Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1915, No. 196, titled "Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1915," were enacted to address specific administrative and procedural gaps within the public service framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations were made by Sir Arthur Stanley, acting as the Deputy of the Governor-General, with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The principal objective of these regulations was to formalise the processes and fees associated with the roles of examiners in the public service. The enactment aims to streamline the administrative procedures concerning examination and assessment within the public service by clearly defining the fees and conditions for examiners, as well as establishing a structured process for candidates to access detailed reports on their examination papers. These amendments ensure consistency and transparency in the public service examination system, enhancing the efficiency and accountability of the selection processes.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1915 No. 196, made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1915, introduce amendments to the Public Service Regulations by inserting new regulations concerning payments to examiners and reports on examination papers. These regulations apply to examiners appointed under section 27 of the Act, who are tasked with setting examination papers and marking candidates' answers. The fees payable to these examiners for their work are to be set by the Governor-General, upon recommendation from the Commissioner, according to the nature of the examination subject and the workload involved. Specifically, the fee for examiners to furnish reports on candidates' examination papers is set at 7s. 6d. per paper. Additionally, candidates may request detailed reports on the allotment of marks in particular subjects and a statement on the merits and defects of their papers, for which they must pay 7s. 6d. per subject. The regulations also specify that the marks allotted by examiners are final and cannot be altered upon request from candidates. These regulations have a national reach, applying to the Commonwealth of Australia and extending to all examiners appointed under the Commonwealth Public Service Act.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules 1915, No. 196, titled "Regulations Under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1915", provide several key provisions regarding the administration and regulation of the Commonwealth Public Service. Regulation 221 introduces provisions for payments to examiners appointed under section 27 of the Act. It states that fees payable to examiners for setting examination papers and marking candidates' answers are to be fixed by the Governor-General, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner, according to the nature of the examination subject and the work involved (Regulation 221(1)). Furthermore, examiners are to be paid 7s. 6d. for each paper upon which they make a report (Regulation 221(2)). Additionally, Regulation 226a outlines the process for candidates to obtain reports on their examination papers. It specifies that while the marks allotted by examiners are final, a candidate may still obtain a report detailing the allotment of marks and a statement of the merits and defects of their paper. This report can be obtained by paying 7s. 6d. for each subject upon which a report is desired, to the Secretary, Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner (Regulation 226a). The regulations impose certain obligations on both the examiners and the candidates. Examiners must set examination papers, mark candidates' answers, and prepare reports on the allotment of marks and the merits and defects of the candidates' papers. They are to be compensated according to the fees fixed by the Governor-General as per Regulation 221. On the other hand, candidates must pay the stipulated fees for reports on their examination papers as per Regulation 226a. Failure to comply with these provisions could result in the candidates not receiving the detailed reports they have paid for, and examiners not being compensated for their work. The Statutory Rules do not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or consequences for breach of these provisions. However, the non-payment of fees by candidates or the non-payment of fees to examiners by the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner could be seen as breaches of the established financial agreements and might lead to administrative or legal consequences. The exact nature of these consequences would depend on the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions by the relevant authorities.