STATUTORY RULES.
1953 No. 18.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE SUPPLY AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 1939-1948.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948.
Dated this twenty-seventh day of February, 1953.
W. J. McKell
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for Supply.
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Supply and Development (Woomera Rocket Range) Regulations.
Citation.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Supply and Development (Woomera Rocket Range) Regulations.
Definition.
2. In these Regulations, “the Woomera Rocket Range Area” means the areas of land in the State of South Australia described in the declaration under regulation 5 of the Supply and Development (Long Range Weapons) Regulations that was published in the Gazette on the fourteenth day of April, 1949, and in the declaration under sub-regulation (1.) of regulation 90 of the Supply and Development Regulations that was published in the Gazette on the twentieth day of December, 1951.
Transport, &c., in the Woomera Rocket Range area.
3.—(1.) A person authorized by the Minister to act under this regulation may give a direction or authority to a person (whether a member of the Defence Force or not) who is performing duties or employed in or in connexion with an undertaking established in the Woomera Rocket Range Area, with respect to the transport, handling, storage, testing or use, in that area, for the purposes of such an undertaking, of weapons, explosives, vehicles or other war materiel.
(2.) A direction or authority under the last preceding sub-regulation may be given to a particular person or to particular persons or to the persons included in a class of persons.
(3.) It is lawful for a person to whom a direction or authority under sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation applies to comply with the direction or exercise the authority.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1953
1603.—Price 3d. 9/16.9.1952.
Canteens.
4.—(1.) Where he considers it necessary so to do for the purposes of the efficient operation of an undertaking established in the Woomera Rocket Range Area, the Minister may establish, or arrange for the establishment of, a canteen for the use of persons employed in or in connexion with such an undertaking, and may authorize the sale or supply of alcoholic liquor at such a canteen upon such terms and conditions as he thinks fit.
(2.) It is lawful to sell or supply alcoholic liquor in pursuance of an authority by the Minister under the last preceding sub-regulation.
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By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
Overview
The Supply and Development (Woomera Rocket Range) Regulations 1953 were enacted to provide specific regulatory provisions for the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia. These regulations were introduced to address the need for clear directives and authorities concerning the transport, handling, storage, testing, and use of weapons, explosives, vehicles, and other war materiel within the designated Woomera Rocket Range Area. The enacting body was the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The overarching policy objective was to ensure the efficient and safe operation of undertakings within the Woomera Rocket Range Area, including the establishment of canteens and the regulation of the sale of alcoholic liquor where deemed necessary by the Minister. These regulations serve to implement the broader objectives of the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948 within the specific context of the Woomera Rocket Range.
Scope and Application
The Supply and Development (Woomera Rocket Range) Regulations, made under the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948, apply to specific areas of land designated as the Woomera Rocket Range Area in the State of South Australia, as declared in earlier regulations. These regulations grant the Minister the authority to issue directions or provide authorisations to individuals involved in the transport, handling, storage, testing, or use of weapons, explosives, vehicles, or other war materiel within the Woomera Rocket Range Area for the purpose of undertakings related to the Defence Force or similar activities. The authorisations may be directed to specific individuals, particular persons, or a class of persons. Furthermore, the regulations empower the Minister to establish canteens within the Woomera Rocket Range Area and to permit the sale or supply of alcoholic liquor at these canteens, subject to terms and conditions set by the Minister. These provisions are designed to facilitate the efficient operation of undertakings within the Woomera Rocket Range Area.
Key Provisions
The main provisions of the Supply and Development (Woomera Rocket Range) Regulations (C1953L00018) concern the management of the Woomera Rocket Range Area, specifically regarding the transport, handling, storage, testing, and use of weapons, explosives, vehicles, or other war materiel. Regulation 3 outlines the authority of a person appointed by the Minister to issue directions or grant authority to individuals performing duties or employed in relation to an undertaking in the Woomera Rocket Range Area. These directions or authorities can pertain to the aforementioned activities involving war materiel and can be directed at specific individuals, particular groups, or classes of persons (reg. 3(1)-(3)).
The Regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. For example, a person authorized by the Minister can issue directions or grant authority to individuals involved in activities within the Woomera Rocket Range Area (reg. 3(1)). Additionally, the Minister has the authority to establish or arrange for the establishment of canteens for employees in the area and can authorize the sale or supply of alcoholic liquor at these canteens under terms and conditions deemed appropriate (reg. 4(1)). The sale or supply of alcoholic liquor in accordance with the Minister's authority is lawful (reg. 4(2)).
While the Regulations do not explicitly state offences or penalties for breach, breaches of the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948, under which these Regulations are made, could result in civil or criminal consequences. The Act includes provisions for offences related to unauthorised activities in declared areas, which could lead to fines or imprisonment. For instance, under section 10 of the Act, unauthorized entry into a declared area can result in penalties such as fines not exceeding five thousand pounds or imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Furthermore, section 14 of the Act pertains to offences involving the handling of explosives and other war materiel, with penalties that could include fines and imprisonment terms as specified in the Act.