[2] Trainees were required to remain on the Reserve of the Commonwealth Military Forces (CMF) for five years from initial call up.
In the midst of communist insurgencies around Southeast Asia and the start of the Korean War, the Menzies Government introduced this act to parliament.
Additionally, the 1951 Australian Communist Party ban referendum was held as fear of Communism reached fever pitch in Australia.
Registration remained compulsory but the intake to the Army was cut to almost a third (12,000 trainees) by instituting a ballot for selection.
On 24 November 1959, Cabinet decided that National Service call-ups should be terminated and that arrangements for the January 1960 intake would be cancelled.