Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1934, No. 115, under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1934, were enacted to amend the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations, addressing the need for updates and adjustments to the salary scales and positions within the public service. The Board of Commissioners, appointed under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1934, created these regulations with the authority conferred upon it by the Act, subject to the approval of the Governor-General. The regulations were approved in Executive Council on 10 September 1934 by the Governor-General, Sir Isaac Isaacs, and authorised by the Prime Minister’s office. The primary objective of these amendments is to reflect changes in roles and their corresponding remuneration within various departments and branches of the public service.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1934, No. 115, under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1934, serve to amend the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations, which were initially established in 1926 and subsequently updated. These regulations pertain to various positions within the Commonwealth Public Service, detailing the salary scales, increments, and specific roles within departments and branches across different states and territories. This legislative instrument applies to all public servants listed in the amended regulations, specifically adjusting salary figures and inserting new positions while omitting others. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, affecting public service employees across Australia, including offices in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. Notably, the regulations do not specify exclusions or exemptions but do outline thresholds for salary increments and roles within the public service. The Board of Commissioners, under the authority of the Commonwealth Public Service Act, has the power to further extend or restrict the application of these regulations through subordinate instruments, subject to the approval of the Governor-General.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Statutory Rules 1934, No. 115, amend various aspects of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1934. Regulation 104 modifies the salary figures for the Deputy Commissioner of the Taxation Branch in Tasmania, changing the minimum and maximum salary figures from £612 and £660 to £660 and £708 respectively (Reg. 1). Regulation 105b removes the office of "Clerk, Central Administration, Interior" from the table of offices and particulars (Reg. 2). Regulation 106 introduces new offices and modifies existing ones: it adds a new office for a Senior Carpenter in the Commerce Department’s Marine Branch with a salary range of £328 to £366 and annual increments (Reg. 3(a)); removes the office of "Inquiry Officer, Senior" (Reg. 3(b)); adds new offices for Inquiry Officers (Telegraph) in New South Wales and Victoria and Queensland with specified salary ranges and increments (Reg. 3(c)); adds an office for a Photo-equipment Operator in the Attorney General’s Patent, Trade Marks, Designs, and Copyright Offices with a salary range of £252 to £260 and annual increments (Reg. 3(d)); and adds various offices for Postal Investigation Officers and a Wireless Licence Inspector, each with specified salary ranges and annual increments (Reg. 3(e)-(f)). The amendments impose specific obligations and requirements on the relevant departments and officers. The new salary figures and office details must be adhered to by the departments listed, ensuring that the officers within these newly defined roles are compensated according to the specified minimum and maximum salaries, with annual increments as outlined. The removal of certain offices means that those roles are no longer recognised under the regulations, and any existing officers in those positions must be reclassified or their employment adjusted accordingly. The introduction of new roles requires departments to establish these positions and ensure that they are filled by appropriately qualified individuals who meet the criteria for the specified salary brackets and increments. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned within the text of these regulations for non-compliance with the salary figures or office classifications. However, failure to adhere to these regulations could potentially lead to broader administrative or disciplinary actions within the public service framework, as these regulations are integral to the governance and operation of the public service. Non-compliance might be subject to review by the relevant authorities, with potential repercussions for both the officers and the departments involved.