ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:
TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come,
GREETING:
WHEREAS by Letters Patent dated 12 April 1988. We instituted an
Australian medal, designated and styled the Australian Fire Service
Medal, for the purpose of according recognition to members of Australian fire services for distinguished service:
AND WHEREAS the Letters Patent ordained that the award of the Australian Fire Service Medal be governed by the Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations set out in the Schedule to the Letters Patent:
AND WHEREAS it is desirable to amend those regulations:
KNOW YOU that We do, by these Presents, declare Our Pleasure that the Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations set out in the Schedule to the Letters Patent dated 12 April 1988 are amended as set out in the Schedule.
IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made
Patent.
GIVEN under the Great Seal of
Australia at Our Court at
St James's on
By Her Majesty's Command
Schedule
Amendments of the Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations
[1] Subregulation 4 (2)
substitute
(2) The number of awards of the Medal in respect of each State, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory of Australia in each calendar year is:
(a) one award for each I ,000, or part of I ,000, full-time permanent members of the fire service or combined fire services (as the case may be) of that State or Territory serving on 30 June in the year immediately preceding that calendar year; and
(b) one award for each 5,000, or part of 5,000, part-time, volunteer or auxiliary members of the fire service or combined fire services (as the case may be) of that State or Territory serving on 30 June in the year immediately preceding that calendar year; and
(c) one additional award.
[2] Subregulation 4 (3)
omit
Note
1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au
Amendments of the Australian Fire Service Medal 1
Regulations
Overview
The Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations 1988, amended in 2012, were introduced to address the need for recognising the distinguished service of members of Australian fire services. The Australian Fire Service Medal was instituted by Letters Patent dated 12 April 1988, with the primary aim of providing an official acknowledgment for those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service within the fire services. The regulation amendments were made by the Queen in Council, as indicated by the Letters Patent, to modify the criteria for awarding the Medal. The policy objective of these amendments was to adjust the number of awards that could be given each year, ensuring that recognition is appropriately distributed among full-time and part-time, volunteer, or auxiliary members of the fire service across various states and territories in Australia.
Scope and Application
The Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations, as amended, pertain to the awarding of the Australian Fire Service Medal to recognise distinguished service by members of Australian fire services. These regulations apply to all states and territories within Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. They are specifically tailored to accommodate the distribution of awards among full-time permanent members, part-time, volunteer, or auxiliary members of the fire services across these jurisdictions. The criteria for the number of awards are proportionate to the size of the fire service in each state or territory, calculated based on the number of members serving on 30 June of the preceding year. Each state or territory is entitled to one award for every 1,000 full-time permanent members, one award for every 5,000 part-time, volunteer, or auxiliary members, and one additional award regardless of the number of members. The regulations are established under the authority of Letters Patent issued by the Queen and are subject to further amendments as specified in the Schedule. This legislative instrument ensures a systematic and equitable recognition process for distinguished service within the Australian fire services.
Key Provisions
The Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations, as amended by the Gazette C2012G00059, contain several key provisions governing the awarding of the Australian Fire Service Medal. Under regulation 4(2), the number of awards available in each state, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory is determined by the number of full-time and part-time members serving in the fire service. Specifically, one award is granted for every 1,000 full-time permanent members and one award for every 5,000 part-time, volunteer, or auxiliary members serving on 30 June of the preceding year. Additionally, each state, territory, or combined fire services are entitled to one additional award, as specified in regulation 4(3).
The Act imposes specific obligations on the entities it governs, including the calculation and allocation of the number of awards based on the membership data provided by each state or territory. The regulations require that the number of awards be proportional to the size of the fire service, ensuring a fair distribution based on the actual number of members. It is the responsibility of each state or territory to report accurate figures to enable the correct calculation of awards. This process is critical to maintaining the integrity and purpose of the award system, which is to recognise distinguished service by members of Australian fire services.
Breaches of the provisions set out in these regulations can lead to serious consequences. While the specific civil or criminal penalties are not detailed within the text of this legislation, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with the award distribution requirements could result in legal repercussions. This may include challenges to the legitimacy of awards granted, potential revocation of awards, and other administrative penalties as determined by relevant authorities. The precise penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the governing laws and regulations in place at the time of the offence.