STATUTORY RULES.
1923. No. 208.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE 1910‑1918.
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 Naval Defence Act 1910‑1918, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twentieth day of December, 1923.
FORSTER,
Governor‑General,
By His Excellency’s Command,
E. K. BOWDEN,
Minister of State for Defence.
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Amendment of Fleet Reserve Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1923, No, 52.)
1. Regulation 4 is amended by omitting from clause (b) the words less than twenty‑five nor”.
2. After regulation 20 under the heading of “Training” the following regulation is inserted:—
“20a. An Officer retiring or resigning from the Active List and appointed to the Royal Australian Navy Emergency List—and a Petty Officer or man enrolling in the Royal Australian Fleet Reserve, being under 25 years of age, shall be liable to perform a period of training in each year not less than the period he would be required to perform in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, provided that such training may be performed in any of H.M.A. Ships or Naval Establishments in one or more periods within the year.”
3. Regulation 21 is amended as follows:—
(1) By omitting sub‑regulation (1) and inserting the following sub‑regulation in its stead:—
“(1) Members of the Fleet Reserve other than those mentioned in regulation 20a shall perform one weeks’ training in each training year, except as provided in the following sub‑regulations.”
(2) By omitting the words “calendar year, viz., 1st January to 31st December, in which enrolment is effected” in the third and fourth lines of sub‑regulation (2) and inserting in their stead the words “training year, viz., 1st July to 30th June, in which enrolment is effected, provided that a man who enrols within twelve months of his discharge from the Royal Australian Navy shall not be required to perform training in respect of the training year in which he enrols,”
(3) By omitting the words “calendar year in which re‑enrolment is effected” in the third line of sub‑regulation (3) and inserting in their stead the words “training year in which re‑enrolment is effected, unless drill has already been performed during that training year.”
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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.18096.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, made in 1923, aim to amend the existing Fleet Reserve Regulations to address certain administrative and training requirements for members of the Royal Australian Fleet Reserve. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, these regulations were developed to ensure the efficient management and training of personnel transitioning from active service to the Fleet Reserve. The policy objective, as inferred from the legislative instrument, is to maintain a structured and effective reserve force by regulating the training obligations of younger members and ensuring that all members are adequately prepared for potential future service. This legislative instrument provides a framework for the training and administrative processes necessary to maintain a capable reserve naval force in Australia.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1923, No. 208, made under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, pertain to the amendment of the Fleet Reserve Regulations, which apply specifically to members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Fleet Reserve. These regulations address the training obligations for officers and enlisted personnel within the Naval Reserve, particularly focusing on those who are under 25 years of age and those transitioning from active duty to the Emergency List or Fleet Reserve. The amendments establish new training requirements, such as the obligation for younger personnel to undergo a specific period of training annually, comparable to that required of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. Furthermore, the regulations modify the training year from a calendar year to a period from 1st July to 30th June, with specific exemptions for those who enrol within twelve months of their discharge. This legislation applies nationally, as it is a Commonwealth regulation, and it does not explicitly state any exclusions or thresholds beyond the age-specific training requirements.
Key Provisions
The Statutory Rules 1923 No. 208, under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, bring significant amendments to the Fleet Reserve Regulations (Statutory Rules 1923, No. 52). The most notable changes involve the age restriction in Regulation 4, the introduction of a new training requirement in Regulation 20a, and modifications to Regulation 21. Regulation 4 now omits the words "less than twenty-five nor," potentially expanding the age eligibility for certain aspects of the Fleet Reserve. Regulation 20a mandates that officers retiring or resigning from the Active List and enlisted personnel under 25 years of age must complete a specified period of training each year, aligning with the requirements of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, and can undertake this training in any of His Majesty's Australian Ships or Naval Establishments within the specified period. Regulation 21 has been amended to reduce the annual training requirement for Fleet Reserve members, except for those specified in Regulation 20a, to one week per training year, defined as 1 July to 30 June. Additionally, the regulation specifies that members enrolling within twelve months of their discharge from the Royal Australian Navy are exempt from training in the year of their enrolment if they have already performed drill during that year.
The amendments impose clear obligations on certain members of the Fleet Reserve. Specifically, officers who retire or resign from the Active List and enlisted personnel under 25 years of age must ensure they complete their annual training as stipulated. This training must be performed in any of His Majesty's Australian Ships or Naval Establishments within the training year. Members of the Fleet Reserve who do not fall under Regulation 20a must still perform one week of training each training year, provided they have not already performed drill during that year. These requirements aim to maintain the readiness and capability of the Fleet Reserve, ensuring that members remain prepared for service when called upon.
Failure to comply with the training requirements stipulated in the amended regulations may result in various consequences. Although the specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, it is likely that breaches of these regulations could lead to administrative actions, such as fines or disciplinary measures. Given the nature of military regulations, severe non-compliance could also potentially result in criminal charges or civil penalties, depending on the specific circumstances and the severity of the breach. The precise legal repercussions would typically be outlined in the overarching Naval Defence Act 1910-1918 or related legislation, which would govern the enforcement and penalties associated with these regulations.