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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This 1926 Defence Act regulation is the complete pay-and-conditions rulebook for Australia’s permanent military, setting ranks’ pay, allowances (family, district, specialist), deductions (rations, quarters, deferred pay) and financial controls on spending and advances. It covers everyone from senior officers to privates, including specialists, and prescribes medical care and transition arrangements from wartime service.
It matters because it legally codifies the employment terms, benefits and limits that structured peacetime military life.
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Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES.
1926. No. 211.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918.
Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1918 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-second day of December, 1926.
STONEHAVEN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
for Minister of State for Defence.
The Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets, being Statutory Rules 1921, No. 82, as amended by Statutory Rules—
1921. Nos. 96, 124, 125, 135, 137, 145, 146, 147, 148, 155, 156, 157, 176, 184. 204, 220, 236, 237;
1922. Nos. 16, 56, 59, 99, 112, 122, 158, 178;
1923. Nos. 10, 31, 41, 67, 95. 163, 171, 201;
1924. Nos. 12, 62, 92, 119, 153, 176, 200;
1925. Nos. 19, 53, 103, 109, 132, 138. 149, 170, 191, 214;
1926. Nos. 20, 67, 68, 98, 120, 162, and 168—
are repealed as from the commencement of these Regulations save as to anything lawfully done, or any right, privilege, obligation, or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder.
PART I. DEFINITIONS.
“Secretary” means the Secretary, Department of Defence.
“The Military Board” means the Board of Administration for the Military Forces.
“Finance Member” means the Finance Member of the Board of Administration for the Military Forces.
“Formation, &c., Commander” means Commander of a Cavalry Division, of an Infantry Division, or of a Mixed Brigade or a District Base Commandant.
C. 17553.—Price 1s. 9d.
‘‘Command Head-quarters” means the Head-quarters of a Cavalry Division, of an Infantry Division, or of a Mixed Brigade or a District Base.
“District Finance Officer” means an Officer appointed to be District Finance Officer for a Military District.
“Receiver of Public Moneys” means an Officer appointed to be a Receiver for a Military District in accordance with the Treasury Regulations.
‘‘Commanding Officers of Regiments or Corps’’ in connexion with the administration of moneys received or disbursed on account of Regiments or Corps shall mean the Officers to whom moneys are forwarded or paid for the service of the Regiment or Corps.
PART II.—GENERAL.
Ministerial Approval and Delegation of Powers.
The Minister may approve of any expenditure not covered by these Regulations provided that the necessary funds have been made available by Parliamentary appropriation or by the Treasury in anticipation of Parliamentary appropriation.
(i) The Minister may, by writing under his hand, delegate any of the powers, functions and authorities conferred upon or vested in him by these Regulations.
(ii) Every delegation under this regulation shall be revocable at will, and no delegation shall prevent the exercise of any power, function, or authority by the Minister.
Responsibility of Formation, &c., Commanders.
(a) Enforcing due economy on all officers and others charged with any expenditure of public money, or with the care, use, or expenditure of stores;
(b) The economical expenditure of all moneys provided in the Annual Estimates for their respective Commands, and shall be further responsible that no liability is incurred against votes in excess of the provision made.
It is the duty of every member of the Military Forces to assist in carrying out these Regulations.
Except where otherwise provided in these Regulations, Formation, &c., Commanders are authorized to approve of increments to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Permanent Forces under their command, where such increments are prescribed by the regulations and provided in the Appropriation Act.
Ammunition.
Approval of Military Board.
The payment of grants and band allowance shall be subject to the approval of the Military Board and provision being made by Parliament.
All powers vested under these Regulations in Formation, &c., Commanders or District Finance Officers may also be exercised by the Military Board.
(1) The Military Board may approve of the sale or writing off of condemned, unfit, damaged, or deficient stores, the original value of which does not exceed £100.
(2) The Military Board may also approve of the taking on charge of excess stores.
Persons Ineligible to Hold Appointments.
Aides-de-Camp to the Governor-General, State Governors, &c.
An appointment as Aide-de-Camp to a Governor-General or to a Governor of a State or an appointment as Honorary Physician or Honorary Surgeon to the Governor-General shall not entitle an officer to any pay or allowances.
PART III.—DUTIES OF DISTRICT FINANCE OFFICERS.
(a) To approve of all requisitions for supplies within the votes on the Estimates which are governed by regulations.
(b) To approve of expenditure under the divisions or subdivisions of any votes for contingencies, general services, maintenance of existing arms and equipment, and Expeditionary Forces, provided that he has satisfied himself that funds are available; that the requirements of the remaining period of the financial year will not involve the necessity for applying for additional funds on any vote concerned; that there is nothing irregular in the character of the expenditure; and that it is not an allowance or payment to any member of the Forces, except such as is governed by regulations and does not require Ministerial approval. No new Vote or Item shall be operated upon or expenditure incurred in connexion therewith without approval from Head-Quarters, until such Vote or Item has been passed by Parliament.
(c) To approve of the employment of casual labour and temporary clerical assistance, provided that funds are available; but no person shall be employed under this regulation for a longer period than six months in any financial year without the approval of the Military Board.
(d) To approve—in accordance with regulation 166—of compensation for injuries received, or disease contracted, on duty.
(e) To approve—in accordance with, regulation 184—of compensation for injury to, or loss of, a horse.
