Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Fire Service Medal

as amended

made under

Letters Patent

This compilation was prepared on 10 November 2009
taking into account Amendments of the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Fire Service Medal – 1997

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

Short title [see Note 1]

1  These Regulations may be cited as the Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations.

Interpretation

2  In these Regulations —

Australian fire service means a Commonwealth fire service or a fire service of a State or Territory of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth fire service means a fire service of a Commonwealth agency (other than a fire service of the Australian Capital Territory).

external Territory means any of the Territories of Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island.

Medal means the Australian Fire Service Medal.

responsible Minister means —

 (a) in the case of a fire service of a State — the Premier of that State or a Minister of the Crown of that State acting for and on behalf of the Premier;

 (b) in the case of a fire service of the Northern Territory of Australia — the Chief Minister of that Territory or a Minister of that Territory acting for and on behalf of the Chief Minister;

 (c) in the case of a fire service of the Australian Capital Territory — the Chief Minister of that Territory or a Minister of that Territory acting for and on behalf of the Chief Minister;

 (d) in the case of a Commonwealth fire service, the Minister of State for the time being responsible for administering the relevant agency; and

 (e) in the case of a fire service of an external Territory, the Minister of State for the time being responsible for administering that Territory.

Design of the Medal

3  The design of the Medal shall be as prescribed.

Conditions for award of the Medal

4 (1) The Medal shall be awarded only for distinguished service by a member of an Australian fire service.

 (2) The number of awards of the Medal in respect of each State in each calendar year shall be —

 (a) one award for each 1,000, or part of 1,000, full-time permanent members of the fire service or combined fire services (as the case may be) of that State serving on 30 June in the year immediately preceding that calendar year;

 (b) one award for each 5,000, or part of 5,000, part-time, volunteer or auxiliary members of the fire service or combined fire services (as the case may be) of that State serving on 30 June in the year immediately preceding that calendar year; and

 (c) one additional award.

 (3) One award of the Medal shall be made in each calendar year in respect of the fire services or combined fire services (as the case may be) in each of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory of Australia.

 (4) One award of the Medal shall be made in each calendar year in respect of a Commonwealth fire service.

 (5) An occasional award (not exceeding one per calendar year) may be made in respect of the fire service of an External Territory as determined by the responsible Minister.

Making of awards

5 (1) An award of the Medal shall be made by the Governor-General and notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.

 (2) The Medal shall only be awarded upon the nomination of a responsible Minister.

Wearing of the Medal

6  The manner of wearing the Medal shall be as determined by the Governor‑General.

Designation of holder of the Medal

7  Persons to whom the Medal has been awarded are entitled to have the letters “AFSM” placed after their names on all occasions when the use of such letters is customary.

Registrar of Awards

8 (1) There shall be a Registrar of Awards who shall be appointed by the Governor-General and shall maintain a Register of the names of persons to whom the Medal has been awarded.

 (2) The Registrar shall keep such other records relating to the award of the Medal as the Governor-General directs.

Cancellation and reinstatement

9 (1) The Governor-General may cancel the award of the Medal to a person and may reinstate an award so cancelled.

 (2) Where an award of the Medal is cancelled, the name of the person to whom the award was made shall be erased from the Register and the person shall return the Medal to the Registrar.

 (3) Where an award that has been cancelled is reinstated, the Registrar shall restore the entry in the Register that had been erased.

Notes to the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Fire Service Medal

Note 1

The Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Fire Service Medal (in force under Letters Patent) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Table of Amendments