15Interpretation

#### 15 Interpretation (1) In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears: competent officer means: (a) an officer: (i) of the Defence Force; (ii) of the naval, military or air force of the United Kingdom, Canada or New Zealand; or (iii) of the naval, military or air force of a country determined by the Minister by notice published in the Gazette; who holds a rank, or a rank equivalent to a rank, not below: (iv) in the case of a Naval officer—Lieutenant; (v) in the case of a Military officer—Captain; or (vi) in the case of an Air Force officer—Flight Lieutenant; (b) an air force officer who holds a rank below that of Flight Lieutenant while he is in charge of a unit or detachment of the Royal Australian Air Force; and (c) in relation to a member of the Defence Force who is a prisoner of war or interned in a place outside Australia, a person who is a British subject and is, for the time being, the official representative of prisoners of war or other persons detained or interned in that place. (2) For the purposes of this Part: (a) a reference to a member of the Defence Force includes a reference to a person who, not being a member of the Defence Force, accompanies a part of the Defence Force; and (b) a reference to a member of the Defence Force on service outside Australia includes a reference to a member of that Force who is a prisoner of war or interned in a place outside Australia.