National Security (General) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1941, No. 179, issued under the National Security Act 1939-1940, represents a regulatory amendment made by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The regulation was introduced to address the need for stricter identification of printed materials during a period of heightened national security concerns. This legislative instrument modifies the National Security (General) Regulations to mandate clearer identification of printers on certain papers, enhancing oversight and accountability regarding the dissemination of information. The policy objective of this regulation is to fortify the mechanisms of national security by ensuring that printed materials bear the requisite details of the printers, thereby facilitating better monitoring and regulation of such materials.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1941, No. 179, made under the National Security Act 1939-1940, introduces amendments to the National Security (General) Regulations. This legislative instrument applies to all papers printed in the Commonwealth of Australia, imposing specific requirements for the inclusion of the printer’s name and address on these documents. The regulation specifically amends Regulation 17a, requiring the placement of the printer's details on the front of single-leaf documents or on the front of the first leaf and the back of the last leaf for multi-leaf documents. This regulation is binding across the entire Commonwealth and applies to any entity or individual involved in the printing of papers within Australia, thus extending its jurisdictional reach nationwide. The regulation does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, meaning it applies uniformly to all relevant documents produced within the Commonwealth.

Key Provisions

The regulation under the National Security Act 1939-1940 (C1941L00179) amends Regulation 17a of the National Security (General) Regulations (section 1). The amendment requires that the name and address of the printer must appear on certain papers. Specifically, if a paper consists of one leaf, the required information must be on the front. If a paper consists of more than one leaf, the information must be on the front of the first leaf and the back of the last leaf (section 1). This requirement ensures that the origin and responsibility for the production of certain documents are clearly identifiable. The obligations imposed by this regulation include ensuring that all relevant documents bear the required printer's information. This applies to any paper that falls under the purview of the National Security (General) Regulations. The entities and parties governed by this Act must ensure that their documents meet these specifications to comply with the law (section 1). Failure to include the necessary information could lead to non-compliance and potentially other legal repercussions. Breaches of this regulation may result in civil or criminal consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text. Generally, under the National Security Act, penalties for non-compliance can include fines and imprisonment, with the exact penalties varying depending on the severity and nature of the breach. The regulation is designed to maintain transparency and accountability in the production of documents that are subject to national security oversight.