Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 1)

Overview

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 1) was enacted in 2001 to amend the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Declaration 1999, addressing the need to update the eligibility criteria for the award of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans). This amendment was made by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, William Patrick Deane, acting on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Secretary to Cabinet, Bill Heffernan. The overarching policy objective is to recognise and honour the contributions of humanitarian organisations and personnel involved in operations in the Balkans, ensuring that the criteria for awarding the medal accurately reflect the participation and efforts of these organisations in specified zones and time frames. The declaration effectively amends the original 1999 declaration to refine the list of eligible organisations and the periods of their participation in the Balkans operations. This adjustment ensures that the medal is awarded to those who have genuinely contributed to humanitarian efforts in the specified zones during the relevant periods. The amendment declaration came into effect upon its gazettal, marking an update to the eligibility criteria to better reflect the true extent and duration of humanitarian involvement in the Balkans.

Scope and Application

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 1) amends the earlier Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Declaration 1999, extending the eligibility criteria for the award of the medal to additional organisations and periods of service. The Declaration applies to specified humanitarian and peacekeeping organisations that have been involved in operations in the Balkans region, specifically in Zones 1 and 2, as defined in the original Declaration. The amendment adds further organisations, such as the Australian contingent to the International Committee of the Red Cross and CARE Australia, along with their respective periods of participation, to the list of eligible entities. The Declaration is a prerogative instrument made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Secretary to Cabinet, and it commenced upon gazettal. While the Declaration specifies additional organisations and periods of eligibility, it does not introduce any exclusions or exemptions beyond those already outlined in the original Declaration.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 1) pertain to the amendment of the original Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Declaration 1999. This Declaration, made under subregulation 3 (1) of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal Regulations, was recommended by the Parliamentary Secretary to Cabinet and signed by the Governor-General on 24 May 2001. Section 2 specifies the name of the Declaration, while Section 3 outlines its commencement date, which is effective upon gazettal. The amendment, detailed in Schedule 1, revises the specified organisations eligible for the medal in Zones 1 and 2. For instance, it includes the Australian contingent to the International Committee of the Red Cross serving from 2 April 1997 to 30 September 1997 and the Australian contingent to United Nations organisations in Zone 1 serving from 21 February 1992. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs are primarily related to the eligibility criteria for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans). The amended Declaration clarifies and expands the list of organisations and the specific periods for which their personnel are eligible for the medal. This includes defining the timeframes for service in designated zones, such as the Australian contingent to International Committee of the Red Cross from 2 April 1997 to 30 September 1997 and Australian Red Cross from 1 January 1993 to 25 November 1995. By specifying these details, the Act ensures that the award of the medal is accurately aligned with the service periods of the eligible organisations and personnel. Regarding offences, penalties, or consequences for breach, the Declaration itself does not explicitly outline any penalties. However, the broader context of Australian legislation suggests that non-compliance with such declarations could potentially lead to legal scrutiny or administrative consequences. There are no direct criminal or civil penalties specified in the text of the Declaration, but it is understood that adherence to such legislative instruments is critical to maintaining the integrity of the medal award process. Any breach could potentially lead to investigations by relevant authorities, particularly if there are allegations of improper award of the medal. The consequences would likely depend on the severity and nature of the breach, but could include revocation of the medal, administrative penalties, or other corrective actions deemed appropriate by the authorities.