Naval Forces Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1933 No. 76, enacted under the authority of the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, serves to amend and update the existing Naval Forces Regulations, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1926, No. 196. This legislative instrument, made by the Governor-General in consultation with the Federal Executive Council, addresses various issues within the administrative and operational framework of the naval defence force, including adjustments to the promotion criteria, eligibility for officers, and disciplinary measures concerning the misuse of travel documents. The policy objective is to ensure a well-structured, disciplined, and efficient naval service by refining the regulations governing the conduct, hierarchy, and operational readiness of naval personnel.

Scope and Application

The Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, as amended by Statutory Rules 1933, No. 76, applies to officers and ratings within the Royal Australian Navy, including those on the Active, Emergency, and Retired Lists. These regulations govern aspects such as eligibility for promotion, conduct during ceremonies, and the mandatory retirement age for certain personnel, specifically those appointed to the Auxiliary Services after 1st May, 1933. The scope of these regulations is national, applying across all states and territories within the Commonwealth of Australia. There are specific exclusions and conditions; for instance, officers promoted on the Active List after 7th October, 1931, are not eligible for promotion on the Retired List, and officers on the Retired List on that date can only be promoted by one step in rank. Additionally, the regulations prohibit trafficking in, selling, or unauthorised use of tickets, warrants, or other documents that authorize the provision of transport at government expense. The application of these regulations can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which may provide further detail or modify the existing provisions.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918 primarily focus on amending existing provisions to update certain roles, eligibility criteria, and disciplinary measures within the naval forces. Regulation 46 has been modified to replace "Mates (A)" with "Acting Paymaster Sub-Lieutenants" (Section 1), while several regulations have been repealed outright, including Regulations 56, 61, and 78 (Sections 2-4). Regulation 90 has been amended to require that any individual must complete twelve years of service and possess a character assessment of at least 'V.G.' (Section 5). Further amendments include the omission of certain roles from sub-regulations and the introduction of new conditions for promotions from specific ratings (Section 6). Regulation 106 has been repealed and replaced with new eligibility criteria for promotions on the Emergency List, stipulating conditions such as seniority and age requirements (Section 7). Regulation 109 has been modified to include provisions regarding eligibility for promotion on the Retired List and conditions for officers on the Emergency List (Section 8). A new regulation, 109a, specifies the rank and seniority of officers in ceremonial matters when in the presence of active list officers (Section 9). Additionally, Regulation 119 has been updated to mandate the compulsory retirement of ratings appointed to the Auxiliary Services after 1st May, 1933, upon reaching the age of 50 (Section 10). The introduction of new disciplinary measures includes prohibiting the trafficking and unauthorized use of tickets and warrants intended for government transport (Sections 11-12). Finally, Regulation 151 has been amended to allow for the revocation and restoration of certain medals with the approval of the Governor-General (Section 13). These Regulations impose several obligations and requirements on naval officers and ratings. Officers must meet specific criteria, such as character assessments and seniority requirements, before being eligible for promotions on either the Active List or the Emergency List. Ratings appointed to the Auxiliary Services after 1st May, 1933, must retire compulsorily at the age of 50. Additionally, officers on the Emergency or Retired List must adhere to specific protocols regarding their rank and seniority in ceremonial contexts and when exercising executive command. These provisions also outline the conditions under which officers can be promoted on the Retired List and specify the disciplinary measures for misuse of tickets and warrants. Failure to comply with the provisions of these Regulations can result in various penalties and consequences. For instance, trafficking in, selling, or using for unauthorized purposes any ticket, warrant, or other document authorizing the provision of transport at government expense is considered an act to the prejudice of good order and discipline (Section 12). Additionally, officers may be deprived of their medals or bars with the approval of the Governor-General, and these can be restored with similar approval (Section 13). The specific penalties for these infractions are not detailed in the text provided, but they are subject to the general disciplinary measures applicable under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918 and any related legislation.