WAR PRECAUTIONS.

No. 37 of 1918.

An Act to extend the duration of the War Precautions Act 1914–1916 and for other purposes.

[Assented to 25th December, 1918.]

Preamble.

WHEREAS by the War Precautions Act 1914–1916 it is enacted that the Governor-General may make Regulations and Orders for securing the public safety and the defence of the Commonwealth:

And whereas the said Act and the Regulations and Orders thereunder continue in operation during the continuance of the present state of war, and no longer:

And whereas it may not be possible before the war has ceased to make complete provision for a return to the normal conditions of peace:

And whereas the expiration of the said Act and of all Order’s and Regulations made thereunder, in the absence of such provision, would cause great public danger and inconvenience:

Be it therefore enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the War Precautions Act 1918.

(2.) The War Precautions Act 1914–1916 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act as amended by this Act may be cited as the War Precautions Act 1914–1918.

Duration of Act.

2.—(1.) Section two of the Principal Act is amended by inserting in sub-section (1.) thereof after the words “state of war” the words “and for a period of three months thereafter or until the thirty-first day of July One thousand nine hundred and nineteen, whichever period is the longer,”.

(2.) The period during which the Principal Act continues in operation by virtue of sub-section (1.) of this section is in this Act referred to as “the extended period during which the Principal Act remains in force”.

Continuation of existing Regulations, &c.

3. All regulations orders and proclamations lawfully made pursuant to the Principal Act shall, except in so far as they are amended or repealed, continue in operation during the extended period during which the Principal Act remains in force and no longer:

Provided that any regulation order or proclamation heretofore made, or any provision therein contained, operating by force of its terms for a longer period than the extended period during which the Principal Act remains in force shall remain in force unless amended or repealed during the period provided in such regulation order proclamation or provision.

Application of terms used in Principal Act.

4. The terms “enemy”, “alien enemies” and “persons having enemy associations or connexions” used in the Principal Act in relation to any person, shall apply, during the operation of that Act, to any person to whom they would have applied during the continuance of the present war.