Second Reading Speeches

Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026

Type
Government
Portfolio
Defence
Originating house
House of Representatives
Status
Before Reps
Parliament no
48

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Summary

Amends the:

Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
to: implement certain recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in relation to suspension from duty while under investigation, sentencing procedures, disclosure of service offences, removing stigmatising language, and distinguishing between violent and non-violent commission of certain service offences; update superior tribunal procedures; establish the summary contravention scheme; and make a range of other amendments in relation to policing equipment, updates to prescribed quantities for drug offences, disclosure of investigative material, changes to service offences, changes to imprisonment terms for restricted courts martial and Defence Force magistrates, amendments to petition and for review processes, delegation of powers, functions of the Director of Military Prosecutions, harmonising termination grounds for judicial officers, application of territory rules of evidence, powers of investigating officers, and enabling removal orders for intimate images;
Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
and
Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955
to: update powers for service tribunals when dealing with accused persons suffering from a mental impairment; and establish the Defence Mental Health Tribunal as a specialised decision-making body;
Defence Act 1903
and
Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
to update the title of ‘Director of Defence Counsel Services’ to ‘Director of Defence Legal Assistance’;
Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977
to extinguish convictions for historical homosexual service offences. Also makes consequential amendments to 5 Acts and a contingent amendment to the
Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026
.

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