STATUTORY RULES.
1915. No. 265.
PROVISIONAL REGULATION UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1902–1915.
I, SIR ARTHUR STANLEY, Governor of the State of Victoria and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting as the Deputy of the Governor-General, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902–1915 should come into immediate operation, and make the regulation to come into operation forthwith as a Provisional Regulation.
Dated this thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and fifteen,
A. L. STANLEY.
Deputy of the Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. M. HUGHES.
Amendment of Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Statutory Rules 1913/341).
Regulation 158 is repealed, and the following is substituted:—
158. Second-class fare shall be allowed to an officer of the Fifth Class, Clerical Division, Class F, Professional Division, and to an officer of the General Division the maximum salary of whose position does not exceed £216 per annum. Provided that an officer travelling by steamer on the Queensland or Western Australian coast may be allowed saloon fare, and that an officer travelling by railway in tropical climates on journeys exceeding twelve hours in duration, or on journeys of any duration, in company with his wife and family, may be allowed first-class fares. Provided, further, that in special cases the Permanent Head or Chief Officer may allow first-class fare to any officer.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.17977.—Price3d.
Overview
The Provisional Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902–1915, enacted in 1915, was introduced to address the need for immediate adjustments to travel fare allowances for public service officers. This regulation, issued by the Governor of the State of Victoria and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting as the Deputy of the Governor-General, was promulgated to ensure that urgent changes to the fare allowances could be implemented without delay, reflecting the dynamic requirements of public service during that period. The policy objective, as outlined in the regulation, was to provide appropriate travel fare allowances to officers based on their rank and the nature of their travel, ensuring that the provisions met both the operational needs and the welfare of the officers.
Scope and Application
The Provisional Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1915 applies to officers within the Commonwealth public service, specifically those of the Fifth Class, Clerical Division, Class F, Professional Division, and those within the General Division whose maximum salary does not exceed £216 per annum. The regulation outlines the conditions under which these officers may be granted fare allowances for travel. It stipulates that officers travelling by steamer along the Queensland or Western Australian coast may be allowed saloon fare. Additionally, officers travelling by railway in tropical climates may be granted first-class fares if the journey exceeds twelve hours or if they are accompanied by their wife and family. The regulation also provides that the Permanent Head or Chief Officer may, in special cases, allow first-class fare to any officer. This regulation, effective from its immediate operation, is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and is subject to amendment through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Provisional Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902–1915 pertain to the allowances for second-class and first-class fares for officers within the public service. Section 158 specifies that second-class fare is permitted for officers of the Fifth Class in the Clerical Division, Class F in the Professional Division, and officers in the General Division whose maximum salary does not exceed £216 per annum (158). However, there are exceptions to this rule: officers travelling by steamer on the Queensland or Western Australian coast may be granted a saloon fare (158). Additionally, officers travelling by railway in tropical climates on journeys exceeding twelve hours, or on any journey with their wife and family, may be allowed first-class fares (158). Furthermore, in special circumstances, the Permanent Head or Chief Officer may grant first-class fare to any officer (158).
The obligations imposed by this Act on the officers and the administration include adherence to the specified fare allowances based on rank and salary. The regulation stipulates that officers must provide appropriate documentation and justification for any fare higher than the second-class allowance. The Permanent Head or Chief Officer has the discretion to approve first-class fares in exceptional cases, requiring them to assess the necessity and reasonableness of such allowances. The Act also places a duty on the officers to report any travel undertaken for official purposes and to ensure that such travel is conducted within the limits of their fare entitlements.
Breaches of the fare regulations outlined in the Act may result in disciplinary actions against the officers involved. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in the regulation, potential consequences could include reprimands, financial penalties, or other administrative actions deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities. The lack of explicit penalties in the regulation suggests that the consequences for breaching the fare provisions would be determined on a case-by-case basis, with the emphasis on maintaining integrity and adherence to the established travel allowances within the public service.