Defence Act 1903 Act No. 20 of 1903 as amended This compilation was prepared on 14 January 2011 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 95 of 2010 The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents Part I—Introductory 1 1 Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1 3 Commencement of Act [see Note 1] .................................................. 1 4 Interpretation [see Note 2] ................................................................. 1 5 Application of Act ............................................................................. 4 5A Extension of Act to Territories .......................................................... 4 6 Application of the Criminal Code ..................................................... 4 7 Act does not appropriate money ........................................................ 4 Part II—Administration 5 8 Powers of Minister in relation to Defence Force ............................... 5 9 Command of Defence Force and arms of Defence Force .................. 5 9A Administration of Defence Force ...................................................... 6 9AA Vice Chief of the Defence Force ....................................................... 7 9B Remuneration and allowances ........................................................... 7 9BA Tenure of office ................................................................................. 7 9C Acting appointments .......................................................................... 8 28 Council of Defence ............................................................................ 8 Part III—The Defence Force 9 Division 1—Constitution of the Defence Force 9 30 Defence Force .................................................................................... 9 31 Australian Army ................................................................................ 9 32 Regular Army .................................................................................... 9 32A Army Reserve .................................................................................... 9 32B Attachment etc. of members of an arm of the Defence Force to another arm .................................................................................. 10 Division 2—The raising of the Army 11 34 Voluntary entry ................................................................................ 11 Division 3—The service of the Army 12 45 Service of the Regular Army ........................................................... 12 50 Service of the Army Reserve ........................................................... 12 50C Territorial limits of service of Army ................................................ 13 Division 4—The calling out of the Forces 14 50D Calling out the Reserves .................................................................. 14 50E Period of service during call out ...................................................... 15
Part IIIAAA—Utilisation of Defence Force to protect Commonwealth interests and States and self-governing Territories 17 Division 1—Calling out and directing utilisation of Defence Force 17 51 Interpretation ................................................................................... 17 51A Order about utilising Defence Force to protect Commonwealth interests against domestic violence........................ 20 51AA Order about utilising Defence Force in the offshore area etc. to protect Commonwealth interests ................................................. 23 51AB Order about utilising Defence Force to protect Commonwealth interests against violence if specified circumstances arise .......................................................................... 26 51B Order about utilising Defence Force to protect State against domestic violence ............................................................................ 29 51C Order about utilising Defence Force to protect self-governing Territory against domestic violence ......................... 30 51CA Expedited call out ............................................................................ 32 51CB Declaration of designated critical infrastructure .............................. 37 51D Chief of Defence Force to utilise Defence Force as directed ........... 38 51E Ministerial directions ....................................................................... 39 51F Assistance to, and cooperation with, State etc. ................................ 39 51G Restriction on certain utilisation of Defence Force.......................... 40 Division 2—Powers to recapture locations or things, prevent or end acts of violence and protect persons from acts of violence 41 51H Application of this Division and Division 4 .................................... 41 51I Special powers of members of the Defence Force ........................... 41 Division 2A—Powers to protect designated critical infrastructure 43 51IA Application of this Division and Division 4 .................................... 43 51IB Powers to protect designated critical infrastructure ......................... 43 Division 3—General security area powers 45 Subdivision A—Application of this Division and Division 4 45 51J Application of this Division and Division 4 .................................... 45 Subdivision B—Powers that may be exercised anywhere in a general security area 45 51K Declaration of general security area ................................................ 45 51L Authorisation to search premises in the general security area for dangerous things ........................................................................ 46 51M Copy of search authorisation to be given to occupier etc. ............... 47 51N Occupier etc. entitled to be present during search ........................... 48
51O Search of means of transport in the general security area for dangerous things .............................................................................. 48 51P Search of persons in the general security area for dangerous things ............................................................................................... 49 Subdivision C—Powers that may be exercised only in relation to a designated area in the general security area 49 51Q Declaration of designated area ......................................................... 49 51R Control of movement in relation to a designated area in the general security area ........................................................................ 50 51S Members to wear uniforms and identification when exercising powers ............................................................................ 52 Division 3A—Powers in the Australian offshore area etc. 53 Subdivision A—Preliminary 53 51SA Application of this Division and Division 4 .................................... 53 51SB Geographic application .................................................................... 53 51SC International obligations .................................................................. 53 51SD Definitions ....................................................................................... 53 Subdivision B—Special powers of members of the Defence Force 54 51SE Special powers of members of the Defence Force ........................... 54 Subdivision C—Powers that may be exercised anywhere in an offshore area 56 51SF Declaration of offshore general security area .................................. 