Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Act 1948

In this section, national serviceman means a member who is a national serviceman or a national service officer for the purposes of the National Service Act 1951‑1968.

Where a national serviceman has been absent on leave of absence without pay for a continuous period that exceeds 30 days, he is not permitted, and shall not be required, to contribute to the Fund in respect of such part of the period during which he is so absent as extends beyond 30 days.

Where a national serviceman dies or is discharged during any period in respect of which, by virtue of subsection (2), he is not permitted or required to contribute to the Fund, pension under this Act, or gratuity under section 52, is not payable to or in respect of him.

In determining the period of service for pension of a national serviceman for the purposes of this Act, any period in respect of which, by virtue of subsection (2), the national serviceman was not permitted or required to contribute to the Fund shall not be treated as a period of service, but service of the national serviceman immediately before such a period and service of the national serviceman immediately after that period shall be deemed to be continuous.

In the application of this Act to or in respect of a national serviceman, period of non‑effective service does not include a period during which the national serviceman is absent on leave of absence without pay.