2013-2014 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary 

Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2014 

 

No.      , 2014 

 

(Mr Bandt) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Defence Act 1903 to 

provide for parliamentary approval of overseas 

service by members of the Defence Force, and for 

related purposes 

   

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) 

Bill 2014 

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Contents 

1 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

2 

Commencement ................................................................................. 1

 

3 

Schedule(s) ........................................................................................ 2

 

Schedule 1--Amendment of the Defence Act 1903

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) 

Bill 2014 

1 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Defence Act 1903 to 

1 

provide for parliamentary approval of overseas 

2 

service by members of the Defence Force, and for 

3 

related purposes 

4 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

5 

1  Short title 

6 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary 

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Approval of Overseas Service) Act 2014. 

8 

2  Commencement 

9 

 

  This Act commences on the day this Act receives the Royal 

10 

Assent. 

11 

   

   

 

 

2 

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) 

Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

3  Schedule(s) 

1 

 

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or 

2 

repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule 

3 

concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect 

4 

according to its terms. 

5 

Amendment of the Defence Act 1903  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) 

Bill 2014 

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Schedule 1

--Amendment of the Defence Act 

1 

1903 

2 

1  Section 50C 

3 

Repeal the section. 

4 

2  After Part III of Division 3 

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Insert: 

6 

Division 3A--The service of the Defence Force 

7 

50C  Parliamentary approval of service of members of Defence Force 

8 

 

(1)  Members of the Defence Force may serve within the territorial 

9 

limits of Australia. 

10 

 

(2)  Subject to this section, members of the Defence Force may not 

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serve beyond the territorial limits of Australia except in accordance 

12 

with a resolution, which is in effect and agreed to by each House of 

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the Parliament, authorising the service. 

14 

 

(3)  The Governor-General may by proclamation declare that an 

15 

emergency exists requiring the service beyond the territorial limits 

16 

of Australia of members of the Defence Force, and such service 

17 

may occur in accordance with such proclamation. 

18 

 

(4)  A proclamation under subsection (3) shall not be made except on 

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the written advice of the Prime Minister to the Governor-General 

20 

explaining the circumstances of emergency which render it 

21 

inexpedient to seek a resolution under subsection (2) before 

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deploying members of the Defence Force beyond the territorial 

23 

limits of Australia. 

24 

 

(5)  A proclamation and advice under subsections (3) and (4) shall be 

25 

published within 24 hours after the proclamation is made. 

26 

 

(6)  A proclamation under subsection (3) shall be laid before each 

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House of the Parliament within 2 days after it is made, together 

28 

with a report (with copies for each member and senator) setting 

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out: 

30 

Schedule 1  Amendment of the Defence Act 1903 

   

 

 

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Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) 

Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(a)  the advice referred to in subsection (4); and 

1 

 

(b)  the reasons for the proposed deployment; and 

2 

 

(c)  the legal authority for the proposed deployment; and 

3 

 

(d)  the expected geographical extent of the proposed 

4 

deployment; and 

5 

 

(e)  the expected duration of the proposed deployment; and 

6 

 

(f)  the number of members of the Defence Force proposed to be 

7 

deployed. 

8 

 

(7)  If the Parliament is in session when a proclamation under 

9 

subsection (3) is made, but either House of the Parliament is 

10 

adjourned for an indefinite period of time or for a period of time 

11 

which will expire more than 2 days after the making of the 

12 

proclamation, the Presiding Officer of that House within the 

13 

meaning of the Parliamentary Presiding Officers Act 1965, or the 

14 

person who is deemed to be the Presiding Officer of that House for 

15 

the purpose of that Act, shall summon that House to meet within 2 

16 

days after the making of the proclamation, despite anything 

17 

contained in the resolution of adjournment of that House. 

18 

 

(8)  If: 

19 

 

(a)  the Parliament is not in session when a proclamation under 

20 

subsection (3) is made; or 

21 

 

(b)  the Parliament is prorogued within 7 days after the 

22 

proclamation is made; 

23 

then: 

24 

 

(c)  the proclamation ceases to have effect at the end of 7 days 

25 

after the proclamation is made; and 

26 

 

(d)  a proclamation that is the same in substance as that 

27 

proclamation shall not be made until the day on which the 

28 

Parliament next meets. 

29 

 

(9)  If: 

30 

 

(a)  when a proclamation is made under subsection (3) the House 

31 

of Representatives has been dissolved or has expired and the 

32 

day appointed for the return of the writs for the general 

33 

election has not occurred; or 

34 

 

(b)  the House expires within 7 days after the proclamation is 

35 

made; 

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Amendment of the Defence Act 1903  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) 

Bill 2014 

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the proclamation ceases to have effect at the end of 7 days after the 

1 

day appointed for the return of the writs for the general election. 

2 

 

(10)  While members of the Defence Force are deployed beyond the 

3 

territorial limits of Australia under this section, the Minister shall 

4 

report in writing to each House of the Parliament on the first sitting 

5 

day of that House after the commencement of each of the months 

6 

of February, April, June, August, October and December of each 

7 

year, commencing within 2 months after each deployment, 

8 

including in the report information on: 

9 

 

(a)  the status of each such deployment, including its legality, 

10 

scope and anticipated duration; 

11 

 

(b)  what efforts have been, are being, or are to be, made, to 

12 

resolve the circumstances which required such deployment; 

13 

 

(c)  whether there is any reason why the Parliament should not 

14 

resolve to terminate such deployment. 

15 

 

(11)  In this section: 

16 

service beyond the territorial limits of Australia does not include 

17 

service by members of the Defence Force: 

18 

 

(a)  pursuant to their temporary attachment as provided by 

19 

section 116B; or 

20 

 

(b)  as part of an Australian diplomatic or consular mission; or 

21 

 

(c)  on an Australian vessel or aircraft not engaged in hostilities 

22 

or in operations during which hostilities are likely to occur; 

23 

or 

24 

 

(d)  for the purpose of their education or training; or 

25 

 

(e)  for purposes related to the procurement of equipment or 

26 

stores. 

27