Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) Whenever a part of the Defence Force and a part of the forces of a country in relation to which this subsection applies are serving together, either within or beyond the territorial limits of Australia, and either alone or together with any other force, a member of the force of that country has the same powers of command over members of that part of the Defence Force as a member of the Defence Force holding the rank in that Force that corresponds with the rank that he or she holds in the force of the country to which he or she belongs.
(2) Whenever a part of the Defence Force and a part of the forces of another country to which this subsection applies are acting in combination, either within or beyond the territorial limits of Australia, an officer of the forces of that other country may be appointed by the Governor - General, by order in writing, to command the combined force, or any part of the combined force, and an officer so appointed:
(a) has, subject to such restrictions and limitations as are specified by the Chief of the Defence Force by order in writing, over members of the Defence Force serving in that combined force or part of that force, the same powers of command and discipline, including the power to impose punishments; and
(b) may be invested by the Governor - General, by order in writing, with the same power to convene, and confirm the findings and sentences of, courts - martial;
as if he or she were an officer of the Defence Force holding that appointment and the rank in that Force corresponding with the rank that he or she holds in the force to which he or she belongs.
(3) Where a part of the Defence Force and a part of the forces of a country in relation to which subsection (1) applies are serving together beyond the territorial limits of Australia, the officer in command of that part of the Defence Force, or an officer authorized in writing by the Chief of the Defence Force for the purposes of this subsection, may request the appropriate service authority of that country to direct, by general or special orders, members of the forces of that country to arrest any member of that part of the Defence Force who is alleged to have committed, or is reasonably suspected of having committed, an offence punishable under Australian service law and to deliver him or her into the custody of such service authority of the Defence Force as is designated by or under the orders.
(4) A member of the Defence Force arrested and held in custody in pursuance of subsection (3) shall be deemed to have been arrested and held in custody in accordance with Australian service law.
(5) The Governor - General may declare that specified parts of the Defence Force and specified parts of the forces of specified countries are to be taken for the purposes of this section to be serving together or acting in combination.
(5A) The Governor - General may declare that, whenever specified parts of the Defence Force and specified parts of the forces of specified countries are in fact serving together or acting in combination, the forces are to be taken for the purposes of this section to be serving together or acting in combination.
(5B) A declaration under subsection (5) or (5A) has effect accordingly. Except as provided in such a declaration, forces are not taken for the purposes of this section to be serving together or acting in combination.
(5C) A declaration under subsection (5) or (5A) must be in writing.
(6) In this section, Australian service law means the law (including any instrument having the force of law) governing the Defence Force or a part of the Defence Force.