STATUTORY RULES.
1911. No. 157.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1902.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the within Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated the 20th day of September, 1911.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command—
KING O’MALLEY,
Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Regulations 149 and 151 made under the provisions of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 are repealed, and new Regulations, in the following terms, are made in lieu thereof:—
149. The following shall be the scale of travelling allowances:—
Salary. | Daily Allowance. | Daily Allowance after one Week’s Residence in same Place. | Hourly Rate. |
From— | To— |
£ | £ | s. | d. | s. | d. | One-twenty-fourth of daily rate for each hour when officer is absent for more than one-fourth of a day |
Over 600... | .. | 17 | 6 | 15 | 0 |
501....... | 600 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
301....... | 500 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
201....... | 300 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
200 and under | .. | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | | | | |
Provided, however, that the travelling allowances payable to officers travelling in Western Australia shall be at the following rates:—
Salary. | Daily Allowance. | Hourly Rate. |
From— | To— |
£ | £ | s. | d. | One-twenty-fourth of daily rate for each hour when officer is absent for more than one-fourth of a day |
501 and upwards.... | ... | 15 | 0 |
301............. | 500 | 12 | 6 |
300 and under...... | ... | 10 | 0 |
With an additional allowance of 25 per cent. on these rates when an officer is travelling in the gold-fields districts, and a deduction of 25 per cent. when an officer is stationed for any period in excess of ten days in any one place.
C.14566.—Price 3d.
Provided, further, that the minimum travelling allowance to officers acting as Members of Boards of Inquiry and Appeal shall be at the rate of 12s. per diem, excepting in the cases of such officers travelling in Western Australia, where the minimum allowance shall be at the rate of 12s. 6d. per diem.
151. Officers travelling beyond the limits of the State in which they are ordinarily employed shall receive an increase of one-fifth on the scale rates. Provided that this regulation shall not apply to officers employed at stations on or near the border of any State when temporarily transferred to stations on or near the opposite border.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by J. Kemp, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1911, No. 157, issued under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, were enacted by the Governor-General in Council to update and refine the existing regulations on travelling allowances for public service officers. This legislative instrument was introduced to address discrepancies and the need for standardised allowances across various regions, particularly in Western Australia, where unique geographical and economic factors necessitated different rates. The policy objective of these regulations was to ensure equitable and fair compensation for public service officers when travelling for official duties, whilst also accounting for regional differences and specific roles such as members of Boards of Inquiry and Appeal.
Scope and Application
The Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 apply to officers within the Commonwealth public service, governing their entitlements to travelling allowances based on their salary and the location of their travel. Specifically, the allowances are determined by the officer's salary bracket and the region in which they are travelling, with additional provisions for officers travelling in Western Australia and gold-fields districts. Furthermore, officers who travel beyond the state in which they are ordinarily employed receive an increased allowance, except for those temporarily transferred to border stations. These regulations establish clear guidelines for the calculation of travel allowances to ensure fairness and consistency across the public service. The regulations have a national reach, applying throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, with special provisions for Western Australia, ensuring that allowances are equitable and reflective of regional differences in cost of living and travel conditions.
Key Provisions
The main provisions of these Regulations, specifically sections 149 and 151, establish a scale of travelling allowances for officers under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902. Section 149 details the daily and hourly allowances based on the officer's salary, with different rates applicable for officers in Western Australia and those travelling in gold-fields districts. Additionally, section 149 mandates minimum daily allowances for officers acting as Members of Boards of Inquiry and Appeal, with separate rates for those travelling in Western Australia. Section 151 provides that officers travelling beyond the state in which they are ordinarily employed will receive an additional allowance of one-fifth of the scale rates, except for officers temporarily transferred to stations on or near the border of another state.
These Regulations impose specific obligations on the officers and the Commonwealth in terms of providing travelling allowances. Officers must adhere to the specified rates and conditions outlined in sections 149 and 151 for their respective travel circumstances. The Commonwealth, in turn, is obligated to ensure that these allowances are calculated and paid accurately based on the officers' salaries, their travel locations, and the duration of their stay in any given location. Furthermore, the Commonwealth must account for the additional allowances for officers travelling in Western Australia and gold-fields districts, as well as for those acting as Members of Boards of Inquiry and Appeal.
Breaches of these Regulations, though not explicitly stated, could result in officers not receiving their entitled allowances or receiving incorrect amounts, which may lead to administrative and financial discrepancies. While the Regulations themselves do not detail specific penalties for non-compliance, breaches of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 or related regulations could result in disciplinary actions against officers, and potential legal actions against the Commonwealth for failure to comply with statutory obligations. The penalties for such breaches would depend on the specific nature of the non-compliance and the provisions of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902.