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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
What this legislation does
These regulations set out the administrative rules for the Royal Australian Navy, covering how people join, serve in, and leave the naval forces.
Key areas covered:
Structure of the Navy: Defines the five parts of the Navy—Permanent Naval Forces (full-time), Naval Emergency Reserve, Emergency List of Officers, Royal Australian Fleet Reserve, and Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
Ranks: Lists the hierarchy from Admiral of the Fleet down to Recruit, including special ranks for chaplains (who hold "division" ranks equivalent to military ranks like Lieutenant or Commander).
Joining up: Sets out the oath or affirmation (a solemn promise) that sailors must take, and allows enlistment either for a fixed period or until a retirement age.
Promotions: Gives the Chief of Navy power to set conditions for promotion, including "provisional" promotions (temporary upgrades while a person qualifies) and "temporary" promotions (acting in a higher role).
Leaving the Navy: Complex rules about when sailors can be discharged (released from service), including:
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Direct links to the current provisions in Naval Forces Regulations 1935.
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View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Women's service integration: Contains special transitional rules from the 1980s converting former Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) ranks to standard Navy ranks and recognising prior service.
Transfers: Allows movement between the Navy and other Defence Force branches (Army/Air Force) with consent.
Industrial action: Bans using Navy personnel to do work during civilian strikes unless approved by the Minister.
Why it matters: These regulations govern the careers of naval personnel—from the moment they swear the oath to when they retire—and ensure the Navy can manage its workforce across permanent and reserve components.