STATUTORY RULES.
1943. No. 42.
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REGULATION UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910–1934.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Naval Defence Act 1910–1934.
Dated this twenty-fourth day of February, 1943.
(SGD.) GOWRIE
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for the Navy.
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Amendment of the Naval Forces Regulations. †
Entry and advancement of Wireman.
Regulation 81a of the Naval Forces Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulations (3.) and (4.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-regulations:—
“(3.) Advancement of a Wireman to Leading Wireman shall be subject to completion by the rating of six months’ service as Wireman and to such other conditions as are determined by the Naval Board.
(4.) Advancement of a Leading Wireman to Petty Officer Wireman shall be subject to completion by the rating of six month’s service as Loading Wireman and to such other conditions as are determined by the Naval Board.
(5.) A Wireman shall have the relative rating of Able Seaman, a Leading Wireman the relative rating of Leading Seaman and a Petty Officer Wireman the relative rating of Petty Officer.”.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1943.
Twenty-third amendment.
† Statutory Rules 1935, No. 133, as amended by Statutory Rules 1936, Nos. 63 and 119; 1938, Nos. 20, 46, 70 and 91; 1938, Nos. 20, 46, 70 and 91; 1939, Nos. 26, 27, 72, and 143; 1940, Nos. 128, 135, 147, 197, 217 and 240; 1941, Nos. 21, 187, 215 and 242; and 1942, Nos. 48 and 202.
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By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1943, No. 42, made under the Naval Defence Act 1910–1934, address the need for amendments in the advancement and relative ratings of personnel within the naval forces, specifically focusing on Wiremen. Enacted by the Governor-General in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, this regulation seeks to update the Naval Forces Regulations by modifying the criteria for the advancement of Wiremen to higher ranks. The policy objective behind this regulation is to ensure that the advancement process is fair, structured, and aligned with the operational requirements of the naval forces during wartime, thereby maintaining effective management and operational readiness within the fleet.
Scope and Application
The regulation outlined in Statutory Rules 1943, No. 42, made under the Naval Defence Act 1910–1934, specifically targets the advancement and entry criteria for ratings within the naval forces, particularly focusing on the roles of Wireman, Leading Wireman, and Petty Officer Wireman. The regulation applies to individuals serving in the Royal Australian Navy, outlining the conditions for their advancement based on their service duration and the determinations of the Naval Board. The regulation specifies that advancement from Wireman to Leading Wireman and from Leading Wireman to Petty Officer Wireman is contingent upon completing six months of service in the respective preceding rank, alongside any other conditions set by the Naval Board. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this legislation is limited to the Commonwealth of Australia, governed under the authority of the Australian federal government. This regulation does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, but it does extend its application through the subordinate instrument of the Naval Defence Act 1910–1934.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this legislative instrument are found in Regulation 81a of the Naval Forces Regulations, which has been amended to revise the conditions for the advancement of personnel in the Wireman rating. Specifically, sub-regulations (3) and (4) have been replaced, altering the requirements and relative ratings for advancement within this rating. Sub-regulation (3) now stipulates that advancement from Wireman to Leading Wireman requires the completion of six months of service as a Wireman, subject to further conditions set by the Naval Board. Sub-regulation (4) similarly states that advancement from Leading Wireman to Petty Officer Wireman is contingent upon completing six months of service as a Leading Wireman, again subject to additional conditions from the Naval Board. Furthermore, sub-regulation (5) establishes the relative ratings for Wireman, Leading Wireman, and Petty Officer Wireman as Able Seaman, Leading Seaman, and Petty Officer, respectively.
This Act imposes specific obligations and requirements on the personnel within the Wireman rating of the naval forces. Wiremen, Leading Wiremen, and Petty Officer Wiremen must fulfill the service durations specified in the amended sub-regulations to be eligible for advancement. Moreover, these personnel must adhere to any additional conditions determined by the Naval Board. This includes meeting any performance, conduct, or training standards that the Naval Board may set, ensuring that only qualified and suitable personnel are promoted within the rating. The Naval Board’s authority to set these conditions allows for a flexible and responsive approach to the advancement criteria, which can adapt to the changing needs of the naval forces.
The legislation does not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance with these provisions. However, it can be inferred that failure to meet the service durations or additional conditions set by the Naval Board may result in the denial of advancement. This could potentially impact a service member’s career progression and standing within the naval forces. While the exact penalties for such non-compliance are not stated in the text, it is likely that they would be managed under the broader disciplinary framework of the Naval Defence Act 1910–1934, which could include administrative actions, reassignment, or other forms of disciplinary measures as deemed appropriate by the Naval Board.