EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1983 NO 1
ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
NAVAL FORCES (WOMEN’S SERVICES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Regulation 17 of the Naval Forces (Women’s Services) Regulations prescribes the ranks of servicewomen enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service and establishes their relativity to other ranks held by enlisted members.
The Navy plans to employ in the Naval Police servicewomen enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. Servicewomen employed in the Naval Police will have different rank titles from other enlisted servicewomen in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. It was therefore necessary to amend regulation 17 to prescribe for Naval Police rank titles and their relativity to other ranks.
This Statutory Rule substitutes a new regulation 17 to provide ranks and relativity set out in a Schedule as follows:
RANKS IN THE WOMEN’S ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVAL SERVICE AND CORRESPONDING RANKS OF SAILORS IN THE NAVY
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
| | Ranks of | |
| Ranks of enlisted servicewomen in Naval Police | other enlisted servicewomen in Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service | Corresponding ranks of sailors in the Navy |
Item | | | |
1 | Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer |
2 | Sergeant | Chief Petty Officer | Chief Petty Officer |
3 | Senior Constable | Petty Officer | Petty Officer |
4 | Constable | Leading Wran | Leading Seaman |
5 | Recuit Constable | Senior Wran | Able Seaman |
6 | - | Wran | Seaman |
7 | - | Recruit | Recruit |
The Statutory Rule has effect from the date of gazettal.
Overview
The Naval Forces (Women’s Services) Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1983 were enacted to address the need for distinct rank titles for servicewomen employed in the Naval Police, while maintaining their relativity to other ranks within the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. This amendment was necessary as the Naval Police servicewomen would have different rank titles compared to other enlisted servicewomen in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. The regulation was issued by the authority of the Minister for Defence and aims to ensure a clear structure and hierarchy within the ranks of the Naval Police while maintaining consistency with the broader Navy ranks. This amendment facilitates the smooth integration of servicewomen in the Naval Police by providing them with appropriate rank titles and ensuring their relativity to other ranks within the Navy.
Scope and Application
The Naval Forces (Women’s Services) Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rule 2004 amends regulation 17 of the existing Naval Forces (Women’s Services) Regulations to accommodate the introduction of specific rank titles for women serving in the Naval Police within the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. This amendment applies to servicewomen who are enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service and are employed in the Naval Police, thereby altering their rank titles to reflect their unique roles. The amendment clarifies the relativity of these new Naval Police ranks to other ranks within the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service and the Navy, ensuring consistency and understanding across the service. The changes take effect from the date of gazettal and are subject to the broader framework established by the Naval Forces (Women’s Services) Regulations, which apply to the Commonwealth of Australia.
Key Provisions
The Naval Forces (Women’s Services) Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rule (No. 1) 2004 amends Regulation 17 of the existing Naval Forces (Women’s Services) Regulations. This amendment is necessitated by the decision to employ women enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) within the Naval Police. These servicewomen will hold different ranks compared to their counterparts in other parts of the WRANS. The new regulation, as set out in the Schedule, establishes these ranks and their relativity to other ranks within the WRANS and the Navy (paragraph 3).
The amendment in Regulation 17 (paragraph 4) provides a clear structure for the ranks of servicewomen in the WRANS and those in the Naval Police, along with their corresponding ranks in the Navy. For example, a Warrant Officer in the WRANS and the Navy holds the same rank, while a Sergeant in the WRANS is equivalent to a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. A Senior Constable in the Naval Police is equivalent to a Petty Officer in the Navy, and so forth. This detailed correspondence ensures that the rank structure remains consistent across the different services and roles (paragraph 4).
The amended regulation imposes specific obligations on the Navy to ensure that the ranks of servicewomen in the WRANS and the Naval Police are clearly defined and understood. It requires that these ranks reflect their respective duties and responsibilities accurately and maintain the integrity of the rank structure within the naval services. The Navy must also ensure that all personnel are aware of these changes and understand the relativity between the ranks (paragraph 5).
Failure to comply with the provisions of the amended regulation could result in confusion and potential disputes regarding the rank and authority of servicewomen in different roles. Although the Statutory Rule does not specify particular offences or penalties for non-compliance, the consequences could include operational inefficiencies or challenges in maintaining discipline and order within the naval services. It is essential that the Navy adheres to these provisions to uphold the structure and hierarchy within the service (paragraph 6).