PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA WEDNESDAY 23 1980
NEW DEFENCE LONG SERVICE AWARDS
Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve
recom~ mendations for the establishment of three new long service
awards for members of the Australian Defence Force.
The new awards, which have been recommended by the
Government, will form part of the Australian sysze., of honours
and awards. The awards will recognise the distinctive services of
Defence personnel to Australia.
The proposed three new awards will each be made after
years' efficient service and on the reconmmendation of the
Chief of Defence Force Staff, or delegated officer. Service
need not be continuous. The awards will be:
Defence Force Service Medal for Regular officers
and other ranks;
( ii) Reserve Force Decoration for Reserve officers;
( iii) Reserve Force Medal for Reserve other ranks.
The regulations would provide for the awards to be
available to any member of the Australian Defence Force,
Regular or Reserve, serving on or after 14 February 1975.
Regard would-b. e had to aggregate service within the Defence
Force. and eligibility for the new awards would not be affected
by any awards already made in respect of the member's service.
The Reserve Force Decoration for Reserve officers will carry
an entitlement to the use of post-nominals.
Awards will be made in the name of the Sovereign and
with her approval.
The formal institution of the awards will be announced
when The Queen Approves the issue of the Letters Patent and
the regulations governing the administration of the awards.
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