Naval Financial Regulations 1926 (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1938 No. 92, made under the Defence Act 1903-1934 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1934, was introduced to address financial regulations concerning allowances and gratuities for naval personnel. Enacted by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, the regulations were designed to update and amend existing financial provisions to better align with contemporary standards and requirements. The policy objective behind these amendments was to ensure that the financial support provided to naval personnel remained fair and adequate, reflecting any changes in economic conditions or the cost of living. This legislative instrument aimed to streamline and modernise the financial support mechanisms for those serving in the naval defence forces.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1938, No. 92, made under the Defence Act 1903-1934 and the Naval Defence Act 1910-1934, pertain specifically to the amendments of the Naval Financial Regulations. These regulations apply to all individuals and entities within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia, particularly those involved in the defence and naval sectors. This encompasses personnel within the Australian Defence Force, including members of the Navy, and those responsible for the financial management of these forces. The amendments primarily address the financial allowances and gratuities associated with kit upkeep, uniform changes, and special allowances, impacting both current and former service members. The changes, effective from the first of October, 1938, involve the modification of specific financial figures within the Naval Financial Regulations to reflect updated allowances and gratuities. This legislative instrument does not explicitly outline exclusions or thresholds but is instrumental in ensuring the financial provisions align with the operational needs of the defence force. Further details or extensions of application are to be found in subordinate instruments or amendments as specified in the statutory rules.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the regulations (sections 2-4) focus on amending specific financial regulations under the Naval Financial Regulations. Section 2 modifies the figures related to kit upkeep allowance, changing certain monetary values from "8d.", "7d.", "7½d.", and "7½d." to "8½d.", "7½d.", "8d.", and "8d." respectively. Section 3 revises the outfit gratuities on a change of class of uniform by updating the monetary values from "£14 12 6", "£12 10 0", "£11 12 6", and "£9 15 0" to "£15 7 0", "£13 4 0", "£12 8 0", and "£10 8 0". Section 4 amends a special allowance by replacing "3d." with "6d." in sub-regulation (57c). These regulations impose certain financial obligations and requirements on the parties governed by them. Specifically, they require adjustments to the allowances and gratuities for kit upkeep and outfit changes, ensuring that personnel receive updated financial benefits in line with the new figures specified. The amendments necessitate compliance with these new rates when disbursing such allowances and gratuities, ensuring that personnel are appropriately compensated according to the revised values. The regulations do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches. However, non-compliance with these financial regulations could potentially lead to administrative penalties or legal action under the overarching Defence Act 1903-1934 and Naval Defence Act 1910-1934. While the regulations themselves do not state maximum penalties, breaches of these Acts could result in fines or other legal repercussions as prescribed by the relevant Defence Acts.