Summary
In further response to certain recommendations of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee's report into the effectiveness of Australia's military justice system, the bill amends the Defence Act 1903, Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 and Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 to redesign summary discipline procedures to include: an automatic right of appeal from a summary authority to a single Military Judge of the Australian Military Court (AMC); the right to elect trial by a Military Judge of the AMC for most disciplinary offences; simplified rules of evidence; a form of review for technical errors related to the awarding of punishments and orders; simplification of offences and punishments; and changed jurisdictions of Superior Summary Authorities and Discipline Officers.