ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:
TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come,
GREETING:
WHEREAS by Letters Patent dated 8 September 2005 We instituted an Australian medal, designated and styled the Australian Defence Medal, for the purpose of according recognition to Australian Defence Force personnel who have served for a minimum of six years since the end of World War II:
AND WHEREAS the Letters Patent ordained that the award of the Australian Defence Medal be governed by the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Defence Medal set out in the Schedule to the Letters Patent:
AND WHEREAS it is desirable to make new regulations to govern the award of the Australian Defence Medal:
KNOW YOU that We do, by these Presents, declare Our Pleasure that the Letters Patent dated 8 September 2005 are amended to the extent that:
(a) the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Defence Medal are revoked, without prejudice to anything lawfully done thereunder; and
(b) the award of the Australian Defence Medal is governed by the Australian Defence Medal regulations set out in the Schedule.
IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.
GIVEN under the Great Seal of
Australia at Our Court at
St James's on 20 March 2006
By Her Majesty's Command
John Howard
Prime Minister
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Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
No. S48, Thursday, 30 March 2006
Schedule
Australian Defence Medal Regulations 2006
1
Name of Regulations
These Regulations are the Australian Defence Medal Regulations 2006.
2Definitions
In these Regulations:
Chief of the Defence Force means the Chief of the Defence Force appointed under section 9 of the Defence Act 1903.
Defence Force means the Defence Force constituted under the Defence Act 1903.
Medal means the Australian Defence Medal instituted under the Letters Patent establishing these Regulations.
Minister means the Minister of State for Defence or the Minister Assisting the Minister of State for Defence.
Register means the Register mentioned in regulation 11.
Registrar means the Registrar mentioned in regulation 11.
3Design of the Medal
The design of the Medal is as determined by the Governor-General.
4Award of the Medal
AThe Medal may be awarded to a member, or former member, of the Defence Force
who after 3 September 1945 has given qualifying service that is efficient service:
1by completing an initial enlistment period; or
2for a period of not less than 4 years service; or
3for periods that total not less than 4 years; or
4for a period or periods that total less than 4 years, being service that the
member was unable to continue for one or more of the following reasons:
i the death of the member during service;
ii the discharge of the member as medically unfit due to a compensable
iiithe discharge of the member due to a prevailing discriminatory Defence
policy, as determined by the Chief of the Defence Force or his or her delegate.
BFor subregulation (1), the Chief of the Defence Force or his or her delegate may
determine that a period of the member's qualifying service is efficient service.
CThe other conditions for the award are as determined by the Governor-General on
the recommendation of the Minister.
5Award of Medal member of philanthropic organisation
AThe Medal may be awarded to a person who performed philanthropic services for
the Defence Force while a member of a philanthropic organisation, as if the person was
rendering qualifying service during the period the person was performing the philanthropic
services.
BIn this regulation, qualifying service means:
1 a period of at least 4 years; or
2 periods that total at least 4 years.
6Award of Medal has no effect on entitlement to other awards
The award of the Medal does not affect the entitlement of a person to any other award.
7Making of awards
AAn award of the Medal may be made only by:
1 the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence
Force or his or her delegate; or
2a person to whom, under regulation 12, the Governor-General has delegated
the power to make an award of the Medal.
BThe Medal may be awarded posthumously.
8Cancellation of award
AThe Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence
Force or his or her delegate, cancel an award of the Medal.
BIf an award of the Medal is cancelled:
1the Registrar must note the cancellation in the Register; and
2the person holding the Medal must return it to the Registrar.
9Reinstatement of award
AThe Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence
Force or his or her delegate, reinstate an award that has been cancelled.
BIf an award is reinstated, the Registrar must:
1note the reinstatement in the Register; and
2reissue the Medal to the person to whom it was awarded.
10Wearing of medal
The manner of wearing the Medal is as determined by the Governor-General.
11Registrar of awards
AThe Governor-General must appoint a Registrar of Awards.
BThe Registrar must maintain:
1a Register containing the name of each person to whom the Medal has been
awarded; and
2such other records relating to the Medal as determined by the
Governor-General.
12Delegation
AThe Governor-General may, in writing, delegate the power to award the Medal to:
1the Chief of the Defence Force; or
2a person from time to time holding or occupying an office in the Defence Force
or the Department of Defence specified in the instrument of delegation.
BThe Governor-General may, in writing, revoke a delegation under subregulation (A).
CA person who is the delegate of the Governor-General mentioned in subregulation
(1) must not:
1make a recommendation for the award of the Medal if the person is also likely
to consider the recommendation; or
2consider a recommendation for the award of the Medal if that recommendation
was also made by the person.
DThe Chief of the Defence Force may, in writing, delegate the power to make a
recommendation for the award of the Medal to a person from time to time holding or
occupying a position in the Defence Force or the Department of Defence and mentioned
in the instrument of delegation.
EThe Chief of the Defence Force may, in writing, revoke a delegation under
subregulation (D).
Australian Defence Medal Regulations 2006
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
No. S48, Thursday, 30 March 2006
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Media Mail List
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THE HON MAL BROUGH MP
MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
MINISTER ASSISTING THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MEDIA RELEASE
Saturday, 26 June 2004 MINASSIST 031/04
MEDAL TO RECOGNISE SERVICE IN DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA
The Howard Government has today announced the intention to establish a new medal that recognises volunteer service in the Australian Defence Force.
All relevant approvals are now being sought to allow the award of this medal.
The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mal Brough, said those who had served for a total of six years in the Australian Defence Force, regular or reserve, would be eligible and the medal would be backdated to recognise past service.
"The Australian Defence Medal also reflects the fact that when serving in a modern Defence Force, it becomes difficult to discriminate between those who serve directly on operations and those who support those operations."
"The Australian Defence Medal reflects the fact that by serving in the Australian Defence Force individuals make a contribution to the national interest, whether they served the country on operations, or whether they remained in Australia in a support role."
"The war on terrorism has redefined the notions of a frontline or even an easily definable Area of Operations."
"Some tasks undertaken by soldiers, sailors and airmen remain invisible to the community at large but are very important to our nation's defence. These may include preparation and planning, intelligence and, indeed, other classified activities that for national security reasons can't be recognised by a specific award."
"The Australian Defence Medal will recognise all of these circumstances of service."
Mr Brough said the Australian Defence Medal would be retrospective from the end of World War Two, in order to recognise that many people in the past had served their nation in a variety of forms, sometimes arduous, but had not been recognised by an operational medal. However, those who completed National Service would not be eligible unless they subsequently volunteered and completed the requisite six years volunteer service.
"Six years reflects a length of time that we could be reasonably certain that most people would have completed the requisite training and experience in the Regular or Reserve forces, to be considered fully deployable should they have been called upon," Mr Brough said
"We believe these conditions also give effect to a motion from the Returned and Services League who agree with our desire to further recognise ADF service."
"The implementation of the medal will be a significant undertaking and the issue of medals to past servicemen will take time. It is estimated that up to 400,000 ex-servicemen and women may apply for this medal," Mr Brough said. "It is anticipated that once a design has been finalised and the medals have been struck, the issuing of medals could begin around middle of 2005."
"Operational and other demanding overseas service will still be recognised under the current arrangements. Processing and issuing of operational awards will take priority as the new Australian Defence Medal is being implemented.
"Nonetheless, the Australian Defence Medal provides the Government and the Australian people the ability to recognise those service men and women who do volunteer and serve the flag in a variety of roles and are prepared, should the call come, to put their lives on the line," Mr Brough said.
