Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment)

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Statutory Rules 1981 No. 121

–––––––

Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations2 (Amendment)

I, THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, hereby make the following Interim Determination under section 12 of the Defence Amendment Act 1979.

Dated 29 January 1981.

D. J. KILLEN

Minister of State for Defence

––––––––––

Service allowance

1. Regulation 10 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) “$1,500” and substituting “$1,556”.

Special allowance senior medical and dental officers

2. Regulation 10a of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1) “$3,910” and substituting “$4,055”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (2) “$1,898” and substituting “$1,969”.

Senior chaplain’s allowance

3. Regulation 16 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations is amended by omitting “$672” and substituting “$697”.

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

4. Schedules 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations are repealed and the following Schedules substituted: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 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Rear-Admiral..	Major-General....	Air Vice-Marshal.....	41,376
Commodore...	Brigadier.......	Air Commodore......	35,310

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 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.....	12,911
Sub-Lieutenant–	Lieutenant–	Flying Officer–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.....	13,637
1 year............	1 year...........	1 year..........	14,311
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years.........	14,985
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years.........	15,659
Lieutenant–	Captain–	Flight Lieutenant–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.....	16,436
1 year............	1 year...........	1 year..........	17,214
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years.........	17,992
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years.........	18,770
4 years...........	4 years...........	4 years.........	19,547
5 years...........	5 years...........	5 years.........	20,325
Lieutenant Commander–	Major–	Squadron Leader–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.....	21,310
1 year............	1 year...........	1 year..........	22,244
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years.........	23,177
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years.........	24,110
Commander–	Lieutenant Colonel–	Wing Commander–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.....	25,355
1 year............	1 year...........	1 year..........	26,599
Captain–	Colonel–	Group Captain–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.....	27,947
1 year............	1 year...........	1 year..........	29,295

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 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			Annual rate of salary
Navy	Army	Air Force	Annual rate of salary
			$
Acting Sub-Lieutenant		Pilot officer......	16,799
Sub-Lieutenant–	Lieutenant–	Flying Officer–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year......	17,629
1 year...........	1 year...........	1 year..........	17,992
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years..........	18,355
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years..........	18,770
Lieutenant–	Captain–	Flight Lieutenant–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year......	19,133
1 year...........	1 year...........	1 year..........	19,547
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years..........	19,962
5 years...........	5 years...........	5 years..........	20,325

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)	16,436
Lieutenant–	Captain–	Flight Lieutenant–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year......	21,949
1 year...........	1 year............	1 year..........	23,736
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years..........	24,625
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years..........	25,516
4 years...........	4 years...........	4 years..........	26,413
5 years...........	5 years...........	5 years..........	27,303
Lieutenant-Commander–	Major–	Squadron Leader–
Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year.......	Under 1 year......	29,254
1 year...........	1 year............	1 year..........	30,231
2 years...........	2 years...........	2 years..........	31,206
3 years...........	3 years...........	3 years..........	32,184
Commander........	Lieutenant-Colonel...	Wing Commander..	36,250
Captain...........	Colonel..........	Group Captain.....	40,048
Commodore........	Brigadier.........	Air Commodore...	36,794
Rear-Admiral.......	Major-General......	Air Vice-Marshal...	39,697

SCHEDULE 6 Regulation 7

CHAPLAINS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
			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......	16,436
1 year........	1 year.......	1 year..........	17,214
2 years........	2 years.......	2 years.........	17,992
3 years........	3 years.......	3 years.........	18,770
	Chaplain, 3rd Class–
4 years........	Under 2 years...	4 years.........	19,547
6 years........	2 years.......	6 years.........	20,325
8 years........	4 years.......	8 years.........	21,022
10 years.......	6 years.......	10 years........	21,719
12 years.......	8 years.......	12 years........	22,416
14 years.......	10 years......	14 years........	23,113
16 years.......	12 years......	16 years........	23,810
18 years.......	14 years......	18 years........	24,506
20 years.......	16 years......	20 years........	25,203
22 years.......	18 years......	22 years........	25,900
	Chaplain-General..	Principal Air Chaplain .	26,599

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..	9,509	10,121	10,733	11,345	11,957	12,568
Able Seaman.	Lance Corporal	Leading Aircraftman	9,748	10,360	10,971	11,583	12,195	12,807
Leading Seaman	Corporal.	Corporal...	10,131	10,743	11,355	11,967	12,579	13,191

SCHEDULE 7—continued

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...	10,629
1 year...........	1 year......	1 year........	11,236
2 years...........	2 years......	2 years.......	11,843
3 years...........	3 years......	3 years.......	12,449
4 years...........	4 years......	4 years.......	13,056
5 years...........	5 years......	5 years.......	13,662
6 years...........	6 years......	6 years.......	14,269

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–	Staff Sergeant–	Flight Sergeant –	14,269
Under 1 year...	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year..	14,876
1 year........	1 year...........	1 year.......	15,482
2 years.......	2 years..........	2 years......
Chief Petty Officer –	Warrant Officer, Class 2–		16,089
Under 1 year...	Under 1 year......	3 years......	16,696
1 year........	1 year...........	4 years......
Warrant Officer–	Warrant Officer, Class 1–	Warrant Officer–	17,380
Under 1 year...	Under 1 year......	Under 1 year..	18,054
1 year........	1 year...........	1 year.......	14,269

