Overview

The Commonwealth of Australia has issued a declaration and determination under the Police Overseas Service Medal Regulations 2007, as amended, which was enacted to recognise and reward the service of Australian police officers who have undertaken prescribed overseas service. The Police Overseas Service Medal Regulations were established to provide a means of recognising and rewarding the service of Australian police officers who have undertaken prescribed overseas service. The 2017 declaration and determination is made under the authority of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the recommendation of the Minister for Justice and the Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Counter Terrorism. The document specifically recognises the service of Australian police officers who participated in the Papua New Guinea Enhanced Cooperation Program, with the period of service being between 1 July 2004 and 13 May 2005. The policy objective of the declaration is to acknowledge and reward the service of these officers in contributing to capacity-building efforts in Papua New Guinea. This declaration aims to ensure that eligible officers who participated in the prescribed service are awarded the Police Overseas Service Medal with an appropriate clasp, recognising their contribution and sacrifice. The determination outlines the specific conditions under which the medal may be awarded, including service duration and circumstances of termination. The clasp for the medal will bear the inscription "PNGECP" to distinguish it as being awarded for service in the Papua New Guinea Enhanced Cooperation Program. This legislative action seeks to formalise the recognition of these officers' contributions and to honour their service in international capacity-building efforts.

Scope and Application

The declaration and determination under the Police Overseas Service Medal Regulations 2007, as amended, applies to Australian police personnel who participated in the Papua New Guinea Enhanced Cooperation Program between 1 July 2004 and 13 May 2005. This legislation specifically addresses the eligibility criteria for the award of the Police Overseas Service Medal to those who served in this program, setting out the conditions under which service is considered prescribed. This includes service for a minimum period of 90 days, or shorter periods under certain circumstances such as termination due to death, illness, injury, other disability arising from service, or government or law enforcement reasons. The clasp "PNGECP" will be added to the medal for those qualifying under the specified conditions. This declaration extends the application of the Police Overseas Service Medal Regulations to encompass the defined service period and specific circumstances of service within the Papua New Guinea Enhanced Cooperation Program, thereby recognising the contributions of Australian police in this overseas capacity-building initiative.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of this legislation, specifically under the Police Overseas Service Medal Regulations 2007 and subsequent amendments, include the declaration of a period of service as prescribed service (s. 1) and the determination of the conditions for awarding the Police Overseas Service Medal for this service (s. 2). The declared period of service, as noted in section 1, is from 1 July 2004 to 13 May 2005, which is recognised as the time Australian police served on duty in the Papua New Guinea Enhanced Cooperation Program. This period is considered prescribed service for the purposes of the Regulations. Section 2 sets out the conditions for the award of the Medal for this prescribed service. The Medal may be awarded to individuals who have served for a total of 90 days, two or more periods amounting to 90 days, or a period less than 90 days under specific circumstances, such as service termination due to death, illness, injury, other disability due to service, or Government or law enforcement reasons. Additionally, a clasp with "PNGECP" will be added to the Medal for those who qualify under the specified conditions. The obligations and requirements imposed by the Act on the parties or entities it governs are primarily focused on the eligibility criteria for the Police Overseas Service Medal. According to the declaration and determination in section 2, only those who meet the specified conditions of service duration and circumstances can be awarded the Medal. Furthermore, the clasp with "PNGECP" is reserved for those who have served under the prescribed conditions in the Papua New Guinea Enhanced Cooperation Program. The Act does not impose direct obligations on the recipients themselves but sets clear parameters for who qualifies for the recognition and award of the Medal. Regarding offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, the Act does not explicitly outline specific penalties for failing to comply with the declared conditions or for misuse of the Medal. However, the serious nature of the award suggests that misuse could lead to disciplinary actions or the revocation of the Medal. It is understood that the Police Overseas Service Medal is a significant honour, and any breach of the conditions for its award could result in serious repercussions, although the exact penalties are not detailed in the Act itself. The focus is on maintaining the integrity of the award process and ensuring that the Medal is given only to those who have genuinely fulfilled the service requirements as outlined.