---
title: "Command review of a senior discipline officer's punishment (DFDA s 9G)"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/command-review-senior-discipline-officer"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a64-command-review-senior-discipline-officer"
area_id: "A64"
kind: "checklist"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A64-H20261018-2", "A64-H20261018-1"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-22"
---

# Command review of a senior discipline officer's punishment (DFDA s 9G)

> Checklist for the commanding officer's review of a senior discipline officer's decision to impose a punishment for a disciplinary infringement, and for what a substituted decision may do.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/command-review-senior-discipline-officer  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Checklist. Steps or checks to work through and tick off.
- Practice area: [Military & Defence Law](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia, Commonwealth
- AI level: Yellow. You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-22
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-22 against the 2 authorities it cites, for Australia and Commonwealth.

## When to use it

Use after a senior discipline officer decides to impose a punishment under s 9FB(1)(a). It is the command review in s 9G. It is not a redress of grievance and not a petition under s 153.

## Used for these tasks

- [Advise a member on an infringement notice under the discipline scheme](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/advise-a-member-on-an-infringement-notice-under-the-discipline-scheme.md)
- [Build the service discipline matter register](https://ailawframework.com/practice/military-and-defence-law/build-the-service-discipline-matter-register.md)

## How AI may be used

AI may enter the punishment and the review decision from the records; the lawyer checks that the review was one s 9G requires and what the substituted decision did.

**AI may:**

- Enter the punishment imposed and the commanding officer's decision from the service record
- List the punishments in the s 9FB(2) table so the lawyer can see whether a substituted punishment is lower

**AI must not:**

- Must not draft a submission or a statement by the member
- Must not treat this review as a redress of grievance or as a petition under s 153

**The lawyer checks:**

- The decision under review is a senior discipline officer's decision to impose a punishment, which is the only decision s 9G(1) requires to be reviewed
- Any substituted punishment is a reduced punishment as s 9G(3) defines it
- The member is told that a confirmed or substituted decision still counts as being dealt with under the scheme

## Authorities

- [Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth) s 9G (commanding officer must review a senior discipline officer's decision to impose a punishment, and may confirm it or substitute a reduced punishment, no punishment, or dismissal)](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/dfda1982188/s9g.html)
- [Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth) s 9C(3) (a confirmed or substituted decision still means the member has been dealt with under the infringement scheme) and s 9FB (the decision under review)](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/dfda1982188/s9c.html)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/military-and-defence-law/command-review-senior-discipline-officer and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*