STATUTORY RULES.
1906. No. 112.
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 following Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this 11th day of December, One thousand nine hundred and six.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command.
SAMUEL MAUGER,
Acting Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Public Service Regulation 163a, made under the provisions of Section 80 of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, is amended by the addition of the following words:—
“The Permanent Head may also authorize the payment to officers, of allowances not exceeding £4 per annum in each case, for the use of bicycles for official purposes.”
Public Service Regulations 17, 18, 21, and 90 are repealed, and the following Regulation is substituted in lieu of repealed Regulation 21:—
“21. The Permanent Head of each Department shall cause a return to be forwarded to the Commissioner monthly, showing all fines of the amount of five shillings and upwards, and punishments by deprivation of leave of absence imposed under the provisions of the Act or Regulations during the previous month.
The return shall set forth the name of the officer, office held, offence and punishment.”
(a) Public Service Regulation 104 is amended by substituting the word “Lineman” for the words “Line Repairer” in the first column of the Schedule.
(b) Public Service Regulation 104 is amended to provide for the grading in the General Division of the position of Assistant Compositor of Publications, as under:—
Department and office. | Minimum Yearly Rate of Pay. | Scale of Additions. | Maximum Yearly Rate of Pay. |
Amount. | At Intervals of not less than | Number. |
TRADE AND CUSTOMS. | £ | £ | One year | 4 | £ |
Assistant Compositor of Publications | 180 | 6 | 204 |
Regulation 148 of the Public Service Regulations is amended—
(1) by omitting paragraph (b) and inserting the following paragraph in lieu thereof:—
“(b) As soon as practicable after receiving such report, or after the Governor-General’s approval of a recommendation which results in a vacancy, the Commissioner will, except as hereinafter provided, cause to be published in the Commonwealth Gazette a notice stating the office to be filled, the locality, the division, and the salary.”
(2) by adding thereto, at the end thereof, the following paragraph:—
“(i) Vacancies which are to be filled by the appointment of candidates who have qualified at a competitive examination, and vacancies in the position of Assistant, or which involve grade transfers, may be filled without a notice of the vacancy being published in the Gazette, as specified in paragraph (b).”
By Authority: J. Kemp, Acting Government Printer, Melbourne.
Overview
Statutory Rules 1906 No. 112, made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, was introduced to amend and regulate various aspects of the public service system in Australia. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, the regulations address issues such as the payment of bicycle allowances to officers, the reporting of fines and punishments imposed on officers, the classification and remuneration of certain positions within the public service, and the procedures for publishing notices of vacancies in the Commonwealth Gazette. The objective of these amendments is to ensure the smooth administration and management of the public service, including the efficient handling of disciplinary matters and the accurate classification and remuneration of positions.
Scope and Application
The Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1906 No. 112, apply to officers within the Commonwealth public service, including those employed by various departments and agencies across the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations, effective immediately upon their enactment, cover the payment of allowances, the submission of monthly returns on disciplinary actions, amendments to position titles and pay scales, and the publication of job vacancies. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, affecting all public service employees within the Commonwealth. Notably, the regulations also address specific amendments to certain public service positions, such as the reclassification of Line Repairers to Linemen, and the establishment of pay scales for the Assistant Compositor of Publications. Additionally, the regulations clarify the process for publishing job vacancies, allowing for certain exceptions such as competitive examination appointments and grade transfers. These regulations extend the application of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 through subordinate instruments, ensuring comprehensive governance of public service employment practices.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of these Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 include amendments and substitutions to existing regulations. Regulation 163a allows the Permanent Head to authorise payments of up to £4 per annum to officers for bicycle use in official duties (Reg. 163a). Regulation 21 now requires the Permanent Head to submit monthly reports to the Commissioner detailing fines and punishments imposed on officers (Reg. 21). Regulation 104 has been amended to change the title "Line Repairer" to "Lineman" and to grade the position of Assistant Compositor of Publications (Reg. 104). Lastly, Regulation 148 has been altered to require the publication of vacancies in the Commonwealth Gazette, except for certain cases involving competitive examinations or grade transfers (Reg. 148).
These Regulations impose several obligations and requirements on the parties they govern. The Permanent Head must now ensure that monthly returns are submitted to the Commissioner detailing disciplinary actions taken against officers (Reg. 21). The Commissioner must also ensure that appropriate notices are published in the Commonwealth Gazette for vacancies, unless specified exceptions apply (Reg. 148). Additionally, the amendment to Regulation 104 introduces new grading structures for certain positions, which must be adhered to in terms of salary and progression (Reg. 104).
Breach of these Regulations could lead to various consequences, although specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the text. However, non-compliance with reporting requirements, such as those outlined in Regulation 21, could potentially result in administrative penalties or scrutiny from oversight bodies. Similarly, failure to adhere to the grading structures in Regulation 104 might lead to disputes over remuneration and progression, potentially resulting in legal action. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any relevant provisions within the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 or other applicable laws.