CTHIn ForceAct
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
6AOperational service—world wars
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#### 6A Operational service—world wars
(1) Subject to subsection (3), a person referred to in column 2 of an item in the following table is taken to have been rendering operational service during any period during which the person was rendering continuous full‑time service of a kind referred to in column 3 of that item.
```html
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:343.55pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading" style="page-break-inside:avoid"><span>Operational service</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Item</span></p></td><td style="width:109.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Person</span></p></td><td style="width:187.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Nature of service</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:109.7pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>A member of the Defence Force</span></p></td><td style="width:187.6pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(a) continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service outside Australia during a war to which this Act applies</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(b) continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service for a period of at least 3 months in that part of the Northern Territory that is north of the parallel 14 degrees 30 minutes south latitude (including any of the islands adjoining the Northern Territory) between 19</span><span> </span><span>February 1942 and 12</span><span> </span><span>November 1943 (both dates inclusive)</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(c) continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service during a war to which this Act applies rendered within Australia immediately before, or immediately after, a period of continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service of the kind referred to in paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a) or (b)</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span>(d) continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service rendered within Australia during World War 2 in such circumstances that the service should, in the opinion of the Commission, be treated as service in actual combat against the enemy</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:109.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member of the Defence Force who enlisted in the Defence Force while living on a Torres Strait Island</span></p></td><td style="width:187.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tablea" style="line-height:12pt"><span>(a) continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service for a period of at least 3 months on that island between 14</span><span> </span><span>March 1942 and 18</span><span> </span><span>June 1943 (both dates inclusive)</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="line-height:12pt"><span>(b) continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service during a war to which this Act applies rendered within Australia immediately before, or immediately after, a period of continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service of the kind referred to in paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:109.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member of the naval, military or air forces of a Commonwealth country or of an allied country who was domiciled in Australia or an external Territory immediately before his or her appointment or enlistment in those forces</span></p></td><td style="width:187.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service during a war to which this Act applies rendered:</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="line-height:12pt"><span>(a) outside that country; or</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="line-height:12pt"><span>(b) within that country but in such circumstances that the service should, in the opinion of the Commission, be treated as service in actual combat against the enemy</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
```
> Note: Section 11B may affect a person’s domicile immediately before appointment or enlistment.
(2) A person referred to in column 2 of an item in the following table is taken to have been rendering operational service during the period, or at the time, specified in column 3 of that item.
```html
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:343.55pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Operational service</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Item</span></p></td><td style="width:173.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Person</span></p></td><td style="width:123.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Relevant period or time</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:173.5pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A person who was, during a war to which this Act applies, employed by the Commonwealth on a special mission outside Australia</span></p></td><td style="width:123.8pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The period during which the person was so employed by the Commonwealth</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:173.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An eligible civilian who was killed, during the invasion of the Territory of Papua or the Territory of New Guinea during World War 2, as a result of action by the enemy</span></p></td><td style="width:123.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The time of the event as a result of which the person was killed</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:173.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An eligible civilian who was detained by the enemy during World War 2</span></p></td><td style="width:123.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The period during which the person was so detained</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:173.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A person who, while rendering continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service as a member of the Defence Force within Australia during World War 2, was injured, or contracted a disease, as a result of enemy action</span></p></td><td style="width:123.8pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The time of the event as a result of which the person was injured or contracted the disease</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
```
(3) Any continuous full‑time service that was rendered during World War 2 by a member of the Defence Force (other than a member of the Interim Forces) on or after the cut off date for the member is not taken to be operational service.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the cut off date for a member of the Defence Force is the date applicable to the member in accordance with the following table:
```html
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:343.6pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Cut off date</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-weight:bold">Item</span></p></td><td style="width:194.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-weight:bold">Member</span></p></td><td style="width:102.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-weight:bold">Date</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:194.75pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member who was appointed or enlisted for war service in any part of the Defence Force that was raised during World War 2 for war service, or solely for service during that war or during that war and a definite period immediately following that war</span></p></td><td style="width:102.6pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span><span> </span><span>July 1951</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:194.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member who was appointed or enlisted in the Citizen Forces and was called up for continuous full</span><span>‑</span><span>time service for the duration of, or directly in connection with, World War 2</span></p></td><td style="width:102.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span><span> </span><span>July 1951</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:194.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member who served in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan</span></p></td><td style="width:102.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span><span> </span><span>July 1951, or the day on which the member arrived back in Australia on the completion of his or her service in that Force, whichever is the earlier</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.65pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:194.75pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Any other member</span></p></td><td style="width:102.6pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span><span> </span><span>January 1949</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
```