Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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DEFENCE FORCE REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1997 NO. 257

STATUTORY RULES 1997 No. 257

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Defence

Defence Act 1903

Defence Force Regulations (Amendment)

The Defence Force Regulations, made under the Defence Act 1903, prescribe various matters relating to the administration of the Defence Force.

An Instrument, made by the Governor-General under the Defence Act, constituted a Council of Defence ("the Council"), which consisted of the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel, the Secretary to the Department of Defence, the Chief of the Defence Force, the Vice Chief-of the Defence Force, the Chief of Navy, the Chief of Army and the Chief of Air Force.

Part III (regulations 12 and 13) of the Defence Force Regulations prescribed the Council's functions and required it to meet at least four times a year. The functions of the Council were to consider and discuss matters, referred by the Minister for Defence, relating to the control and administration of the Defence Force.

Although it was formally reconstituted in 1987 following a ministerial title change and creation of the office of Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Council had become obsolete and had not met since 1985. This is because non-statutory committees and direct access to Ministers have met Defence's needs for high level consultation and policy advice. Current arrangements for the consideration of broader policy issues affecting Defence include meetings of the National Security Committee of Cabinet, supported by the Secretaries' Committee on National Security. As it no longer served any purpose, the Council needed to be formally dissolved.

The Council has been dissolved by revocation of the Instrument that constituted it. Amendment of the Defence Force Regulations, to omit Part III (which prescribes the Council's functions), is consequential on the dissolution of the Council.

This Statutory Rule omits Part III of the Defence Force Regulations.

The Statutory Rule comes into operation on the date of gazettal.