Discipline scheme changes

CDF General Peter Cosgrove has approved the introduction of a revised discipline officer infringement notice.

The revision reduces the time in which a member can elect to be dealt with by a discipline officer to 24 hours and members can seek an extension of time to make an election. If the member does not elect to be dealt with by a discipline officer, they may be referred to a member who is authorised for laying charges under the Defence Force Discipline Act.

The reduction in the election period was recommended in the Report of an Inquiry into Military Justice in the ADF July 2001. The report’s author, James Burchett, found that the speed and simplicity of the discipline officer scheme were perceived as important advantages in its operation. To build speed into the procedure, he recommended that the election period be reduced.

Some minor changes have also been made to the formatting of the form to try to make it easier to use.

The revised AC576 “Infringment Notice” took effect upon units’ receipt of a message sent by CDF on April 13.

The infringement notice sets out the details of the infringement, the member’s rights and the penalties that may be imposed by the discipline officer, the member’s right to elect to be dealt with by a discipline officer and the period in which the election must be made.

The Discipline Officer Scheme was introduced in 1995.

.