Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 2)

Overview

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 2) was enacted to make amendments to the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Declaration 2000. This Declaration, issued by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Peter John Hollingworth, on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Secretary to Cabinet, Bill Heffernan, aims to broaden the scope of organisations eligible for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. The Declaration was designed to address a gap in the original medal's eligibility criteria by incorporating additional organisations that provided humanitarian services in East Timor. The enactment ensures that a wider range of individuals who contributed to the humanitarian efforts in East Timor are recognised for their service. This legislative instrument, which commenced upon gazettal, is a prerogative instrument made under subregulation 3(1) of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal Regulations. The policy objective is to expand the recognition and acknowledgment of humanitarian efforts in East Timor by amending the list of specified organisations eligible for the medal, thereby ensuring comprehensive coverage of those who participated in the humanitarian operations in the region.

Scope and Application

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 2) amends the earlier Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Declaration 2000, altering the specified organisations eligible for the medal. This amendment applies to Australian civilian contingents serving in United Nations organisations, as well as several specific non-government organisations and contingents, including the East Timor Ambulance Service, International Medical Corps, International Red Cross, Jesuit Refugee Service, Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, Caritas Australia, Community Aid Abroad - Oxfam Australia contingent, Timor Aid Inc, and World Vision Australia. The amendment specifies the commencement dates of participation for these organisations, which range from 1 June 1999 to 1 October 1999, depending on the organisation. The declaration applies to individuals who served with these specified organisations during the declared operation in East Timor, and it is effective from the date of gazettal. The amendment does not specify any exclusions or exemptions beyond the listed organisations and their commencement dates, and it does not extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Amendment Declaration 2001 (No. 2) involve the amendment of the original Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor) Declaration 2000, specifically updating the list of specified organisations eligible for the medal. This is detailed in Schedule 1, where section 1 replaces the previous Schedule 1 to include additional organisations and update the commencement dates of their participation in the relevant humanitarian operation (section 2). These organisations include Australian civilian contingents to United Nations organisations, the East Timor Ambulance Service, the International Medical Corps, the International Red Cross, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, Caritas Australia, Community Aid Abroad - Oxfam Australia contingent to Oxfam International, Timor Aid Inc, and World Vision Australia. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act primarily involve the expansion of eligibility criteria for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (East Timor). By amending the original Declaration, the Act updates which organisations are recognised for their contributions to the humanitarian efforts in East Timor. This includes specifying the commencement dates of participation for each organisation, which is crucial for determining eligibility for the medal. The organisations listed must meet certain service duration and operational criteria as stipulated in the original regulations. In terms of offences, penalties, or consequences for breach, the Act itself does not specify any penalties or consequences for non-compliance. However, the implications of not adhering to the updated eligibility criteria could affect the recognition and awards process for eligible service personnel. Misrepresentation or failure to accurately identify eligible participants might lead to disputes or challenges in the awarding of the medal, but no specific legal penalties are outlined within the text of this amendment. The main consequence of non-compliance would be administrative, potentially affecting the validity and recognition of the medal awards.