Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) The trial of a charge of a service offence that is to be tried by a summary authority:
(a) must be commenced:
(i) as soon as practicable within the period of 3 months after the accused person is charged with the service offence; or
(ii) if the exigencies of service or other circumstances do not permit the trial to be commenced within this period--within a longer period as allowed by a superior authority; and
(b) must be completed as soon as practicable.
(2) If a summary authority that is to try a charge does not commence the trial within the period allowed under paragraph (1)(a), the summary authority must refer the charge to the Director of Military Prosecutions.