STATUTORY RULES.
1917. No. 72.
REGULATION UNDER THE WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT 1914–1916.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation, under the War Precautions Act 1914–1916, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-first day of March, 1917.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
Minister of State for Defence.
__________
Amendment of war Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916.
(Statutory Rules 1916. No. 321, as amended by Statutory Rules 1917, Nos. 42 and 53.)
The War Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916 are amended—
(a) by inserting after Regulation 10a the following Regulation:—
Declaration by Officer.
“16B.—(l) Every officer shall forthwith or before acting in the execution of his office make the declaration in accordance with Form C in the Schedule.
(2) For the purposes of this Regulation ‘officer’ means any person (other than a wool-selling broker or wool appraiser) employed by the Central Wool Committee or a State Wool Committee”; and
(b) by adding at the end of the Schedule the following form:—
Form C.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
The War Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916.
Declaration by Officer under Regulation 16b.
I, , of in the State of in the Commonwealth of Australia, do solemnly and sincerely declare that I will not divulge or communicate any matter or thing coming under my notice in the performance of my duties under the above
Regulations to any person as may be authorized by law for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the War Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916.
Declared at in the State of
this day of
191
Before me †
* Signature of Officer,
† Signature of Justice of the Peace, Commmissioner for Affidavit, or Commissioner for Declarations.
________________________________
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.3852.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1917 No. 72, issued under the War Precautions Act 1914–1916, aim to address the need for increased confidentiality and security during wartime, specifically relating to the handling of sheepskins. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, these regulations mandate that officers involved in the execution of duties under the War Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916 must make a solemn declaration of non-disclosure concerning matters they encounter in the performance of their roles. This legislative instrument was introduced to ensure that sensitive information is safeguarded during a time of national crisis, reflecting the policy objective of maintaining secrecy and security in the administration of war precautions.
Scope and Application
The War Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916, as amended by the Statutory Rules 1917 No. 72, apply specifically to officers employed by the Central Wool Committee or any State Wool Committee, excluding wool-selling brokers and wool appraisers. This regulation mandates that these officers must declare their commitment to confidentiality before acting in their official capacity, ensuring that any information they encounter in the performance of their duties remains secure and is not disclosed to unauthorised persons. The regulation is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and requires the officers to make a formal declaration as per the prescribed form, witnessing by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Affidavits, or Commissioner for Declarations. This regulatory framework is intended to safeguard sensitive information during the wartime period under the authority of the War Precautions Act 1914–1916, thereby reinforcing national security measures.
Key Provisions
The Regulation under the War Precautions Act 1914–1916, specifically amending the War Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916, introduces new obligations for officers involved in the execution of their duties under the Act. According to Regulation 16B(1), every officer must make a declaration in accordance with Form C in the Schedule. This declaration is intended to ensure that officers commit to the secrecy of information they come across in the course of their duties (Regulation 16B(2)). Regulation 16B(2) defines 'officer' as any person employed by the Central Wool Committee or a State Wool Committee, except for wool-selling brokers or wool appraisers.
The obligations imposed by this Regulation require officers to formally declare their commitment to maintaining confidentiality about sensitive information related to the War Precautions (Sheepskins) Regulations 1916. This declaration must be made either immediately or before acting in the execution of their office. Form C, included in the Schedule, is the specific format that must be followed for the declaration. The form requires the officer to solemnly and sincerely declare that they will not divulge any confidential information to any unauthorised person. This declaration must be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Affidavits, or Commissioner for Declarations.
In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the Regulation does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach within the provided text. However, given the context of wartime and the sensitive nature of the information, any breach of the confidentiality requirement could potentially lead to serious legal ramifications. The omission of explicit penalties suggests that the seriousness of the breach might be addressed under broader legal provisions applicable to violations of wartime regulations or breaches of duty in a national security context.