SCHEDULE 9 Regulation 9

MEMBERS UNDERGOING TRAINING

Item	Training capacities	Annual rate of salary
		$
1	Normal entry recruits during basic recruit training..........	8,277
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 1...................................	8,509
	2nd and subsequent years........................	9,984
3	Junior trainees, being junior musicians, apprentice musicians and other apprentices–
	1st year....................................	4,765
	2nd year...................................	6,240
	3rd year....................................	8,509
	4th year....................................	9,984

SCHEDULE 9—continued

Item	Training capacities	Annual rate of salary
		$
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	4,735
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...........................................	6,838
	2nd year..........................................	7,718
	3rd year...........................................	8,601
	4th year...........................................	9,482
	5th year...........................................	10,362
	6th year...........................................	11,243
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...........................................	5,262
	2nd year..........................................	6,049
	3rd year...........................................	6,838
	4th year...........................................	7,718
	5th year...........................................	8,601
	6th year...........................................	9,482
	7th year...........................................	10,362
	8th year...........................................	11,243
7	Members, not being members to whom item 5 or 6 applies, undertaking degree courses–
	with 3 years to graduation...............................	7,718
	with 2 years to graduation...............................	8,601
	in final year........................................	9,482
8	Members of the Navy, and air cadets not at the Air Force Academy, undertaking diploma courses–
	1st year...........................................	6,049
	2nd year (or matriculation or equivalent entry).................	6,838
	3rd year...........................................	7,718
	4th year...........................................	8,601
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............................	8,601
	If completed degree course..............................	9,482
10	Officer trainees of the Navy, not being members referred to in item 5, 6, 7 or 8–
	1st year...........................................	8,601
	2nd year..........................................	9,482

Application

5. The Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations as amended by this Determination apply in relation to service by members on or after 15 January 1981.

NOTES

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 February 1981.

2. 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; 1978 Nos. 2, 3, 4, 50, 68, 90, 91, 116, 138, 152, 239, 252 and 278; 1979 Nos. 4, 23, 69, 84, 92, 119, 152, 161, 163, 203, 228, 247, 254, 265, 305, 306, 307, 311, 312 and 313; 1980 Nos. 1, 4, 9, 20, 23, 34, 42, 43, 55, 73, 132, 142, 148, 155, 174, 216, 217, 229, 249, 274, 302, 314, 333, 342, 349, 353, 362 and 407.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1981 No. 121, referred to as the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations 2 (Amendment), was introduced by the Minister of State for Defence to amend the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations. This legislative instrument was enacted to adjust the salary rates for various ranks and positions within the Australian Defence Force, reflecting changes in economic conditions and the need to ensure that compensation for military personnel remains competitive and fair. The objective of this amendment is to provide updated financial allowances for service members, thereby addressing any discrepancies in their remuneration that might have arisen over time. The regulation was made under section 12 of the Defence Amendment Act 1979 and took effect from 15 January 1981.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1981 No. 121, specifically the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations 2 (Amendment), applies to members of the Defence Force serving on or after 15 January 1981, including officers and enlisted personnel across the Navy, Army, and Air Force. This legislation sets out the salary rates for various ranks and roles, covering allowances for service, senior medical and dental officers, and senior chaplains, as well as other officers. It replaces and repeals several schedules from the original Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations, detailing the annual rates of salary for officers and members in different ranks and positions, and provides new rates effective from the date of the amendment. The amendment also includes new schedules detailing salary rates for various categories of officers and members, including those in training or holding specific ranks. The regulations are designed to ensure that the remuneration of Defence Force personnel is updated and appropriately reflects their roles and responsibilities.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations 1981 (Amendment) provide for salary adjustments for various ranks within the Defence Force. Regulation 10, sub-regulation (1) increases the service allowance for members from $1,500 to $1,556. Regulation 10a, sub-regulations (1) and (2), adjust the special allowance for senior medical and dental officers from $3,910 and $1,898 respectively to $4,055 and $1,969 respectively. Regulation 16 updates the senior chaplain's allowance from $672 to $697. Additionally, the regulation repeals and replaces Schedules 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9, setting out new salary rates for officers of various ranks and categories. The obligations imposed by the Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations 1981 (Amendment) pertain primarily to the adjustment of salaries for Defence Force members. The updated schedules specify the new salary rates for different ranks and categories, ensuring that members receive appropriate compensation based on their service and rank. These amendments apply to service by members on or after 15 January 1981. The Defence Force (Salaries) Regulations 1981 (Amendment) do not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, non-compliance with these regulations could potentially lead to disputes over salary payments, which may be subject to resolution through internal Defence Force grievance processes or external legal avenues. The consequences of breach would depend on the specific circumstances and applicable laws at the time.

Area of Law: Defence Law
Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Regulatory Standards; Commencement Provisions

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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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