
Petty Officer—	Sergeant—	Sergeant—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	7,142
1 year ..........	1 year ..........	1 year ..........	7,574
2 years .........	2 years .........	2 years .........	8,005
3 years .........	3 years .........	3 years .........	8,444
4 years .........	4 years .........	4 years .........	8,884
5 years .........	5 years .........	5 years .........	9,330
6 years .........	6 years .........	6 years .........	9,773

Part III

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of Salary
			$
Chief Petty Officer—	Staff Sergeant—	Flight Sergeant—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	9,773
1 year ..........	1 year ..........	1 year ..........	10,135
2 years .........	2 years .........	2 years .........	10,495
	Warrant Officer, Class 2—
	Under 1 year .....	..............	10,858
	1 year ..........	..............	11,221
Warrant Officer—	Warrant Officer, Class 1—	Warrant Officer—
Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	Under 1 year .....	11,609
1 year ..........	1 year ..........	1 year ..........	11,996

SCHEDULE 9 Regulation 9

Members undergoing Training

Item No.	Training Capacities	Annual rate of Salary
		$
1	Normal entry recruits during basic recruit training	5,622
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 ................................................	5,862
	2nd and subsequent years ....................................	6,878
3	Junior trainees, being junior musicians, apprentice musicians and other apprentices—
	1st year ................................................	3,283
	2nd year ...............................................	4,299
	3rd year ...............................................	5,862
	4th year ................................................	6,878
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 ..	3,262
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 ................................................	4,710
	2nd year ...............................................	5,317
	3rd year ...............................................	5,924
	4th year ................................................	6,531
	5th year ................................................	7,138
	6th year ................................................	7,746
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 ................................................	3,625
	2nd year ...............................................	4,167
	3rd year ...............................................	4,710
	4th year ................................................	5,317
	5th year ................................................	5,924
	6th year ................................................	6,531
	7th year ................................................	7,138
	8th year ................................................	7,746
7	Members, not being members referred to in items 5 and 6, undertaking degree courses—
	with 3 years to graduation ....................................	5,317
	with 2 years to graduation ....................................	5,924
	in final year .............................................	6,531
8	Members of the Navy and air cadets not at the Air Force Academy, undertaking diploma courses—
	1st year ................................................	4,167
	2nd year (or matriculation or equivalent entry) ......................	4,710
	3rd year ...............................................	5,317
	4th year ................................................	5,924
9	Male officer trainees, being officer cadets (Army) and aircrew cadets (Air Force)—
	If not completed degree course ................................	5,924
	If completed degree course ...................................	6,531
10	Female officer trainees—
	If not completed degree course ................................	4,740
	If completed degree course ...................................	5,225
11	Members of the Navy, other than members referred to in another item of this Schedule, who hold the rank of Midshipman of the Supplementary List—
	1st year ................................................	5,924
	2nd year ...............................................	6,531

Further amendments of the Defence Farce (Salaries) Regulations.

4. The Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations are amended as set out in the following table:—

Provision	Amendment
Sub-regulation 4 (1) ....	After the definition of “ dependant ”, insert the following definitions:—
	“ ‘ living in ’, in relation to a member, means that the member is provided with rations and quarters by the Department of Defence, and ‘ live in ’ has a corresponding meaning;
	‘ living out ’ means that the member has permission to provide his own meals or accommodation, or both, or to reside in married quarters, and ‘live out ’ has a corresponding meaning;”.
	After the definition of “ male nurse ”, insert the following definition:—
	“ ‘ married quarters ’ means quarters—
	(a) controlled by the Department of Defence and provided for the use of a member and his family us a residence; or
	(b) controlled by another Australian Public Service Department and provided, by arrangement between the last-mentioned Department and the Department of Defence, for the use of a member and his family as a residence;”.
	Omit the definition of “ officer ”.
Sub-regulation 9 (2) ....	Omit “ items 5 and 8 ”, substitute “ item 5 or 8 ”.
	Omit “ being a member who is not in receipt of service allowance and ”.
Sub-regulation 9 (3) ....	Omit “, being a member who is not in receipt of service allowance,”.
Sub-regulation 9a (1) ...	Omit “ this ” (second occurring), substitute “ his ”.
Sub-regulation 9a (6) ...	After “ in ” (first occurring), insert “ a ”.
Sub-regulation 9a (7) ...	After “ in ” (first occurring), insert “ a ”.
Sub-regulation 9a (9) ...	Add at the end of paragraph (b) “ or ”.
Sub-regulation 9b (3) ...	Omit.
Sub-regulation 9b (4) ...	Omit “ commencing on or after 27 March 1975 ”.
Sub-regulation 9c (1) ...	Omit paragraph (a), substitute the following paragraph:—
	“ (a) the Commonwealth; or ”.
Sub-regulation 12 (5) ...	Omit “ Australia ” (wherever occurring), substitute “ the Commonwealth ”.
Sub-regulation 14a (2) ..	Omit “ recreation leave bonus ”, substitute “ ‘ recreation leave bonus ’ ”.
Sub-regulation 15 (1) ...	Omit the definition of “ qualified member ”, substitute the following definition:—
	“ ‘ qualified member ’ means an officer who is a qualified submarine officer or a sailor who is a qualified submarine sailor and includes a member who is undergoing that part of the course of initial training for qualified submarine officers and qualified submarine sailors known as ‘ Part III of Initial Submarine Training ’.”.
Sub-regulation 36 (1) ...	Omit “ annual ”.
Sub-regulation 36 (2) ...	Omit “ annual ”.
Sub-regulation 37 (2) ...	After “ absence ”, insert “ overnight ”.

