STATUTORY RULES.
1915. No. 204.
REGULATION UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1902-1915.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1915, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
ANDREW FISHER.
Amendment of Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Statutory Rules 1913/341).
Regulation 220 is repealed, and the following Regulation is inserted in its stead:—
220. (1) The following entrance fees shall be paid by applicants for examination, and a postal note for the requisite amount, made payable to the Secretary to the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner, Melbourne, must be forwarded with each application, viz.:—For appointment to the Professional or Clerical Division, Fifteen shillings; for appointment to the General Division to positions other than those of Telegraph Messenger, Messenger, and Junior Mechanic in training, Seven shillings and sixpence; for appointment as Telegraph Messenger, Messenger, or as Junior Mechanic in training, Five shillings: Provided that, at examinations limited to officers of the Public Service, or examinations at which such officers are in competition with persons outside the Public Service, the Commissioner may decide, according to the circumstances of the case and the conditions of the examination, whether a fee should be imposed upon all or any of the candidates who are officers of the Public Service, and, if the Commissioner decides that a fee should be imposed, may determine the amount of the fee.
(2) If an applicant fails to comply with sub-Regulation (1) of this Regulation he will not be allowed to present himself for examination.
(3) The amount paid will be refunded if the applicant is found to be ineligible for examination, or if satisfactory reasons are furnished as to inability to attend an examination.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.7954.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1915, enacted by the Governor-General in Council under the authority of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1915, were introduced to address administrative and procedural aspects of public service employment, including the establishment of entrance fees for applicants seeking positions within various divisions of the Commonwealth Public Service. These regulations were necessitated to streamline and formalise the application process, ensuring consistency and fairness in the selection procedure. The objective of these regulations was to establish clear guidelines for entrance fees and the conditions under which these fees might be waived, thereby formalising the requirements for public service applicants and ensuring the efficient administration of public service examinations.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules of 1915, No. 204, issued under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1915, specify the entrance fees required for individuals seeking to take the examination for various positions within the Commonwealth Public Service. This regulation applies to all applicants who wish to be considered for roles within the Professional or Clerical Division, the General Division, or specific roles such as Telegraph Messenger, Messenger, and Junior Mechanic in training. The regulation mandates that the appropriate entrance fee, made payable to the Secretary to the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner in Melbourne, must accompany each application. The fees vary, with applicants for the Professional or Clerical Division required to pay fifteen shillings, while those for the General Division, excluding certain positions, must pay seven shillings and sixpence, and applicants for the specified lower-tier roles must pay five shillings. The regulation also allows the Commissioner discretion in determining whether a fee should be charged to Public Service officers participating in certain examinations and, if so, the amount of that fee. Failure to pay the stipulated fee results in the applicant being barred from sitting the examination, although refunds are available under specific conditions such as ineligibility or inability to attend due to satisfactory reasons. This legislative instrument outlines the financial requirements and conditions for applying to public service roles and is effective across the Commonwealth of Australia, with the administrative function overseen from Melbourne.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this legislative instrument are found in Regulation 220, which outlines the entrance fees that applicants for examination must pay and the conditions under which these fees may be waived (Reg. 220(1)). This regulation also stipulates that failure to pay the requisite fee disqualifies an applicant from taking the examination (Reg. 220(2)). Additionally, the regulation details the circumstances under which the paid fee may be refunded, specifically if the applicant is found ineligible for the examination or if satisfactory reasons are provided for their inability to attend (Reg. 220(3)).
The obligations imposed by this regulation include the requirement for applicants to pay the specified fees as part of their application process. This applies to all applicants for examination unless an exception is made by the Commissioner based on the nature of the examination and the status of the candidates (Reg. 220(1)). The regulation also mandates that applicants who fail to comply with the fee requirement will be barred from taking the examination (Reg. 220(2)). Furthermore, applicants who are subsequently found to be ineligible or provide valid reasons for their inability to attend the examination may be eligible for a refund of the entrance fee (Reg. 220(3)).
Under this regulation, the failure to adhere to the fee payment requirements results in a direct consequence: the applicant is not permitted to sit for the examination (Reg. 220(2)). While the regulation does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or criminal consequences for breach, the primary consequence is the denial of examination. The Commissioner's discretion to decide on fee imposition and the conditions for fee refunds ensures that the regulation remains flexible and fair, allowing for exceptions based on the circumstances and conditions of the examination.