STATUTORY RULES.
1922. No. 59.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1918, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twelfth day of April, 1922.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
GRANVILLE RYRIE,
For Minister of State for Defence.
Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets, 1921.
Amendments.
Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets, 1921, are amended as follows:—
“(a) The heading ‘Medical Officers attending Hospital, &c.’ immediately preceding regulation 138 is deleted and the heading ‘Medical Officers—Special Duties’ is substituted therefor.”
(b) Regulation 138 is repealed, and the following regulation is substituted therefor :—
“138. (1) Payment in accordance with the following table may be made to Officers of the Australian Army Medical Corps for medical services rendered which do not form part of the authorized duties of their appointment:—
Service. | Payment. |
(a) Attendance as a member of a Medical Board, for each Medical Board attended | £2 | 2 | 0 |
(b) Special medical examination of a member of the Military Forces or Cadets, including the writing of a report or the issue of a medical certificate as required for each examination | £1 | 1 | 0 |
Service. | Payment. |
(c) Visiting camps of continuous training, schools of instruction or detention camps on medical duty— | |
(i) For each day on which the duration of the attendance exclusive of travelling is three hours or more, or the attendance entails travelling of a total distance of 6 miles or more | One day’s pay of rank under regulation 101. |
(ii) For each day on which the duration of the attendance exclusive of travelling is less than three hours and the total distance travelled is less than 6 miles | One half-day’s pay of rank under regulation 101. |
(d) Attendance for conducting medical or dental examinations of candidates for appointment to the Permanent Forces— | |
(i) For each day on which the duration of the attendance exclusive of travelling is three hours or more | One day’s pay of rank under regulation 101. |
(ii) For each day on which the duration of the attendance exclusive of travelling is less than three hours | One half-day’s pay of rank under regulation 101. |
(2) When an officer of the Australian Army Medical Corps is not available to perform the services mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of the last preceding sub-regulation, qualified civilians may be employed and paid at the rates therein authorized for officers of the Australian Army Medical Corps.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1922 No. 59, Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1918, were introduced to amend financial and allowance regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets. Enacted by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations are designed to update the compensation for medical officers in the Australian Army Medical Corps for specific duties that fall outside their authorised responsibilities. The primary objective is to ensure that medical officers are fairly compensated for additional services such as attending medical boards, conducting special medical examinations, visiting camps, and conducting examinations for candidates for appointment to the Permanent Forces. This legislative instrument aims to address the need for precise and updated financial regulations to reflect the evolving nature of duties performed by military medical personnel.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules of 1922, No. 59, made under the Defence Act 1903-1918, establish financial and allowance regulations for the Australian Military Forces and senior cadets. These regulations pertain specifically to the financial compensation for medical officers of the Australian Army Medical Corps and the engagement of qualified civilians for medical services when military officers are unavailable. The amendments focus on clarifying the payment structure for various medical duties, including attendance at medical boards, special medical examinations, visiting camps for medical duties, and conducting medical or dental examinations of candidates for appointment to the Permanent Forces. The regulations delineate the payment rates based on the duration and nature of the medical services rendered, providing clear guidelines for compensation.
These regulations apply to the Commonwealth of Australia and govern the financial transactions and allowances for medical officers and civilian medical practitioners involved with the Australian Military Forces and senior cadets. The regulations set forth specific payment rates for different medical services and conditions, ensuring consistency and fairness in remuneration. While the primary focus is on medical officers, the regulations also address the employment of qualified civilians under certain circumstances, thus extending their applicability to include both military personnel and civilians. The scope of these regulations is further extended through subordinate instruments, which may provide additional details or clarifications on the application of the specified allowances.
Key Provisions
The Statutory Rules of 1922, No. 59, constitute Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1918, specifically amending the Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets, 1921. The main change in these regulations pertains to the remuneration of medical officers for special duties. Regulation 138, which was previously about "Medical Officers attending Hospital, etc.", has been repealed and replaced with a new heading "Medical Officers—Special Duties" (Section 2(a)). This amendment outlines specific payment rates for various medical services rendered by officers of the Australian Army Medical Corps that fall outside their regular duties.
Under the revised Regulation 138, officers of the Australian Army Medical Corps may receive payment for several types of medical services. For example, they can be paid £2 for each medical board they attend, £1 for each special medical examination of a member of the Military Forces or Cadets, and various rates based on the duration and distance of travel for visiting camps on medical duty (Section 2(b)(i) and (ii)). Similarly, for medical or dental examinations of candidates for appointment to the Permanent Forces, officers can receive one day’s pay for each full day of attendance if it lasts three hours or more, and half a day’s pay if it is less than three hours (Section 2(b)(d)(i) and (ii)). If a qualified civilian is employed to perform these duties in the absence of an officer, they can be paid at the same rates (Section 2(b)(2)).
The obligations imposed by these regulations are primarily on the financial and administrative authorities within the Australian Military Forces. They are required to ensure that payments are made according to the specified rates for the services rendered by medical officers or qualified civilians. This includes verifying the nature and duration of the services provided and ensuring that the appropriate rates are applied.
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in financial discrepancies or improper payments, which could have legal and administrative consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed within these regulations, breaches of military administrative protocols generally carry significant repercussions. This could include financial penalties, disciplinary action, and potential civil or criminal liability depending on the nature and extent of the breach.