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

Overview

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (South Sudan) Amendment Declaration 2002 (No. 1) was enacted to amend the existing Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (South Sudan) Declaration 2000. The primary purpose of this Declaration is to adjust the eligibility criteria and associated periods of participation for various humanitarian organisations involved in South Sudan. This was made under the authority of the Governor-General, Peter John Hollingworth, on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Peter Slipper. The Declaration aims to ensure that the humanitarian service in South Sudan is accurately recognised and commemorated by updating the list of participating organisations and their respective periods of service. It is designed to rectify any oversights or updates in the original Declaration to maintain the integrity and relevance of the medal's criteria. The Declaration came into effect upon its gazettal, ensuring immediate applicability to the specified changes.

Scope and Application

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (South Sudan) Amendment Declaration 2002 (No. 1) applies to specified organisations involved in humanitarian efforts in South Sudan, amending the 2000 Declaration to include additional entities and clarify their periods of participation. The amended Declaration specifies that the Australian civilian contingent to United Nations organisations, Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, TEAR Australia, and World Vision Australia are eligible for the medal. The amendment details the commencement dates and periods of participation for each organisation, providing a clear scope for eligibility based on the involvement in the specified operation in South Sudan. The geographic reach of this legislation is limited to the humanitarian operations in South Sudan, and the eligibility is confined to the named organisations and their members who participated during the specified periods. The Declaration itself does not provide for further extension or restriction through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (South Sudan) Amendment Declaration 2002 (No. 1) primarily amends the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (South Sudan) Declaration 2000 (Section 3). This amendment alters the list of specified organisations eligible for the medal and modifies the dates of participation in the specified hazardous area related to a declared operation (Schedule 1). The new list includes the Australian civilian contingent to United Nations organisations, Australian Red Cross, CARE Australia, TEAR Australia, and World Vision Australia, each with their respective commencement dates and periods of participation. This Act imposes specific obligations on the listed organisations and their personnel who qualify for the medal based on their service in South Sudan during the specified periods. Eligibility criteria are clearly defined, ensuring that only those who meet the service requirements within the designated timeframes are eligible for the medal. The amendment aims to accurately reflect the service contributions of these organisations by updating their participation periods and clarifying their involvement in the humanitarian efforts in South Sudan. Breach of the conditions outlined in this Declaration could lead to legal consequences, though specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not detailed in the text. Typically, such breaches might involve misrepresentation of service dates or fraudulent claims for the medal, which could result in civil or criminal penalties under relevant Australian laws. The exact nature of these penalties would depend on the specific legal framework governing such offences and the severity of the breach.