Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1924, No. 141, enacted under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922, introduced amendments to the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations to address the need for a consistent and fair allowance system for public service officers who are employed on relieving duties. This legislative instrument, approved by the Board of Commissioners and the Executive Council, came into operation on 9 October 1924. It sought to ensure that officers on relieving duties receive appropriate allowances based on their employment duration and location, thereby providing clarity and consistency in allowances for officers who are temporarily assigned to different stations. This amendment aimed to uphold the policy objectives of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922 by regulating the terms and conditions of employment in the public service.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922, as amended by the Thirteenth Amendment of 1924, govern the allowances and conditions for officers employed in the Commonwealth Public Service who are regularly engaged on relieving duties. Specifically, these regulations apply to officers employed at temporary stations and those temporarily transferred to perform duties at other stations for periods of absence not less than six weeks. The allowances are structured based on the officer's salary, with officers earning over £372 per annum receiving a higher weekly allowance compared to those earning £372 and under. Additionally, certain conditions must be met for officers to qualify for these allowances, including prior written notification, a minimum three-week stay between arrival and departure, and exclusions for officers required to perform duties in capital cities. These regulations have a national reach across the Commonwealth of Australia and are subject to the approval of the Governor-General, ensuring their implementation aligns with the broader public service framework.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Statutory Rules 1924, No. 141, which amends the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations, focus on the allowances for officers who are employed on relieving duties. Regulation 79, which has been repealed and replaced, sets out the allowances for officers employed at temporary stations (Regulation 79(1)). For officers employed at a temporary station for less than one week, they will be paid the scale of allowances provided by regulation 75. For officers employed at a temporary station for more than one week, they will be granted an allowance based on their salary. Specifically, officers earning over £372 will receive £450 per week, while those earning £372 or less will receive £350 per week. Additionally, officers temporarily transferred to perform duty at another station for a period of six weeks or more are entitled to an allowance, subject to certain conditions (Regulation 79(2)). The Regulations impose several obligations on the officers and the public service authorities. Officers must be informed in writing of the allowance they will receive before leaving their headquarters (Regulation 79(2)(a)). There must be a minimum of three weeks between an officer’s arrival and departure from a temporary station (Regulation 79(2)(b)). If an officer has to leave their temporary headquarters for a period of one week or less and continues to pay for board and lodging, they are entitled to an additional travelling allowance (Regulation 79(2)(c)). The allowance does not apply to officers temporarily required to perform duty in a capital city (Regulation 79(2)(d)). Breaches of these regulations may result in officers not receiving the allowances they are entitled to, which could lead to disputes or dissatisfaction. However, the Regulations do not explicitly state any specific penalties or consequences for non-compliance. It is likely that failure to adhere to these provisions could result in administrative action being taken by the public service authorities, such as an investigation into the officer’s conduct or a review of the allowance payments made. The exact consequences would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and the policies of the public service authorities.