Financial and Allowance Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1919 No. 111, made under the Defence Act 1903–1918, were enacted to address financial and administrative issues within the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets. This legislative instrument, issued on 7th May 1919 by the Governor-General, acting on advice from the Federal Executive Council, aimed to ensure the proper handling of financial transactions and allowances. The regulations specifically sought to amend existing financial and allowance rules to streamline the payment processes and to adjust allowances related to uniforms. The policy objective was to enhance financial accountability and efficiency within the military forces during a period of post-war transition and restructuring.

Scope and Application

These Regulations, made under the Defence Act 1903–1918, amend the Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets. Specifically, they address the manner in which payments to the Department in any State must be made, stipulating that these must be made to the Receiver of Public Moneys and that financial instruments such as bank drafts, cheques, Post Office Orders or Postal Notes should be payable to the Receiver of Public Moneys only. The Regulations also modify certain allowances by removing the provision for badges and updating the nomenclature in specific sub-regulations. Furthermore, they change the payment schedule for increments, effective from 1st November 1919, by removing the clause that allowed increments to be paid from the first day of the month following the date they accrue. These amendments apply nationally across all Australian States and Territories, reflecting the Commonwealth's authority over defence matters.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Regulations under the Defence Act 1903–1918, particularly as they pertain to financial and allowance matters for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets, are notably Regulation 39, Regulation 41, and Regulation 60. Regulation 39 specifies that all payments to the Department in any state must be directed to the Receiver of Public Moneys. This means that bank drafts, cheques, Post Office Orders, or Postal Notes must be made payable to the Receiver of Public Moneys only. It also mandates that any claims rendered to the public for money due to the Department should notify that cheques should be made payable to the Receiver of Public Moneys or marked 'Not Negotiable'. Regulation 41 has been amended to exclude badges from the items listed for allowances, thereby focusing the allowances on cloth and buttons. Regulation 60 has been altered to change the timing of increments, specifying that they are now payable from the first day of the month following the date they accrue. These Regulations impose specific obligations and requirements on the entities they govern. Primarily, they require that any financial transactions involving the Department must be handled through the Receiver of Public Moneys, ensuring a controlled and accountable method of handling funds. The amendments to Regulation 41 necessitate that the allowances focus strictly on cloth and buttons, thereby streamlining the types of items eligible for reimbursement. Furthermore, the modification of Regulation 60 ensures that increments are paid out more promptly, from the start of the month following their accrual, which likely enhances financial planning and budgeting for the recipients. Breaches of these Regulations may incur various civil or criminal consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed within the legislative instrument itself. However, under the broader Defence Act 1903–1918, violations of financial regulations or allowances could potentially lead to disciplinary actions against individuals or entities, as well as financial penalties. Such consequences are intended to enforce compliance and maintain the integrity of the financial processes within the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets.