National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1943L00162 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1943. No. 162.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT 1939-1940.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the National Security Act 1939-1940.

Dated this nineteenth day of June, 1943.

(SGD.) GOWRIE

Governor-General.

By His Excellencys Command,

for and on behalf of the Minister of State for Defence.

———

Amendments of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations.

Definitions.

1. Regulation 4 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations is amended—

(a) by adding at the end of the definition competent court of summary jurisdiction the words , or a magistrate as defined in section 5 of the Court of Petty Sessions Ordinance 1930-1940 of the Australian Capital Territory; and

(b) by inserting after the definition of conscientious belief the following definition:—

“‘the appropriate Court means a District Court, County Court or Local Court of Full Jurisdiction in the State or Territory of the Commonwealth in which the applicant, or the person whose registration or enrolment is to be reviewed, is residing or, if there is no such Court, the Supreme Court of the State or Territory of the Commonwealth in which the applicant or that person is residing;.

Order to be made on application.

2. Regulation 8 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations is amended—

(a) by inserting in sub-regulation (1.), after the word wrong, the words for him;

(b) by omitting from that sub-regulation the word either;

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on   , 1943.

Statutory Rules 1942, No. 80, as amended by Statutory Rules 1942, No. 307.

487.—Price 3d. 25/30.3.1943.

(c) by inserting at the beginning of paragraph (c) of that sub-regulation the words in any case to which paragraph (a) of this sub-regulation applies—; and

(d) by inserting at the beginning of paragraph (d) of that sub-regulation the words in any case to which paragraph(b) of this sub-regulation applies—.

3.—(1.) Regulation 9 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Appeals.

9.—(1.) An applicant for registration or enrolment as a conscientious objector who is aggrieved by any order of a court of summary jurisdiction, or the Minister, or a person authorized by the Minister to act on his behalf under this regulation, if he considers it necessary, may, within fourteen days after the date of the order, appeal to the appropriate court by filing a notice of appeal in accordance with sub-regulation (3.) of this regulation.

(2.) Where a notice of appeal is filed outside the time allowed by sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation, the appropriate court may entertain the appeal if it is satisfied that, by reason of special circumstances, the delay was reasonable.

(3.) A notice of appeal under sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation shall be in accordance with Form 2 in the Schedule and shall be filed with the Registrar, Prothonotary or other proper officer of the appropriate court and a copy thereof posted or delivered by the appellant to the Area Officer of the Area in which the applicant is residing or to the applicant, as the case may be, not less than seven days before the date of the hearing of the appeal.

(4.) The jurisdiction of the appropriate court under this regulation may be exercised by a magistrate or a single Judge sitting in chambers and shall be by way of rehearing..

(2.) Any appeal instituted or purporting to have been instituted in accordance with regulation 8 of Statutory Rules 1942, No. 80, which is pending at the commencement of this regulation may be continued, and shall be dealt with as if it were an appeal duly made in pursuance of the regulation inserted by sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation.

(3.) In any case in which, if this regulation had come into operation on the 23rd day of February, 1942, the Minister or any person would at any time have had a right of appeal from any order, the provisions of the regulation inserted by sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation shall apply as if the order had been made on the date of the commencement of this regulation unless—

(a) an appeal from the order has been instituted and—

(i) the provisions of sub-regulation (2.) of this regulation apply in respect of the appeal; or

(ii) the appeal has been dealt with on the merits of the case; or

(b) the person in respect of whose application the order was made has taken the oath, or made the affirmation, of enlistment under the Defence Act 1903-1941, or has taken an oath or made an affirmation in accordance with Form 3 in the Schedule to the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations.

4. Before regulation 11 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations the following regulation is inserted:—

Appearance on behalf of Minister.

10.—(1.) The Minister shall be entitled to be represented as a party at the hearing of any application or appeal under these Regulations.

(2.) An officer thereunto authorized by the Commander of a Lines of Communication Area may represent the Minister at the hearing of any application under these Regulations..

Review of registrations.

5. Regulation 11 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—

(5.) Appeals may be brought against any order, or refusal to make an order, under this regulation in like manner as appeals may be brought under regulation 9 of these regulations..

Persons registered not to be called on to enlist.

6. Regulation 14 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words is pending and inserting in their stead the words , or an appeal against an order on such an application, is pending, or while the time for bringing such an appeal has not expired.;

(b) by omitting sub-regulation (2.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

(2.) A person enrolled as a person liable under the Defence Act to be called up for service in the Citizen Forces but to be employed only in non-combatant duties shall not be required to perform any duties, of a combatant nature, and if he takes an oath or makes an affirmation in accordance with Form 3 in the Schedule he shall be exempt from the obligation to take the oath or make the affirmation prescribed by the Defence Act.; and

(c) by inserting in sub-regulation (3.), after the word enrolment, the words , or whose appeal against an order on such an application,.

