War Precautions (Coal) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1920 No. 224, enacted on the twenty-fifth day of November, 1920, is a legislative instrument under the War Precautions Act 1914-1918. This Act was originally enacted to address the exigencies of war and to provide measures for national security during wartime, a necessity that arose out of the pressing needs during World War I. The Regulations were made by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to amend the War Precautions (Coal) Regulations as Amended to this date. The policy objective, as reflected in the amendment to Regulation 10j, is to provide specific procedural adjustments related to the operation of the Special Tribunals, presumably to ensure more efficient and effective administration in relation to the allocation and regulation of coal resources during the post-war period.

Scope and Application

This Statutory Rule, made under the War Precautions Act 1914-1918, pertains specifically to the amendment of the War Precautions (Coal) Regulations. The regulations are designed to manage and control the use of coal during the period of war precautions. The regulation applies to any person or entity involved in the production, distribution, or consumption of coal within the Commonwealth of Australia, effectively ensuring that the use of coal is managed in a manner that supports the war effort. This includes individuals and companies engaged in the coal industry, as well as any consumers of coal who may be subject to restrictions or controls imposed by these regulations. The regulation's jurisdiction is national, applying across all states and territories within the Commonwealth of Australia. The amendment focuses on the roles and responsibilities within the Special Tribunal, clarifying the authority and procedures of the Chairman of the Tribunal in decision-making processes related to coal regulation. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds specified within this particular Statutory Rule, although broader regulations and subordinate instruments may provide additional details on these aspects.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1920 No. 224, which amends the War Precautions (Coal) Regulations, are found in Regulation 10j (1) and (2). These sections mandate the insertion of specific phrases relating to the Chairman of the Special Tribunal into the existing sub-regulations. By amending sub-regulation (1) to include the phrase "Chairman of the Special Tribunal" before the second occurrence of "Special Tribunal", and by modifying sub-regulation (2) to incorporate "the Chairman of" before "a Special Tribunal", the regulation ensures that the Chairman's role is explicitly referenced in the context of the Tribunal's proceedings. The amendments impose certain obligations on parties and entities governed by the War Precautions (Coal) Regulations. Specifically, the Chairman of the Special Tribunal must now be formally acknowledged in the procedural steps outlined in sub-regulations (1) and (2). This inclusion likely signifies an enhanced role for the Chairman in the Tribunal's operations, ensuring that their authority and responsibilities are clearly delineated within the regulatory framework. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned for breach of these amended regulations. However, the omission of such provisions may imply that the primary focus of these changes is administrative, ensuring clarity and precision in the regulatory text rather than introducing punitive measures for non-compliance. The lack of penalties suggests that adherence to these procedural adjustments is expected to be uniformly accepted as part of the regulatory compliance process.