Commonwealth Employees' Compensation Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Commonwealth Employees' Compensation Regulations 1967 were enacted to amend existing regulations under the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1930-1964. The primary purpose of these regulations is to update and refine the framework for compensating Commonwealth employees who suffer from work-related injuries or illnesses. These regulations were made under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, with the Governor-General in Council issuing the statutory rules on 16 March 1967. The policy objective is to ensure that the compensation system remains current and effective in addressing the needs of federal employees. This includes the addition of the Canberra Theatre Trust to the list of authorities covered under the regulations, as well as the transition from the old British currency symbols to the decimal currency system in the relevant forms.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth Employees' Compensation Regulations 1967, which are statutory rules made under the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1930-1964, apply to Commonwealth authorities, including newly added entities such as the Canberra Theatre Trust. These regulations primarily concern the compensation payable to employees who suffer from injuries or diseases arising from their employment. The scope of the Act extends to all Commonwealth authorities, ensuring that any such entity is subject to the compensation provisions outlined within the regulations. The regulations also extend to amending the monetary symbols in the forms, replacing the old British currency symbols with the Australian dollar. The amendments made to the Commonwealth Employees' Compensation Regulations are designed to update the application of the Act to current circumstances, such as including new authorities and modernising financial references. These regulations have a national reach, applying across all Commonwealth authorities in Australia, and do not specify exclusions or exemptions within the provided text, though it is implied that they would be detailed in the parent Act or subsequent subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of these Regulations are contained within the amendments to Regulation 14 and the Schedule. Regulation 14, which is found under the heading "Commonwealth authorities," now includes "Canberra Theatre Trust" in its list of authorities for which employees are eligible for compensation under the Act (Reg. 14). The inclusion of this new entity expands the scope of the Act to cover employees of the Canberra Theatre Trust, ensuring they receive the same benefits as employees of other listed Commonwealth authorities. The Schedule, specifically Form E, has been amended to replace the old currency symbols "£ s. d." with the new Australian dollar symbol "$" (Sch. 2). This change reflects the shift from the old British currency system to the decimal currency system that was adopted in Australia on 14 February 1966. The obligations and requirements imposed by these Regulations are primarily concerned with extending the coverage of the Commonwealth Employees’ Compensation Act 1930-1964 to include employees of the Canberra Theatre Trust. By amending Regulation 14, the Regulations ensure that the benefits and protections provided by the Act are now available to employees of this newly listed authority. Additionally, the amendment to Form E in the Schedule ensures that all financial references within the Act are updated to reflect the new currency system, maintaining clarity and consistency in financial reporting and compensation calculations. There are no specific offences, penalties, or consequences outlined in these Regulations. However, failure to comply with the amended Regulation 14 or the updated financial references in Form E could result in legal challenges regarding the eligibility of employees for compensation or the validity of financial transactions under the Act. The penalties for non-compliance would be determined by the courts in the context of any such disputes, but they could include financial restitution or other remedies to ensure compliance with the updated legislative requirements.