Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1913 (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Provisional Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1913 was enacted in 1915 to amend the existing Commonwealth Public Service Regulations. This legislation was introduced to address the urgent need to modify the assurance provisions for public servants. The regulation was enacted by the Governor-General in Council, which underscores the urgency and importance of the changes to ensure the effective functioning of the public service. The policy objective of this regulation is to establish a revised scale for the payment of assurance amounts to public servants based on their salary class upon reaching the age of 60 or, in the event of death before reaching that age, to their personal representatives within three months of the death. This amendment aimed to provide a more equitable and structured approach to the assurance benefits provided to public servants.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1913 pertains specifically to the assurance policies taken out by individuals within the public service who are not already covered by an insurance policy. This regulation modifies the existing policy by establishing a new scale for the amount payable upon the policyholder reaching the age of 60 or to their personal representatives if the policyholder passes away before reaching that age. It outlines a specific scale of payments based on the maximum salary of the class or position to which the officer is appointed or promoted, ranging from £150 for officers earning £156 or less to £600 for those earning between £504 and £600. In exceptional circumstances, the Commissioner may grant permission for an officer to secure an assurance that pays out at the age of 65. This regulation applies nationally across the Commonwealth of Australia and supersedes the previously established Regulation 172, coming into immediate effect as a Provisional Regulation due to its urgency.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1915 No. 133 (Provisional Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1913) involve the amendment of Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Statutory Rules 1913/341). Specifically, Regulation 172 is repealed and replaced with a new regulation that outlines a scale for the payment of amounts upon reaching the age of 60 or, in certain cases, upon death before reaching that age. The Commissioner may permit an officer to effect an assurance payable at 65 years of age in special circumstances (Regulation 172). This Act imposes obligations on the officers within the Commonwealth Public Service to adhere to the new assurance payment scale. The assurance amount is determined by the maximum salary of the class or position to which the officer is appointed or promoted, with the scale ranging from £150 to £600. This means that officers must ensure they are covered under a policy that provides for the appropriate amount of assurance as per their salary bracket. If an officer does not have an existing assurance and is appointed or promoted, they must take out a new policy that meets the requirements specified in Regulation 172. In the event of a breach of these regulations, there are civil or criminal consequences that may apply, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text provided. Generally, non-compliance with provisions of the Commonwealth Public Service Act could lead to disciplinary action, fines, or other penalties as prescribed by the relevant laws. Given that the regulation is marked as urgent and comes into immediate operation, it is likely that failure to adhere to these requirements could result in serious repercussions for the affected officers.