| Defence Act 1903 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliament of Australia | |
| |
| Citation | No. 20 of 1903 as amended |
| Territorial extent | States and territories of Australia |
| Assented to | 22 October 1903 |
| Commenced | 1 March 1904 |
| Status: In force | |
TheDefence Act 1903 (Cth) is anact of theParliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, that acquired royal assent on 22 October 1903. It was created to allow for the naval and military defence ofAustralia. The Act was amended and expanded over time, to legislate for in 1911 and then repealconscription in 1929, bring it back in1939, and finally abolish it in1972;[1] to incorporate theNaval Defence Act 1910 and theAir Force Act 1923, and today governs how theAustralian Defence Force operates.
On 1 January 1901, thefederation of theAustralian Colonies to form theCommonwealth of Australia was proclaimed, with the newly in forceConstitution of Australia requiring that the colonial military forces be combined under the Commonwealth.
The Act, as originally made, consisted of 11 parts, 124 sections, and 3 schedules.
As of May 2024, the Act is divided into 25 parts, approximately 384 sections, and 1 schedule.
Part II and Part III's Division 1 covers the administrative aspects of the defence force. The rest of part III covers the requirements of service, including reservist service, and remuneration. Part IV deals with the citizenry's liability to serve within the defence forces, while part V covers the Australian Defence Force Cadets. Part VI charges the Governor–General with special powers. Part VII to IX deal with disputes and offences committed under the Act.