Overview

The Victoria Cross for Australia Determination 2017, enacted by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, on 22 August 2017, addresses the need to update and formalise the design specifications and wearing protocols of the Victoria Cross, Australia's highest military decoration for valour. This determination revokes the previous Victoria Cross Determination of 1991, providing a contemporary and precise description of the medal's design, ribbon, miniature, ribbon bar, lapel badge, and additional awards. The policy objective is to ensure the Victoria Cross is represented consistently and with the highest standards of honour and dignity, reflecting its status as the pinnacle of military valour in Australia. The new determination also clarifies the protocols for wearing the Victoria Cross and its associated insignia, ensuring it is worn appropriately in both military and civilian contexts.

Scope and Application

The Victoria Cross for Australia Determination 2017 applies to the Victoria Cross, a prestigious military decoration, and its various forms such as the miniature, ribbon bar, and lapel badge. This determination outlines the design specifications for each form of the medal, including dimensions and inscriptions. The Act applies to recipients of the Victoria Cross, their families, and organisations involved in the production and distribution of the medal. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, as it pertains to the Commonwealth of Australia and its honours and awards system. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, nor does it mention thresholds. The application of this Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or orders, which provide further detail on the use and wear of the Victoria Cross and its associated forms. The Victoria Cross is a symbol of the highest military honour in Australia, and the Determination ensures consistency in the design and presentation of this prestigious award.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of this legislation, the Victoria Cross for Australia Determination 2017 (sections 1-8), detail the design and specifications of the Victoria Cross, including its physical appearance, dimensions, and the manner in which it is to be worn. The Victoria Cross, a bronze cross measuring 35 millimetres along each axis, is described in detail in section 1, with specifications on its obverse and reverse designs. The medal is suspended from a crimson ribbon 38.5 millimetres wide, as stated in section 2. The miniature of the Victoria Cross, a half-size replica, is suspended from a crimson miniature ribbon 16 millimetres wide, according to section 3. The ribbon bar, which is 41 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high, and the lapel badge, which is a replica of the Cross measuring 10 millimetres along each axis, are specified in sections 4 and 5 respectively. Section 6 addresses the recognition of further awards, and section 7 outlines the wearing of the Victoria Cross, its miniature, ribbon bar, and lapel badge. Finally, section 8 establishes the order of wear for the Victoria Cross in accordance with the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards. The Act imposes specific requirements on the design and use of the Victoria Cross. It mandates precise specifications for the physical attributes of the medal, its miniature, ribbon bar, and lapel badge. Additionally, it sets out the occasions on which each component of the Victoria Cross is to be worn, ensuring consistency and respect for the award's significance. The Act also dictates the manner in which additional awards of the Victoria Cross are to be recognised, through the presentation of bars and emblems. Breach of the provisions outlined in this Determination could potentially lead to legal consequences, although the Determination itself does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences. Given the nature of the legislation, which primarily concerns the design and wearing of a national honour, any breaches might be addressed under broader legal frameworks pertaining to disrespect or misuse of national symbols. However, the specific penalties for such breaches would depend on the context and severity of the infringement, falling under general laws concerning public order or defamation, rather than specific penalties stated within this Determination.