(f) To approve—in accordance with Australian Military Regulations—of the striking off charge of stores damaged or deficient, provided that the original value of such stores did not exceed £20.
(g) To approve of payment of claims for overtime, and Sunday pay, provided that such are in order, and correct in every particular.
(b) The District Finance Officer shall also represent in writing to the Formation, &c., Commander any matter which comes to his knowledge wherein he considers that savings of expenditure could be effected. A copy of every such representation and of the Formation, &c., Commander’s remarks shall be immediately forwarded to the Finance Member.
Married Warrant and Non-Commissioned Officers who are frequently required to travel on duty may be granted a small standing advance at the discretion of the District Finance Officer, which must be adjusted on or before the 31st May of the financial year in which the advance is made.
He shall be liable for the amount of disallowances arising from errors or over-issues made by him in disregard of regulations or in the absence of proper authority.
Excepting as provided in these Regulations regarding the disposal of surplus funds of Military Institutes being closed and excepting as may be necessary for the distribution of profit from temporary Military Institutes in camps, he shall not take charge of any Regimental or other similar funds or act on the Committee controlling such funds.
Should difficulty be experienced in recovering vouchers supporting receipts, statements, &c., or money due from officers or others, he shall at once represent the circumstances in writing to the Formation, &c., Commander concerned, who shall, if necessary, refer the matter to the Military Board.
Upon receipt from the Senior Ordnance Officer of a claim for damages or deficiencies against a Corps or Unit of the Citizen Forces, or against a Rifle Club, the District Finance Officer shall demand payment from the Commanding Officer or other officer responsible, and, in the event of such claim not being satisfied within thirty days of such demand, the District Finance Officer shall report the fact to the Formation, &c., Commander concerned, who shall immediately take such action as may be necessary to obtain immediate payment, and shall furnish to the Secretary, within twenty days of the taking of such action, a report if the claim be then unsatisfied.
Instruction as to Payments.
(b) No officer shall be paid the salary of any position to which he has not been appointed by Order in Council.
(c) In no case, unless governed by regulation, shall an allowance be paid to any member of the Forces, unless such allowance be authorized by the Minister, or by the Military Board.
(d) Subject to regulations 6 and 15, any expenditure provided for by a Parliamentary Appropriation and not covered by regulations must be approved by the Minister in accordance with regulation 2.
(e) Salaries must not be paid from any Vote other than a Pay Vote.
23
PART IV.—PAY OF PERMANENT FORCES.
Conditions.
(b) All appointments shall be at the minimum rate of pay for the respective rank, class, grade, or position to which appointed except with the approval of the Minister on the recommendation of the Military Board.
Increments.
approved by the Military Board, and in the case of other ranks unless approved by the Formation, &c., Commander. The right to receive an increment in any year shall depend upon good and diligent conduct and efficiency.
Establishments.
Officers and others in excess of the authorized number of any rank may be carried on the strength, provided that there are vacancies in higher ranks, and that the total Establishment be not exceeded.
All persons whose pay is governed by these Regulations shall, on promotion to a rank or position carrying a higher rate or improved conditions of pay, draw such pay from the date of promotion, provided that if the duties of the higher rank or position are not taken up within one month from the date of promotion the higher rate of pay shall only be drawn from the date of actually taking up duty or from such date as the Minister may direct.
Officers returning to their Regiment or Corps after holding a position for which they were paid at a higher rate than the regimental pay of their rank, shall revert to the regimental pay.
(a) Members holding Brevet, Honorary, or Acting rank or appointment shall receive the rates of pay fixed for their substantive rank or permanent appointment.
(b) Members temporarily holding higher rank after a period of one month in such rank shall in the case of officers, on the approval of the Minister, and in the case of warrant and non-commissioned officers and men, on the approval of the Formation, &c., Commander, be paid the minimum pay of their temporary rank, provided that a vacancy exists on the establishment of the unit concerned for such higher rank.
(c) A member granted the temporary rank of Warrant Officer, Class II., or of Warrant Officer of any higher grade who holds such rank or grade for a continuous period, shall be entitled to consideration for increments as though he had been permanently promoted to such rank or grade, provided, that the first increment shall not be granted until after twelve months from the date on which the temporary higher rank or grade took effect.
(d) In the event of a Warrant Officer holding temporary rank or grade as such being permanently promoted to that rank or grade, he shall not suffer any reduction in salary or increments and shall receive increments in the same manner as he would have received them had his temporary rank or grade been permanent.
(e) Travelling allowance to a member receiving pay under this regulation shall be payable as though the temporary rank or grade were permanent.
(f) The provisions of this regulation shall have effect from the 1st July, 1926, provided that service as a temporary Warrant Officer since the 1st July, 1921, shall be taken into consideration as from the 1st July, 1926, for purposes of determining eligibility to receive incremental advancement under the provision of sub-paragraph (c) of this regulation.
Pay.
The prescribed rates of pay shall include all allowances except where otherwise provided for in these Regulations.
Daily rates of pay shall be calculated at one-seventh of the weekly rate, or one three hundred and sixty-fifth of the yearly rate.
Under no circumstances shall a member be granted pay for any period after the date on which he was, in the ordinary course, due for retirement, unless authority for the extension of his services has first been obtained.
Deferred Pay.
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.