Australian Government

Federal Register of Legislation

Defence Regulations 2026

In force

Administered by

Department of Defence

This item is authorised by the following title:

Defence Act 1903

Latest version

F2026L01185

09 September 2026

Table of contents

Part 1—Preliminary
- 1 Name
- 2 Commencement
- 3 Authority
- 4 Objects of this instrument
- 5 Definitions
Part 2—Service chiefs
- 6 Appointment as service chief
- 7 Acting appointments
- 8 Resignation
- 9 Termination of appointment as service chief
- 10 Remuneration and allowances
Part 3—Service in the Defence Force
- Division 1—Appointment and enlistment
  - 11 Appointment and enlistment
- Division 2—Increase and reduction in rank
  - 12 Increase in rank
  - 13 Reduction in rank
- Division 3—Transfers
- Division 4—Changing periods of service
- Division 5—End of service or period of service
- Division 6—Service in the Reserves
  - 29 Service in the Reserves
- Division 7—Suspension from duty
  - 30 Suspension from duty
- Division 8—Forfeiture of pay—absent without leave
  - 31 Forfeiture of pay—absent without leave
- Division 9—Notice to members
  - 32 Notice to members
Part 4—Honorary ranks
- 33 Honorary officer ranks
- 34 Honorary enlisted ranks
Part 5—Privileges after end of service
- 35 Title after end of service
- 36 Wearing of uniform after end of service
Part 6—Defence honours and awards
- 37 Defence honours
- 38 Defence awards
- 39 Disclosure of information about honours and awards
Part 7—Stop sexual harassment directions
- 40 Object of this Part
- 41 Authorised application officers
- 42 Application for authorised application officer to deal with a sexual harassment dispute
- 43 Dealing with an application
- 44 Interim directions
- 45 Stop sexual harassment directions
- 46 Review by Chief of the Defence Force or Secretary
- 47 Withdrawing application or request
Part 8—Redress of grievances
- 48 Objects of this Part
- 49 Chief of the Defence Force may authorise person to receive complaints
- 50 Making a complaint
- 51 Manner of making complaint
- 52 No action to be taken for certain complaints
- 53 Notifying Inspector-General ADF of complaint
- 54 Action to consider complaint or redress grievance
- 55 Inspector-General ADF to consider complaint
- 56 Action by Inspector-General ADF
- 57 Inspector-General ADF not to consider certain complaints
- 58 Correct and preferable action to redress member’s grievance
- 59 Withdrawing complaint
- 60 Victimisation
Part 9—Medical and dental treatment
- 61 Provision of medical and dental treatment
- 62 Recovery of the costs of treatment in certain circumstances
Part 10—Oaths and affirmations etc. for members serving overseas
- 63 Oaths and affirmations etc. for members outside Australia
- 64 Meaning of competent officer
Part 11—Certification of deaths
- 65 Minister may issue death certificates
- 66 Cancellation and correction of death certificates
- 67 Dealing with property
- 68 No civil or criminal liability for reliance on certificate or cancellation
Part 12—Defence areas
- Division 1—Application of Part
  - 69 Application
- Division 2—Defence areas
- Division 3—Compensation
  - 79 Compensation for loss or damage
  - 80 Compensation for acquisition of property
Part 13—Defence aviation areas
- Division 1—General
  - 81 Application
  - 82 Interpretation
- Division 2—Requirements in relation to defence aviation areas
- Division 3—Monitoring
  - 100 Provisions subject to monitoring under the Regulatory Powers Act
  - 101 Information subject to monitoring under the Regulatory Powers Act
- Division 4—Compensation
  - 102 Compensation for diminution of land value, loss or damage
  - 103 Compensation for acquisition of property
- Division 5—Review of decisions
  - 104 Review by Administrative Review Tribunal
Part 14—Counter-UXS measures
- Division 1—Preliminary
- Division 2—Counter-UXS Measures
  - 111 Counter UXS measures
- Division 3—Miscellaneous
Part 15—Provisions relating to the forces of other countries
- 119 Countries to which provisions of Part IXA of the Act apply
- 120 Form of warrant
- 121 Sentences imposed by foreign service tribunals
- 122 Prima facie evidence of facts by certificate
Part 16—Prohibited words and letters
- 123 Prohibited words
- 124 Prohibited letters
- 125 Use of prohibited words or letters
- 126 Application for consent
- 127 Refusal or approval for consent
- 128 Consent to use prohibited words or letters may be subject to conditions
- 129 Review by Administrative Review Tribunal
- 130 How this Part applies in relation to non-legal persons
Part 17—War graves
- 131 Meaning of War Graves administrator
- 132 War graves
- 133 Interaction with State and Territory laws
Part 18—Australian Defence Force Cadets
- 134 State and Territory laws relating to equipment
Part 19—Delegations
- 135 Delegation of Minister’s powers
- 136 Delegation of Secretary’s powers
- 137 Delegation of Chief of the Defence Force’s powers
Part 20—Transitional provisions
- Division 1—Provisions relating to this instrument as originally made
Schedule 1—Oath and affirmation
- 1 Form of oath
- 2 Form of affirmation
- 3 Persons before whom oath or affirmation may be taken or made
Schedule 2—Form of warrant