56 51SG Authorisation to search facilities in the offshore general security area for dangerous and other things ................................... 57 51SH Copy of offshore search authorisation to be given to occupier etc. ................................................................................................... 58 51SI Occupier etc. entitled to be present during search ........................... 59 51SJ Search of vessel or aircraft in the offshore general security area for dangerous or other things ................................................... 59 51SK Search of persons in the offshore general security area for dangerous and other things .............................................................. 60 Subdivision D—Powers that may be exercised only in relation to an offshore designated area in the offshore general security area 61 51SL Declaration of offshore designated area .......................................... 61 51SM Control of movement in relation to an offshore designated area in the offshore general security area ........................................ 62 51SN Members to wear uniforms and identification when exercising powers ............................................................................ 64 Subdivision E—Other powers 65 51SO Power to require person to answer questions or produce documents ........................................................................................ 65
51SP Power to require person to operate facility, vessel or aircraft or machinery or equipment .............................................................. 66 51SQ Geographical jurisdiction for offences............................................. 66 Division 3B—Powers relating to aircraft 67 51SR Application of this Division and Division 4 .................................... 67 51SS Geographical application ................................................................. 67 51ST Special powers of members of the Defence Force ........................... 67 Division 4—Provisions common to Divisions 2 to 3B 70 Subdivision A—Use of reasonable and necessary force 70 51T Use of reasonable and necessary force ............................................ 70 51U Persons to be informed of offence if detained ................................. 71 Subdivision B—Action to be taken if things are seized 72 51V Action to be taken if things are seized ............................................. 72 Subdivision C—Members not entitled to exercise powers if obligations not complied with 73 51W Members not entitled to exercise powers if obligations not complied with .................................................................................. 73 Division 4A—Applicable criminal law 74 51WA Applicable criminal law................................................................... 74 51WB Defence of superior orders in certain circumstances ....................... 74 Division 5—Miscellaneous 76 51X Publication of order and report ........................................................ 76 51XA Review of operation of Part ............................................................. 77 51XB Instruments that are not legislative instruments ............................... 79 51Y Part additional to other Defence Force utilisation and powers ........ 79 Part IIIAA—Superannuation benefit 80 52 Determination of benefit .................................................................. 80 53 Trustee of scheme providing superannuation benefit ...................... 81 Part IIIA—Remuneration, allowances and other benefits 82 Division 1—Determinations by the Minister 82 58A Interpretation ................................................................................... 82 58B Minister may make determinations.................................................. 82 58E Delegation ....................................................................................... 85 Division 2—The Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal 86 58F Interpretation ................................................................................... 86 58G Establishment of Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal ................ 87 58H Functions and powers of Tribunal ................................................... 88 58HA Hearings in relation to discriminatory determinations ..................... 90 58HB Review of discriminatory determinations ........................................ 90
58J Reports by Tribunal ......................................................................... 91 58K Procedure of Tribunal ...................................................................... 91 58KA Single member may conduct Tribunal’s business ............................ 93 58KB Procedure where single member is conducting Tribunal’s business ........................................................................................... 93 58KC Review of action etc. of single member........................................... 94 58KD Determinations giving effect to agreement between the parties .............................................................................................. 95 58L Terms and tenure of office ............................................................... 95 58M Resignation ...................................................................................... 96 58N Termination of appointment ............................................................ 96 58P Acting appointments ........................................................................ 96 58Q Fees and allowances ........................................................................ 97 Division 3—The Defence Force Advocate 98 58R Interpretation ................................................................................... 98 58S Defence Force Advocate ................................................................. 98 58T Functions of Advocate ..................................................................... 98 58U Tenure and terms of office ............................................................... 99 58V Resignation ...................................................................................... 99 58W Termination of appointment ............................................................ 99 58X Acting Defence Force Advocate ...................................................... 99 58Y Fees and allowances ...................................................................... 100 Part IV—Liability to serve in the Defence Force in time of war 101 Division 1—Liability to serve 101 59 Persons liable to serve in Defence Force in time of war ................ 101 60 Proclamation calling upon persons to serve in time of war ........... 101 61 Registration and allotment for service ........................................... 101 61A Persons exempt from service ......................................................... 102 61B Entry into Defence Force for service ............................................. 103 61C Part not to apply to certain persons ................................................ 103 Division 2—Determination of conscientious belief 104 61CA Application for determination of conscientious belief ................... 104 61CB Secretary must refer application .................................................... 104 61CC Function of Conscientious Objection Tribunals ............................ 104 61CD Parties to the hearing of an application .......................................... 104 61CE Notice of determination to be given to parties ............................... 105 Division 3—Establishment and membership of Conscientious Objection Tribunals 106 61CF Establishment of Conscientious Objection Tribunals .................... 106 61CG Period of appointment of members ................................................ 106 61CH Remuneration and allowances of members ................................... 106
