© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
Returned Servicemen’s Badges Act 1956
Start here
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Returned Servicemen’s Badges Act 1956.
In this section— prescribed returned service personnel association means— Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs (Queensland Branch); and Queensland Ex-Prisoners of War Association; and Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force Association; and during any time when this Act applies to any association, body, or organisation of persons under a regulation under subsection (2) , that association, body, or organisation. membership badge , in relation to any prescribed returned service personnel association, means a badge of the kind issued by that association for the purpose of indicating that the wearer is a member thereof. Subject to subsection (2A) , the Governor in Council may, by regulation, declare that this Act applies to a specified association, body, or organisation of persons. Before by regulation declaring that this Act applies to an association, body, or organisation of persons, the Governor in Council shall be satisfied that such association, body, or organisation is bona fide comprised of discharged service personnel, that is to say— members discharged from enlistment or appointment for active service with any of Her Majesty’s naval, military, or air forces or with the forces of the United Nations; and members discharged from service with any of Her Majesty’s naval, military, or air forces, to which they were or shall be enlisted, appointed or called out during any war in which Her Majesty (or any of Her Majesty’s predecessors) was or shall be engaged; and for the purposes of applying this section to females, includes any service forming part of any of the forces referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) , including service as medical practitioner, or nurse, or masseuse or otherwise. A person who is not a member of a prescribed returned service personnel association shall not wear, or without lawful excuse, have in his or her possession— any membership badge; or any badge similar to a membership badge, or so nearly similar to a membership badge as to be likely to deceive. However, it shall not be an offence against this subsection for any person who has ceased to be a member of a prescribed returned service personnel association to wear or have in his or her possession a membership badge lawfully obtained by the person while he or she was such a member. A person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty— for a first offence—1 penalty unit; and for a subsequent offence—2 penalty units. s 4 ins 1957 6 Eliz 2 No. 6 s 3 amd 1958 7 Eliz 2 No. 40 s 2; 1993 No. 32 s 3 sch 1 (sec.4-ssec.1) In this section— prescribed returned service personnel association means— Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs (Queensland Branch); and Queensland Ex-Prisoners of War Association; and Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force Association; and during any time when this Act applies to any association, body, or organisation of persons under a regulation under subsection (2) , that association, body, or organisation. membership badge , in relation to any prescribed returned service personnel association, means a badge of the kind issued by that association for the purpose of indicating that the wearer is a member thereof. (sec.4-ssec.2) Subject to subsection (2A) , the Governor in Council may, by regulation, declare that this Act applies to a specified association, body, or organisation of persons. (sec.4-ssec.2A) Before by regulation declaring that this Act applies to an association, body, or organisation of persons, the Governor in Council shall be satisfied that such association, body, or organisation is bona fide comprised of discharged service personnel, that is to say— members discharged from enlistment or appointment for active service with any of Her Majesty’s naval, military, or air forces or with the forces of the United Nations; and members discharged from service with any of Her Majesty’s naval, military, or air forces, to which they were or shall be enlisted, appointed or called out during any war in which Her Majesty (or any of Her Majesty’s predecessors) was or shall be engaged; and for the purposes of applying this section to females, includes any service forming part of any of the forces referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) , including service as medical practitioner, or nurse, or masseuse or otherwise. (sec.4-ssec.3) A person who is not a member of a prescribed returned service personnel association shall not wear, or without lawful excuse, have in his or her possession— any membership badge; or any badge similar to a membership badge, or so nearly similar to a membership badge as to be likely to deceive. (sec.4-ssec.3A) However, it shall not be an offence against this subsection for any person who has ceased to be a member of a prescribed returned service personnel association to wear or have in his or her possession a membership badge lawfully obtained by the person while he or she was such a member. (sec.4-ssec.4) A person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty— for a first offence—1 penalty unit; and for a subsequent offence—2 penalty units.