STATUTORY RULES.
1913. No. 4.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1912.
Amendments to Financial and Allowance Regulations 107(b) and (c), 126(f), 127 and 173.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1912 should come into immediate operation and, further should be taken to have come into operation on and from the sixth day of December, 1912, and make the Regulations to come into operation accordingly as Provisional Regulations.
Dated this eighth day of January, One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE.
FINANCIAL AND ALLOWANCE REGULATIONS (PROVISIONAL) FOR THE MILITARY FORCES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
Amendments.
Regulation 107(b). Delete “other than Corps Head-quarters.”
Delete Regulation 107(c).
Delete Regulation 126 (f).
Regulation 127. Delete “In the case of the Head-quarters of the Intelligence Corps, the Chief of the General Staff shall, when necessary, approve of an officer to countersign cheques signed by the Officer Commanding the Corps.”
Regulation 173. Delete “(except in the case of Head-quarters, which shall be approved by the Officer Commanding the Corps)”; and “or by the Officer Commanding the Corps in the case of Head-quarters.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Acting Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.89.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1913 No. 4, known as the Provisional Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1912, were enacted to address urgent financial and administrative changes required within the military forces of the Commonwealth of Australia. This legislative instrument was issued by The Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and it was intended to come into immediate operation from 6 December 1912. The regulations aimed to streamline financial and allowance processes, particularly by removing specific requirements and approvals related to Corps Headquarters, thus addressing gaps in the existing Defence Act 1903-1912. The overarching policy objective was to enhance efficiency and flexibility in the financial management of military forces.
The amendments included deleting certain clauses and regulations that previously specified additional layers of approval for financial transactions involving Corps Headquarters, thereby simplifying the administrative procedures and ensuring that financial matters could be handled more swiftly. This legislative move was a response to the need for more streamlined and responsive military administration, reflecting the evolving requirements of the military forces during that period.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1912, specifically the Financial and Allowance Regulations (Provisional) for the Military Forces of the Commonwealth, apply to military personnel and their financial transactions within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations were implemented urgently to address immediate operational needs and thus came into effect on the sixth day of December, 1912. They amend existing regulations concerning financial and allowance procedures within the military forces, including the removal of specific references to Corps Headquarters and the streamlining of approval processes for financial transactions. This legislation aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of financial management within the military forces by removing certain bureaucratic layers that previously governed these processes. The scope of these regulations is limited to the Commonwealth and does not extend to state or territory levels, ensuring uniformity in financial practices across the military forces.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1913 No. 4 involve amendments to existing financial and allowance regulations for military forces under the Defence Act 1903-1912. Specifically, Regulation 107(b) is amended by deleting the phrase “other than Corps Headquarters,” while Regulation 107(c) is deleted entirely (Regulation 1). Regulation 126(f) is also deleted (Regulation 2). Furthermore, Regulation 127 is amended to remove the requirement for the Chief of the General Staff to approve an officer to countersign cheques for the Intelligence Corps (Regulation 3). Finally, Regulation 173 is amended by removing specific references to headquarters being approved by the Officer Commanding the Corps (Regulation 4).
These regulations impose several obligations and requirements on the parties they govern. Firstly, by deleting specific references to Corps Headquarters in Regulation 107(b), the regulations may streamline the process of financial approvals and countersigning within the military forces. The deletion of Regulation 107(c) might eliminate certain outdated or redundant provisions. The removal of Regulation 126(f) could simplify administrative procedures related to financial controls within the military. By amending Regulation 127, the regulations remove a layer of approval that was previously necessary for the Intelligence Corps, potentially enhancing efficiency in financial transactions. Finally, changes to Regulation 173 may reduce bureaucratic hurdles for financial processes within headquarters.
The Statutory Rules do not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, failure to comply with these financial and allowance regulations could result in unauthorised financial transactions, which might lead to disciplinary actions under the Defence Act 1903-1912. The specific consequences of non-compliance would depend on the nature of the breach and could include administrative penalties or other corrective measures deemed appropriate by the military authorities.