Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Tenth Amendment) 1920 was enacted to make minor adjustments to the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations of 1902-1918, specifically addressing public holidays in Queensland. This amendment was made by the Governor-General in Council under the authority of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918, with the intent to update and refine the regulations governing the public service. The policy objective behind this amendment was to streamline the list of public holidays applicable to Queensland, ensuring that the regulations remain relevant and effectively administered within the context of the evolving public service landscape. The amendment specifically removed the "Day following Boxing Day" from the list of holidays in Queensland, reflecting changes in societal norms or administrative needs. This legislative instrument was created to maintain the efficiency and fairness of public service regulations across the Commonwealth of Australia.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Tenth Amendment, 1920) amends Regulation 91 of the Public Service Regulations by omitting the words “Day following Boxing Day” from the list of holidays prescribed for Queensland. This regulation applies to the Commonwealth public service employees within Queensland, thereby impacting the leave entitlements and operational schedules of these public servants. The amendment specifies a reduction in the number of public holidays for the state of Queensland, which has direct implications for the timing of public service activities and the workload management of the affected employees. The regulation is a Commonwealth instrument and thus applies to federal public servants within Queensland, excluding those in other states or territories. The amendment does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds but implies that it applies uniformly to all Commonwealth public service employees in Queensland. Subordinate instruments may further extend or restrict the application of these regulations, but such provisions are not detailed in the present legislative instrument.

Key Provisions

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Tenth Amendment, 1920) primarily focus on amending Regulation 91 of the existing Public Service Regulations (sections 1 and 2). Specifically, it involves the removal of the "Day following Boxing Day" from the list of holidays prescribed for Queensland (section 3). This amendment alters the holiday schedule for public service employees in Queensland by excluding this particular day from the official list of public holidays. The obligations and requirements imposed by this amendment pertain directly to public service employees in Queensland. They are no longer entitled to the "Day following Boxing Day" as a public holiday. This means that employees in this region who were previously granted this day off must now work on what was traditionally a non-working day. The amendment applies to all public servants covered by the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations, ensuring consistency across the public service sector. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned in the regulation for breaching these amendments. The regulation itself is administrative and focuses on altering the list of holidays rather than introducing new obligations or punitive measures. Therefore, employees are expected to comply with the new holiday schedule without any additional legal repercussions for non-compliance. The primary effect of this amendment is the administrative adjustment of the holiday schedule, and it does not introduce new enforcement mechanisms or penalties.