Amendments of Statutory Rules 1976, No. 48.

5. Regulation 4 of Statutory Rules 1976, No. 48 is amended—

(a) by inserting in the table after the word “ ‘ fourteen ’ ” in the item, relating to sub-regulation 12 (1) the words “ (wherever occurring) ”; and

(b) by omitting from the table the word and figures “ Regulation 14e ” and substituting the word and figures “ Regulation 14c ”.

Application.

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

(a) members of the Navy or of the Army—on or after 20 August 1976; and

(b) members of the Air Force—on or after 19 August 1976.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1976 No. 197, made under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910, and the Air Force Act 1923, was enacted to address the need for updating the salary structures for members of the Australian Defence Force. The regulations were introduced to ensure that the remuneration of defence force personnel reflects their rank and years of service accurately. The Governor-General, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, made these regulations, which were notified in the Australian Government Gazette on 15 September 1976. The objective of these amendments was to update the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations to reflect the current salary scales for various ranks and services within the Australian Defence Force, ensuring that the compensation aligns with the roles and responsibilities of the members.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910, and the Air Force Act 1923, specifically the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations, apply to members of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. These Regulations set forth the salary structures and other financial entitlements for various ranks and roles within these Defence Force components. The amendments and new provisions in these Regulations are effective from specific dates in August 1976, with the changes applying to service by members of the Navy or Army from 20 August 1976, and members of the Air Force from 19 August 1976. The Regulations detail comprehensive salary schedules for officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel across different ranks and years of service, with adjustments made for factors such as location (whether members are living in or out), gender, and specific duties. Furthermore, the Regulations include definitions and clarifications to ensure precise application of salary provisions, addressing terms such as "dependant," "living in," "married quarters," and "qualified member." This legislation, therefore, establishes a clear framework for remuneration within the Australian Defence Force, ensuring consistent and fair compensation across the services.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Defence Act 1903, the Naval Defence Act 1910 and the Air Force Act 1923, as amended, establish the salary structures for members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Regulation 1 amends Regulation 8 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations to adjust the deemed period of service in a rank for members promoted to certain ranks. This change affects the calculation of salary based on years of service. Regulation 2 modifies the Senior Chaplain’s allowance, increasing it from $327 to $332. Regulation 3 repeals the existing schedules detailing salary rates and replaces them with new schedules that list annual salary rates for various ranks across the Navy, Army, and Air Force. These schedules detail the salary rates for officers and other ranks, taking into account factors such as years of service and specific duties. The Regulations impose clear obligations on the parties they govern. Members of the ADF are required to adhere to the salary rates specified in the amended schedules according to their rank, years of service, and specific duties. Additionally, definitions such as "living in," "living out," and "married quarters" provide clarity on the conditions under which members receive certain allowances. The amendments also redefine certain terms, such as "qualified member," to ensure precise application of the salary provisions. Violations of these Regulations may result in administrative consequences, though the text does not explicitly detail criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance. The primary focus appears to be on ensuring that members receive the correct salary based on the criteria outlined in the Regulations. Any discrepancies or unauthorised deviations from the prescribed salary rates could lead to corrective actions, but the specific consequences are not outlined in the provided text.

Area of Law: Defence & Military Law
Instrument: Regulation
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Offence Provisions; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

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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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