Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1913 (Amendment)

Overview

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Twenty-Second Amendment) 1920 was enacted to address gaps in the qualification requirements for candidates seeking positions within the Commonwealth Public Service, particularly for roles such as telegraph messenger, telephonist, and similar positions deemed not to require a special examination by the Commissioner. This legislative instrument was made under the authority of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918, by the Governor-General in Council, and it seeks to clarify and standardise the examination criteria and qualifications necessary for these roles. The policy objective behind this amendment is to ensure that appointees to such positions meet a minimum standard of competency, particularly in essential skills like spelling, handwriting, and arithmetic, thus maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of public service operations.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Twenty-Second Amendment, 1920) pertain to the qualifications and examination requirements for candidates aspiring to positions within the Commonwealth Public Service. This amendment primarily affects individuals seeking appointments as telegraph messengers, telephonists, or other roles deemed by the Commissioner to not require a special examination. For these positions, the subjects of examination and the required marks for qualification are stipulated in regulation 197, with candidates needing to achieve at least half of the maximum marks in each subject to be deemed qualified. The amendment also stipulates specific requirements for those appointed as telegraph messengers, such as the necessity to pass an arithmetic examination to be eligible for transfer or promotion in the General Division. Furthermore, any telegraph messenger appointed without undergoing the examination must also meet the same examination criteria to be eligible for such career advancements. This regulation applies nationally, impacting the entire Commonwealth Public Service and sets out clear pathways for qualification and career progression within the specified roles.

Key Provisions

The main provisions of this legislative instrument, the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Twenty-Second Amendment, 1920), are contained in Regulation 200. This regulation specifies the subjects of examination for candidates applying for certain positions, namely telegraph messenger, telephonist, or any other office deemed to not require a special examination by the Commissioner (Regulation 200(1)). It mandates that candidates must achieve at least half of the maximum number of marks in each specified subject to be declared qualified for appointment. For telegraph messengers, achieving half the maximum marks in spelling and handwriting suffices, with their order of merit determined by the marks obtained in those subjects and arithmetic (Regulation 200(1)). The regulation imposes specific obligations on candidates and the employing authority. Candidates for the aforementioned positions must successfully complete the examinations in the subjects outlined in regulation 197 and secure the required marks to be deemed qualified (Regulation 200(1)). Additionally, a telegraph messenger appointed without undergoing an examination is required to pass an examination in the subjects prescribed in regulation 197 to be eligible for transfer or promotion in the General Division (Regulation 200(3)). For those already appointed as telegraph messengers, eligibility for transfer or promotion in the General Division is contingent upon achieving at least half the maximum marks in arithmetic in a designated examination or passing an examination conducted by a public examining body as determined by the Commissioner (Regulation 200(2)). The legislation does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for non-compliance with the outlined examination requirements. However, failure to meet the stipulated examination standards would render candidates ineligible for the positions or promotions within the General Division, which constitutes a significant consequence under the regulation. The precise legal or administrative repercussions for non-compliance are not detailed in the text, but the practical outcome would be the denial of appointment or career advancement opportunities within the public service.