61CJ Other terms and conditions ............................................................ 107 61CK Leave of absence ........................................................................... 107 61CL Resignation .................................................................................... 107 61CM Removal from office ...................................................................... 107 61CN Member of a Tribunal unavailable to complete proceeding .......... 107 61CO Acting appointments ...................................................................... 108 Division 4—Procedures of Conscientious Objection Tribunals 110 61CP Tribunals’ way of operating........................................................... 110 61CQ Powers of Tribunals ....................................................................... 110 61CR Procedure of Tribunals .................................................................. 110 61CS Majority decision ........................................................................... 111 61CT Procedure where opinion of members equally divided .................. 111 61CU Hearings ........................................................................................ 111 61CV Onus of proof................................................................................. 111 61CW Protection of members and persons giving evidence etc. .............. 112 61CX Fees for persons giving evidence ................................................... 112 61CY Failure of witness to attend ............................................................ 112 61CZ Refusal to be sworn or to answer questions etc. ............................ 113 61CZA Contempt of Tribunal .................................................................... 114 Division 5—Reviews and appeals 115 61CZB Review of determinations of Conscientious Objection Tribunals ........................................................................................ 115 61CZC AAT Act to apply subject to modification ..................................... 115 61CZD Appeals from AAT ........................................................................ 115 61CZE Operation etc. of decision subject to appeal .................................. 116 Part V—Cadets 118 62 Australian Army Cadets ................................................................ 118 Part VI—Special powers in relation to defence 120 63 General powers for defence purposes [see Note 3] ........................ 120 64 Control of railways in time of war ................................................. 120 65 Railways to carry troops etc. when required .................................. 120 66 Conveyance by railway and tramway ............................................ 120 67 Registration and impressment of vehicles etc. ............................... 120 68 Billeting and quartering ................................................................. 121 70 Tolls ............................................................................................... 121 Part VII—Offences 122 73A Unlawfully giving or obtaining information as to defences ........... 122 73F Penalty ........................................................................................... 122 79 Unlawfully disposing of arms etc. ................................................. 123 80A Falsely representing to be returned soldier, sailor or airman ......... 124 80B Improper use of service decorations .............................................. 124
82 Sketching etc. of fortifications prohibited ..................................... 125 83 Unauthorised use, possession or supply of emblems or flags ........ 127 84 Penalty for bringing contempt on uniform ..................................... 128 Part VIII—Offences in relation to service tribunals 129 86 Failure of witness to appear ........................................................... 129 88 False or misleading evidence ......................................................... 129 89 Contempt of service tribunals etc. ................................................. 129 90 Failure to comply with order under section 140 of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 ............................................... 130 Part VIIIA—Testing for prohibited substances 131 Division 1—Preliminary 131 91 Application of Part ........................................................................ 131 92 Object of Part................................................................................. 131 93 Definitions ..................................................................................... 131 93A Authorised person .......................................................................... 133 93B Determinations about prohibited substances and prohibited substance tests ............................................................................... 133 Division 2—Testing for prohibited substances 134 94 Requirement to undergo a prohibited substance test ...................... 134 95 Conduct of testing.......................................................................... 134 96 Notice to person required to provide a sample .............................. 134 Division 3—Return of a positive test result 135 98 Application .................................................................................... 135 100 Notice to be given of a positive test result ..................................... 135 101 Termination or discharge ............................................................... 136 102 Form and date of effect of termination or discharge ...................... 137 103 Reduction in rank .......................................................................... 138 104 Warning if a prohibited substance test returns a positive result .............................................................................................. 139 Division 4—Miscellaneous 140 106 Failure to provide sample .............................................................. 140 107 Unauthorised acts in relation to sample ......................................... 140 108 Finding made as a result of testing not admissible in certain criminal proceedings ..................................................................... 140 109 Defence Instructions ...................................................................... 141 110 Other administrative action not precluded ..................................... 142
Part VIIIB—Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force 143 Division 1—Establishment and functions of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force 143 110A Object of Part................................................................................. 143 110B Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force ....................... 143 110C Functions of the Inspector-General ADF ....................................... 143 110D When the Inspector-General ADF can conduct inquiries or investigations ................................................................................. 144