On 24 November 1964, the "National Service Act" was passed by the Australian Federal parliament, allowing the Menzies government to re-establish the national service scheme – which had been suspended in 1959 – as a response to growing uncertainty in Australia's strategic outlook in Southeast Asia. Unlike previous versions of national or compulsory service, which had limited the liability of men called up to service in Australian territory within the meaning of the "Defence Act (1903)" only, the new scheme envisaged conscripted soldiers serving in Regular Army units to bolster their numbers for deployment being sent overseas to meet Australia's commitments in Southeast Asia. As such many would take part in the fighting Vietnam and Malaysia.