{"id":"C1939L00147","name":"National Security (Agreements) Regulations","slug":"national-security-agreements-regulations","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"147 of 1939","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":22109,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1939L00147-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Security (Agreements) Regulations","content":"STATUTORY RULES.\n\n1939\\. No. 147.\n\nREGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT 1939.\\*\n\nI, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, in pursuance of the powers conferred by the National Security Act 1939, hereby make the following Regulations.\n\nDated this eleventh day of November, 1939.\n\nGOWRIE\n\nGovernor-General.\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command,\n\nPERCY C. SPENDER\n\nfor Minister of State for Defence Co-ordination.\n\nNational Security (Agreements) Regulations.\n\nCitation.\n\n1. These Regulations may be cited as the National Security (Agreements) Regulations.\n\nContracts in relation to the acquisition, production or disposal of goods.\n\n2.—(1.) Any Minister, thereto authorized by the Governor-General, may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, enter into agreements with such persons as are specified in the instrument of authority, or, if the Governor-General so specifies in the instrument with such persons as the Minister thinks fit, in relation to the acquisition, production or disposal of any goods or class of goods declared in the instrument to be goods which are essential for the defence of the Commonwealth or the more effectual prosecution of the war.\n\n(2.) Any such agreement may contain a provision providing for an indemnity by the Commonwealth to any such person against any loss which, in the opinion of the Minister, has been unavoidably incurred by reason of any such acquisition, production or disposal.\n\n\\* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 11th November, 1939.\n\nBy Authority: L. P. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.\n\n6742.—Price 3d.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-batch","completionTokens":1915},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is the original 1939 instrument; its scope remains tightly limited to enabling defence procurement agreements and indemnities, with no evidence of expansion beyond this specific wartime supply purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Only 2 short regulations total","No definitions section or technical terms requiring interpretation","Single-layer conditional logic (authorization triggers power)","No cross-references to other legislative provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"**What it does**\n\nThese regulations give government ministers power to fast-track supply contracts during wartime or national emergencies, and to offer financial protection to defence suppliers.\n\n**Key points**\n\n*   **Defence contracting**: When authorized by the Governor-General, ministers can sign agreements with businesses or individuals to buy, manufacture, or sell goods deemed essential for national defence or the war effort.\n*   **Government guarantees**: These contracts can include an **indemnity** (a legal promise) that the Commonwealth will cover any unavoidable financial losses the supplier suffers while fulfilling the contract.\n\n**Who it affects**\n\nCompanies and individuals contracting with the government to provide essential defence supplies, and the ministers negotiating those deals.\n\n**Why it matters**\n\nWartime production can be risky and unpredictable. By allowing the government to promise compensation for unavoidable losses, the law encourages businesses to take on vital defence work without fear of financial ruin."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/national-security-agreements-regulations","history":"/api/acts/national-security-agreements-regulations/history","analysis":"/api/acts/national-security-agreements-regulations/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/national-security-agreements-regulations/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/national-security-agreements-regulations/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/national-security-agreements-regulations/documents"}}