Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2002 (No. 1)

Overview

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2002 (No. 1) was enacted to amend the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Declaration 1999, thereby addressing the need to update the list of specified organisations eligible for the award of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for their service in the Balkans. The declaration was made under subregulation 3(1) of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal Regulations by the Governor-General, Peter John Hollingworth, on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Peter Slipper. This legislative instrument was issued to ensure that the recognition of humanitarian service in the Balkans region remained accurate and comprehensive, reflecting the contributions of various organisations that participated in the operations during the specified periods. The amendment aligns with the policy objective of appropriately acknowledging and rewarding the efforts of humanitarian workers who served in the Balkans.

Scope and Application

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2002 (No. 1) amends the 1999 Declaration to expand the eligibility criteria for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for service in the Balkans. The Declaration applies to specific organisations that have participated in operations in designated zones, including Australian contingents to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Australian contingents to United Nations organisations, Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, and World Vision Australia. It identifies the commencement and period of participation for each organisation, ensuring that the criteria for eligibility are clearly defined and updated. The geographic scope of this Declaration is limited to the Balkans region, and it applies to the personnel of the specified organisations who have served in this area during the outlined periods. The application of this Declaration is restricted to the organisations and personnel explicitly listed, and no other entities or individuals are included within its scope. The Declaration does not provide for any exclusions or exemptions but rather focuses on the precise amendment of the original criteria to ensure accurate recognition of service.

Key Provisions

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Amendment Declaration 2002 (No. 1) (referred to in this context as the Declaration) amends the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) Declaration 1999. This amendment is made under the authority of subregulation 3(1) of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal Regulations. The Declaration outlines specific modifications to the eligibility criteria for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (Balkans) by adding and adjusting the participation periods and commencement dates of certain organisations involved in operations related to the Balkans conflict. Section 3 of the Declaration specifies these amendments, which are detailed in Schedule 1. The entities governed by this Declaration include specified organisations that participated in the Balkans operations. These organisations, such as the Australian contingent to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Australian contingents to United Nations organisations, Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, and World Vision Australia, are now eligible for the medal if they meet the newly defined participation periods. These periods are categorised into two zones: Zone 1 and Zone 2, with each zone having specific start dates and durations of participation. For instance, the Australian contingent to the International Committee of the Red Cross is eligible if they participated between 2 April 1997 and 30 September 1997. The Declaration imposes obligations on these participating organisations to ensure that their records accurately reflect the periods of service within the specified zones. This requirement ensures that only those who meet the eligibility criteria receive the medal. Additionally, it mandates that these organisations provide necessary documentation to verify the participation of their personnel within the stipulated timeframes. Breaches of the requirements set out in this Declaration may result in administrative consequences, although specific offences and penalties are not detailed within the text. However, it is implied that failure to comply with the eligibility criteria could lead to disqualification from receiving the medal. While the Declaration does not explicitly state maximum penalties, any administrative or legal repercussions would likely be pursued under the broader legislative framework governing the awarding of such medals.