ELIZABETH R
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:
TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come,
GREETING:
WHEREAS by Letters Patent dated 18 June 1999 given under the Great Seal of Australia, We provided for the National Medal Regulations 1999 set out in the Schedule to the Letters Patent to govern the award of the National Medal:
AND WHEREAS it is desirable that certain amendments of the Regulations be made:
KNOW YOU that We do, by these Presents, declare Our pleasure that the Letters Patent dated 18 June 1999 be amended, but without prejudice to anything lawfully done thereunder, as set out in the Schedule, with effect from 18 June 1999.
IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.
GIVEN under the Great Seal of Australia at Our Court at St James’s on 4 April 2000
By Her Majesty’s Command,
JOHN HOWARD
Prime Minister
Schedule
Amendment of the National Medal Regulations 1999
[1] Regulation 24
substitute
24 Service in Papua New Guinea
(1) A period of service given by a person in Papua New Guinea before 1 December 1973 may be counted for the purposes of regulation 16 or 17 as if it were a period of eligible service in an approved organisation if:
(a) the service was:
(i) as a regular police officer in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary; or
(ii) as a member of a PNG service organisation; and
(b) the service was of a kind mentioned in paragraphs 19 (1) (a), (b) and (c).
Note A period of service in Papua New Guinea before 1 December 1973 may only be counted as eligible service under r 16 if the person has also given at least 1 day of eligible service with an approved organisation (or more than 1 approved organisation):
(a) on or after, 14 February 1975; and
(b) on or after, the approval date of that approved organisation (or at least one of those approved organisations).
See para 16 (b).
(2) In this regulation:
PNG service organisation means an organisation established by, or under the control of, the Papua New Guinea Administration (except a voluntary organisation) that is an ambulance service, correctional service, emergency service or fire service.
Overview
The National Medal Regulations 1999 were introduced to govern the award of the National Medal, as established by Letters Patent on 18 June 1999. This legislation aimed to provide a framework for the recognition of eligible service provided by individuals to approved organisations. The Australian Parliament enacted this regulation to formalise the criteria for the award of the National Medal, ensuring that only those who meet specific service requirements are eligible for this recognition. The policy objective of the regulation is to honour and recognise the contributions made by individuals in eligible services.
In 2000, amendments were made to the National Medal Regulations 1999 through Letters Patent, which introduced changes to the eligibility criteria for counting service in Papua New Guinea before 1 December 1973. The amendments specified that such service could be considered as eligible service in an approved organisation if it was provided as a regular police officer in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary or as a member of a Papua New Guinea service organisation, and met certain conditions. This update aimed to address the gap in recognising the contributions made by individuals in specific roles in Papua New Guinea prior to its independence.
Scope and Application
The National Medal Regulations 1999, as amended by Letters Patent dated 4 April 2000, govern the award of the National Medal and apply to individuals who have rendered service in Papua New Guinea before 1 December 1973, provided that this service meets specific criteria. These criteria include serving as a regular police officer in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary or as a member of a PNG service organisation, which encompasses entities such as ambulance, correctional, emergency, or fire services established by or under the control of the Papua New Guinea Administration. To be counted as eligible service, the individual must also have served with an approved organisation on or after 14 February 1975, and on or after the approval date of that organisation. This legislation has a specific geographic reach, focusing on service in Papua New Guinea, and it applies to those who meet the defined conditions, ensuring that their service is acknowledged and eligible for consideration under the National Medal award scheme. The Regulations do not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, but the criteria for eligible service are clearly delineated, providing a framework within which applications are assessed.
Key Provisions
The C2010Q00082 (Prerogative instrument) amends the National Medal Regulations 1999 to include certain periods of service in Papua New Guinea before 1 December 1973 as eligible service for the purposes of the National Medal. Regulation 24 specifies that such service must be either as a regular police officer in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary or as a member of a PNG service organisation. These service organisations are defined as those established by or under the control of the Papua New Guinea Administration, excluding voluntary organisations, and include ambulance services, correctional services, emergency services, or fire services.
The amendments impose certain conditions on the eligibility of these service periods. For the service to count towards regulation 16, the individual must have also provided at least one day of eligible service with an approved organisation on or after 14 February 1975 and on or after the approval date of that organisation. This requirement ensures that the individual has a connection to an approved organisation in addition to their service in Papua New Guinea.
The Act does not explicitly state any penalties or consequences for non-compliance with the amended regulations. However, failure to meet the eligibility criteria as outlined could potentially result in a person not being awarded the National Medal, which could be considered a significant consequence for those who qualify based on the new provisions. The onus is on applicants to ensure that their service meets the criteria as specified in the amended regulations.
Additionally, the changes necessitate that applicants provide detailed documentation to verify their service in Papua New Guinea and any subsequent service with an approved organisation. This may involve providing service records, employment verification, and other supporting documents to substantiate their claim for eligibility. The process of verifying and approving these claims may also be subject to the usual administrative procedures and requirements of the National Medal application process.
In summary, the key provisions of the C2010Q00082 (Prerogative instrument) amend the National Medal Regulations 1999 to include certain service periods in Papua New Guinea before 1 December 1973 as eligible for the award of the National Medal, provided they meet the specified conditions and are accompanied by evidence of subsequent service with an approved organisation. While the Act does not explicitly outline penalties for non-compliance, failure to meet the criteria could result in disqualification from the award.