Commonwealth Consolidated Regulations Commonwealth Consolidated Regulations(1) The Governor‑General may give an officer a notice:
(a) stating that it is proposed to reduce the officer's rank to a rank specified in the notice; and
(b) stating the reason for reducing the officer's rank; and
(c) setting out particulars of the facts and circumstances relating to the reason for reducing the officer's rank that is sufficient to allow the officer to prepare a statement of reasons why the officer's rank should not be reduced; and
(d) inviting the officer to give the Governor‑General a statement of reasons why the officer's rank should not be reduced; and
(e) specifying a period of at least 28 days after the date of the notice as the period in which the officer may give the statement of reasons.
(2) If:
(a) the officer does not give the Governor‑General a statement of reasons in the specified period; and
(b) the Governor‑General is of the opinion that the reason for reducing the officer's rank has not been affected by a change in circumstances since the notice was given to the officer;
the Governor‑General must reduce the officer's rank.
(3) If:
(a) the officer gives the Governor‑General a statement of reasons in the specified period; and
(b) having considered the statement, the Governor‑General is of the opinion that the reason for reducing the officer's rank:
(i) has been established; and
(ii) has not been affected by a change in circumstances since the notice was given to the officer;
the Governor‑General must reduce the officer's rank.
(4) The Governor‑General must not reduce the officer's rank under this regulation in any other circumstances.