4Interpretation

4 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Australia includes the Territories.

former regular serviceman means a person who is a former regular serviceman in accordance with section 4A.

national service means:

(a) service in the Regular Army Supplement rendered under the National Service Act 1951‑1965; or

(b) service as an officer in that force in pursuance of an appointment referred to in subsection (1) or subsection (2) of section 28 of that Act;

but does not include service (other than service for a period of not more than three months or service under subsection (10) of section 27 of the National Service Act 1951‑1965) rendered by a person by virtue of a voluntary undertaking by him to render service for a period for which he is not otherwise bound so to serve under the National Service Act 1951‑1965 or the Defence Act 1903‑1965.

national serviceman means a person who is rendering national service.

service tribunal means:

(a) a court martial;

(b) a Defence Force magistrate; or

(c) an officer of the Defence Force exercising jurisdiction summarily in respect of offences committed by members of the Defence Force.

(2) For the purposes of this Act:

(a) a person who has been discharged from the Defence Force or a part of the Defence Force shall be deemed to have been so discharged by a dishonourable discharge if:

(i) the discharge was in accordance with the sentence of a service tribunal; or

(ii) the Chief of Navy, the Chief of Army or the Chief of Air Force, or a person authorized in that behalf by the Chief of Navy, the Chief of Army or the Chief of Air Force, has stated that the discharge was on disciplinary grounds;

(b) a person whose appointment as an officer in the Defence Force or a part of the Defence Force has been terminated shall be deemed to have been discharged from the Defence Force or from that Part and, if:

(i) the termination of the appointment was in accordance with the sentence of a service tribunal; or

(ii) the Chief of Navy, the Chief of Army or the Chief of Air Force, or a person authorized in that behalf by the Chief of Navy, the Chief of Army or the Chief of Air Force, has stated that the termination of the appointment was on disciplinary grounds;

shall be deemed to have been so discharged by a dishonourable discharge; and

(c) a person who has ceased to be a member of the Defence Force by reason of the operation of a punishment of dismissal from the Defence Force that has been imposed on him by a service tribunal under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 shall be deemed to have been discharged from the Defence Force or from that part of the Defence Force to which he belonged and to have been so discharged by a dishonourable discharge.