Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Sixth Amendment) 1922, enacted on 1 June 1922, was introduced to address the need for adjustments in allowances for certain public service employees, specifically postmen, to account for additional travel and inconvenience when performing their duties outside their regular districts. The regulation amends the existing Commonwealth Public Service Regulations to provide an allowance for postmen who are required to relieve for a full day outside their regular district when the office is further from their home than their headquarters. This allowance is intended to mitigate the additional burden and travel costs incurred by these employees, ensuring their remuneration reflects the nature of their work. The regulation was made under the authority of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918, by the Governor-General in Council. The policy objective, as articulated in the legislative instrument, is to provide fair compensation to public service employees for additional duties that require travel beyond their usual work areas, thereby maintaining their morale and efficiency in service delivery.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Sixth Amendment, 1922) amends the existing Public Service Regulations to address the remuneration of certain officers within the Commonwealth Public Service. Specifically, the amendment concerns the allowance paid to postmen on the permanent relieving staff who are required to perform duties outside their regular district. The amendment stipulates that such officers are entitled to a payment of two shillings per day if they are required to relieve for a full day and the office is further from their home than their headquarters. However, this allowance is limited to a maximum period of one week for one location and does not apply to days when only one delivery is made. This regulation applies to officers employed within the Commonwealth Public Service and is governed by the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902-1918. The jurisdictional reach of these regulations is national, applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the text of this particular amendment; however, broader exclusions and exemptions may be found in the overarching Act or other related regulations. The application of these regulations may also be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments issued under the authority of the Act.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislative instrument, the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Sixth Amendment, 1922), introduce an amendment to Regulation 149. Specifically, paragraph (f) of Regulation 149 is amended to include a provision for an allowance for Postmen on the permanent relieving staff (Regulation 149(f)). This amendment stipulates that Postmen who are required to relieve for a full day outside their regular district and who must travel further from their home than their headquarters are entitled to a payment of two shillings per day. However, this allowance is subject to certain conditions: it is only payable for a period not exceeding one week for one specific place, and no allowance is to be paid for any day on which only one delivery is made (Regulation 149(f)). The obligations imposed by this amendment on the relevant parties, primarily the Commonwealth Public Service and the Postmen affected, include ensuring that the conditions for the allowance are met. The Postmen must fulfill the criteria of relieving for a full day outside their regular district and travelling further from their home than their headquarters. Additionally, the Commonwealth Public Service must adhere to the stipulation that the allowance is only payable for a limited period and not for days on which only a single delivery is made. This amendment necessitates accurate record-keeping and reporting to ensure compliance with the specified conditions for the allowance. Failure to comply with the conditions outlined in this amendment could result in civil or administrative consequences. The Commonwealth Public Service might face scrutiny or penalties for improper payment of allowances, while Postmen who do not meet the criteria for the allowance may be denied rightful payments. Although the legislative instrument does not explicitly detail penalties for breaches, it is implied that adherence to the stipulated conditions is mandatory. Non-compliance could potentially lead to disputes or legal challenges regarding the entitlement to the allowance, thus it is crucial for all parties to understand and comply with the provisions.