The Act was amended and expanded over time, to legislate for in 1911 and then repeal conscription in 1929, bring it back in 1939, and finally abolish it in 1972;[2] to incorporate the Naval Defence Act 1910 and the Air Force Act 1923, and today governs how the Australian Defence Force operates.
On 1 January 1901, the federation of the Australian Colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed, with the newly in force Constitution of Australia requiring that the colonial military forces be combined under the Commonwealth.
The Act, as originally made, consisted of 11 parts, 124 sections, and 3 schedules.
Part IV deals with the citizenry's liability to serve within the defence forces, while part V covers the Australian Defence Force Cadets.
Part VII to IX deal with disputes and offences committed under the Act.