Conditions of employment on civil work.

7. Regulation 17 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations is amended by adding at the end of sub-regulation (1.) the words , and, subject to this regulation, the conditions governing such training or the performance of work so specified shall be such as the Minister of State for Labour and National Service directs, either generally, or in respect of any person or class of persons..

The Schedule.

8. The Schedule to the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following Form:—

Form 2.

Reg. 9 (3.).

National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations.

NOTICE OF APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF A COURT OF SUMMARY JURISDICTION.

Name in full

[Surname first in block capitals.]

Address

Occupation

In accordance with regulation 9 of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations, I hereby give notice of appeal to the                                          Court of the State/Territory of                                                        sitting at                                          on                                          day of                                          19               at                            oclock in the                            noon against the order of the                            Court directing that*

*State effect of order.

The grounds of my appeal are†

†Set out grounds of appeal.

Dated this     day of     , 194 .

Signature of appellant..

 

By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1943 No. 162, made under the National Security Act 1939-1940, was enacted to amend the existing regulations concerning conscientious objectors during World War II. These regulations were introduced to address the need for clear guidelines and procedures for conscientious objectors who sought exemption from military service due to their beliefs. The regulations were made by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, reflecting the urgency and gravity of the wartime context. The policy objective of these regulations was to streamline the process of registration, review, and appeal for conscientious objectors, ensuring that their applications were handled efficiently and fairly within the legal framework of national security.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the National Security Act 1939-1940 pertain to amendments of the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations, specifically targeting individuals who have conscientious objections to military service during times of national emergency. The Act applies to conscientious objectors and those responsible for administering the registration and appeals process, such as courts, the Minister of State for Defence, and authorised officers. These regulations extend across the Commonwealth of Australia, applying uniformly regardless of the state or territory. The Regulations outline the procedures for appeals from orders made by courts of summary jurisdiction or the Minister, stipulating that such appeals must be lodged with the appropriate court within fourteen days of the order. The appropriate court is defined as a District Court, County Court, or Local Court of Full Jurisdiction in the state or territory of the Commonwealth in which the applicant resides, or the Supreme Court if none of the aforementioned courts exist. The Regulations also allow for the Minister to be represented in any hearings and provide conditions under which individuals registered as conscientious objectors should not be called upon for combatant duties, while exempting them from certain oaths or affirmations prescribed by the Defence Act.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the National Security Act 1939-1940 (C1943L00162) include amendments to the National Security (Conscientious Objectors) Regulations, particularly focusing on the process of appeals and the definition of courts. Regulation 1 amends the definition of “competent court of summary jurisdiction” to include a magistrate as defined in section 5 of the Court of Petty Sessions Ordinance 1930-1940 of the Australian Capital Territory and defines “the appropriate Court” as a District Court, County Court, or Local Court of Full Jurisdiction in the relevant State or Territory, or the Supreme Court if no such courts exist. Regulation 2 modifies the order to be made on application, specifying that the court may correct a wrong for the applicant. Regulation 3 repeals Regulation 9 and replaces it with a new provision allowing an applicant aggrieved by an order to appeal within fourteen days to the appropriate court, with conditions for late appeals and the procedure for filing the notice of appeal. Regulation 4 allows pending appeals under the old regulation to continue as if made under the new regulation, unless certain conditions are met. Regulation 5 grants the Minister the right to be represented in hearings and allows an officer authorized by the Commander of a Lines of Communication Area to represent the Minister. Regulation 6 adds a sub-regulation allowing appeals against orders or refusals under the review of registrations. Regulation 7 modifies the conditions under which persons registered as conscientious objectors are employed in non-combatant duties. Regulation 8 introduces a new Form 2 for the notice of appeal, detailing the requirements for the appeal notice. These Regulations impose several obligations on parties involved in the conscientious objectors’ process. They mandate that any aggrieved applicant must file a notice of appeal within fourteen days to the appropriate court, with specific procedural requirements for the notice. The Minister and authorized officers have the right to be represented in hearings. The Regulations also detail the conditions under which conscientious objectors may be employed in non-combatant duties and exempt them from certain oaths or affirmations. The amendments ensure that the appropriate courts are clearly defined and that the process for appeals is explicitly outlined. Breach of these Regulations can lead to various consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the provided text, non-compliance with the appeal process or failure to adhere to the specified conditions for conscientious objectors could result in legal challenges or administrative actions. The Regulations ensure that the rights of conscientious objectors are protected and that the processes for registration, appeal, and employment conditions are clearly defined and enforced.

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