STATUTORY RULES.
1921. No. 29.
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COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE REGULATIONS (THIRD AMENDMENT, 1921).
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 1902-1918, to come into operation as regards paragraph (a) thereof from the 1st July, 1920, and as regards paragraph (b) thereof from 27th December, 1920.
Dated this fifth day of February, 1921.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
E. J. RUSSELL,
for Prime Minister.
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Amendment of Commonwealth Public Service Regulations.
Regulation 149 of the Public Service Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting from paragraph (c) thereof the words “3d. per hour” and inserting in their stead the words “4d. per hour”; and
(b) by omitting paragraph (f) thereof and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—
“(f) That any officer, other than an officer on the permament relieving staff, relieving at a suburban office which is further from his home than his usual station, shall be paid fares in excess of his usual daily fares (if any be necessary) and, for a period not exceeding one week at a particular station, an allowance of 2s. per day, which, except when an officer is employed on night duty, shall be increased to 3s. for any day upon which the performance of his duties reasonably requires him to be absent from his home for twelve hours or longer.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Third Amendment, 1921) was enacted to amend existing regulations governing the Commonwealth Public Service. This legislative instrument was introduced to address the need for updated provisions regarding allowances for officers within the public service, specifically in relation to travel fares and daily allowances for officers relieving at suburban offices further from their homes than their usual stations. The regulation was made under the authority of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918 by the Governor-General in Council, with the policy objective of ensuring that public service officers are adequately compensated for additional travel and time away from their usual stations. The amendments took effect from 1 July 1920 for certain provisions and from 27 December 1920 for others, reflecting the need for timely adjustments to support the operational needs of the public service.
Scope and Application
The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Third Amendment, 1921) applies to officers within the Commonwealth Public Service as defined under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918. This amendment specifically addresses allowances for officers who are required to relieve at suburban offices that are further from their homes than their usual stations, providing them with additional fare reimbursements and allowances for extended absences from their homes. This regulation is intended to ensure fair compensation for officers who undertake duties that require them to travel further from their usual stations and to be away from home for extended periods, thereby recognising the additional burdens and costs associated with such duties. The amendment adjusts the rates of compensation, increasing the hourly rate from 3d to 4d and setting allowances for extended absences from home, with an increased rate for periods exceeding twelve hours of absence. This legislation applies nationally across the Commonwealth of Australia, affecting all officers within the Commonwealth Public Service who are not part of the permanent relieving staff.
Key Provisions
The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Third Amendment, 1921) make several key amendments to the existing regulations. Under regulation 149, the amendment increases the hourly rate for certain officers from three pence to four pence per hour (regulation 149(a)). Additionally, it revises the allowances for officers who relieve at suburban offices that are farther from their homes than their usual stations. Now, these officers are entitled to reimbursement for any additional fares required to travel to the suburban office and are eligible for an allowance of two shillings per day for up to one week, which can be increased to three shillings per day if the officer’s duties require them to be away from home for twelve hours or more, unless the officer is on night duty (regulation 149(b)).
These amendments impose specific obligations on public service officers and the departments responsible for managing them. Officers who are required to relieve at locations further from their homes than their usual stations must now ensure that they are reimbursed for any additional travel costs. They are also entitled to a specified allowance if their duties necessitate being away from home for an extended period. Departments are required to process these claims and ensure that officers are compensated appropriately according to the new regulations.
Breaches of these regulations could potentially lead to disputes over allowances and reimbursements, which may need to be addressed through internal departmental processes or legal action. While the statutory rules do not explicitly detail offences or penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to these provisions could result in officers not receiving the allowances to which they are entitled, leading to dissatisfaction and possible grievances. The exact consequences of non-compliance would depend on the specific circumstances and the internal policies of the department involved.