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

Overview

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 1) was enacted to address the need for updating the list of eligible organisations for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal in relation to service in East Timor. This amendment was made by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Secretary to Cabinet. The primary objective of this Declaration was to include additional organisations whose personnel were involved in humanitarian efforts in East Timor, thereby ensuring that all deserving individuals who contributed to the humanitarian mission were eligible for the medal. This legislative instrument was designed to broaden the recognition and honour those who participated in the humanitarian operations in East Timor during the specified period.

Scope and Application

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 1) is a legislative instrument that amends the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Declaration 2000. It is made under the authority of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and applies to specified organisations that participated in humanitarian efforts in East Timor from 1 June 1999 onwards. The amendment declaration expands the list of organisations eligible to have their personnel recognised with the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for their service in East Timor, including Australian civilian contingents to United Nations organisations, International Medical Corps, International Red Cross, Jesuit Refugee Service, Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, Caritas Australia, Community Aid Abroad – Oxfam Australia contingent to Oxfam International, Timor Aid Inc, and World Vision Australia. This amendment ensures that a broader range of humanitarian service providers are acknowledged for their contributions during the crisis in East Timor. The declaration operates under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia and its application is not limited geographically beyond the specified organisations and their participation dates in East Timor.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 1) include the name of the Declaration (section 1), its commencement (section 2), and the amendment of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Declaration 2000 (section 3). This Declaration amends the original medal declaration by adding specified organisations to the list of those eligible to receive the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for their service in East Timor (Schedule 1). The Declaration names various Australian civilian contingents and non-governmental organisations that participated in the declared operation in East Timor, along with their respective participation dates (Schedule 1). The obligations and requirements imposed by the Act primarily involve the amendment of the original medal declaration. This amendment expands the eligibility criteria for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal by recognising additional organisations that contributed to the East Timor operation. The Act identifies these organisations and the dates from which they were eligible to participate in the declared operation, ensuring they are formally acknowledged for their service (Schedule 1). By including these additional organisations, the Act seeks to comprehensively recognise the diverse range of entities that contributed to the humanitarian efforts in East Timor. In terms of offences, penalties, or consequences for breach, the Act does not explicitly outline specific penalties for non-compliance with the amendment. However, it is implicit that adherence to the amended criteria is essential for eligibility for the medal. Non-compliance could potentially result in disputes over the eligibility of certain organisations or individuals for the medal, though the Act does not specify any formal penalties or legal consequences for such breaches. The main focus of the Act is to ensure that all eligible organisations are recognised for their contributions, rather than to impose penalties for non-compliance.