Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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AIR FORCE REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1996 NO. 179

STATUTORY RULES 1996 No. 179

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel

Air Force Act 1923

Air Force Regulations (Amendment)

The Air Force Regulations (the Principal Regulations), made under the Air Force Act 1923, prescribe various matters relating to the organisation and administration of the Air Force, including certain financial conditions of service.

As the majority of the financial conditions of service are now dealt with in other legislation, are more appropriately dealt with in administrative instructions, or are no longer required, the Statutory Rule amends the Principal Regulations accordingly.

Regulation 527 of the Principal Regulations defines three expressions for the purposes of Part XI of those Regulations. Following the commencement of the Statutory Rule, two of the expressions ("Australia" and "prescribed authority") no longer appear in Part XI. The remaining expression "member" is more appropriately placed in the provision where the expression appears (regulation 536 of the Principal Regulations). The Statutory Rule omits regulation 527 and inserts the definition of "member" in regulation 536.

Regulation 530 of the Principal Regulations deals with calculation of pay, and regulation 535 deals with deductions from pay in respect of past service. As both matters are adequately dealt with by the Audit Act and Finance Directions, the Statutory Rule omits both provisions.

The matters covered by regulations 537 (Minimum drawing rate), 565 (Provisions of rations and quarters), 576 (Retention of uniform on termination of services), 645B (Issue of uniforms to members of the Air Force Emergency Force), and 648 (Issue of uniforms to members of the Air Force Reserve) of the Principal Regulations are more appropriately dealt with as matters of administrative detail. The Statutory Rule omits the provisions from the Principal Regulations.

As charges for married quarters for members of the Air Force (regulations 571D, 571E, 571F and 571G ) are now covered by tri-service provisions in the Defence Force Regulations, the Statutory Rule omits the provisions from the Principal Regulations.

Regulation 616 of the Principal Regulations defines four expressions for the purposes of Part XI of those Regulations. Following the commencement of the Statutory Rule, three of the expressions ("hospital treatment", "medical or other treatment" and "Repatriation Hospital") no longer appear in Part XL The remaining expression "member" is more appropriately placed in the provision where the expression appears (regulation 632B of the Principal Regulations). The Statutory Rule omits regulation 616 and amends regulation 632B by inserting the definition of "member".

As the provision of medical and dental treatment and the recovery of medical and dental costs (regulations 617, 629, 632A and Schedule 5) are now covered by tri-service provisions in the Defence Force Regulations, the Statutory Rule omits the provisions from the Principal Regulations.

The Statutory Rule also omits regulation 628 of the Principal Regulations as retirement or discharge on medical grounds is now covered by regulation 78 of the Principal Regulations.

The Statutory Rule comes into operation on 1 December 1996.