STATUTORY RULES.
1927. No. 22.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1922-1924.
WHEREAS the special circumstances attending the transfer of departments to a newly-established city will necessarily involve, at the outset, additional expense to compulsorily-transferred officers of those departments in relation to housing and living:
And whereas it is expedient that officers transferred to Canberra in these special circumstances should receive special allowances:
Now therefore the Board of Commissioners appointed under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924, in pursuance and exercise of the authority conferred upon it by the said Act, and subject to the approval of the Governor-General, hereby makes the following amendment of the Regulations, such amendment to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this first day of March, 1927.
C. B. B. White, Chairman | Board of Commissioners. |
W. J. Skewes, |
J. P. McGlinn, |
Approved in Executive Council this first day of March, 1927.
STONEHAVEN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
for Prime Minister.
Amendment of Commonwealth Public Service Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1926, No. 212.)
After regulation 97a the following regulation is inserted:—
Allowances to Officers compulsorily transferred to Canberra.
97b.—(1) Subject to the approval of the Board, an officer who, by reason of the removal or anticipated removal of his department, is compulsorily transferred to Canberra, may be paid, until otherwise determined by the Board, a special allowance in accordance with the following scales:—
scales of allowance.
Salary of Officer. | A | B | C |
Married officer who purchases, builds, or rents a house at Canberra. | Married officer other than as specified in A. | Unmarried Officer |
Rate per annum. | Rate per annum. | Rate per annum. |
| £ | £ | £ |
£400 and under.......... | 54 | 39 | 26 |
£401 to £600............ | 63 | 39 | 26 |
£601 to £1,000........... | 69 | 39 | 26 |
£1,001 and upwards....... | 75 | 39 | 26 |
(2) The scale of allowance applicable and the date from which it is payable shall in each case be determined by the Board.
(3) Salary for the purpose of this regulation shall be deemed to be the salary payable to the officer on 1st July, 1927, provided that in the case of an officer transferred prior to 1st July, 1927, salary until that date shall be deemed to be the salary received at date of transfer.
(4) If in the opinion of the Board the provisions of this regulation should be applied in the case of any officer transferred to Canberra prior to the date of this regulation, allowance as prescribed in this regulation may be paid the officer from a date to be determined by the Board.
(5) For the purpose of this regulation a married officer shall include a widower with dependent children and any officer maintaining dependants whose circumstances in the opinion of the Board justify inclusion.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by H. J. Green, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Regulations Under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924, issued in 1927, were enacted to address the financial strain faced by public service officers who were compulsorily transferred to Canberra during the relocation of government departments to the newly established city. This legislative instrument, issued by the Board of Commissioners and approved by the Governor-General, aimed to provide special allowances to these officers to mitigate the additional housing and living expenses they encountered due to the transfer. The policy objective was to ensure that the officers could manage these costs without undue financial hardship, thereby facilitating a smooth transition and efficient operation of the public service in the new capital.
Scope and Application
The amendment to the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924 provides for special allowances to officers compulsorily transferred to Canberra. This applies to officers who are required to move due to the relocation or anticipated relocation of their department to the new national capital. The allowances are intended to assist these officers with the additional housing and living expenses associated with their transfer. The allowances vary based on the officer's marital status, their purchase, construction, or rental of a house in Canberra, and their salary bracket. The scales of allowance range from £400 to over £1,000 per annum and are subject to the approval and determination of the Board of Commissioners. The regulation also specifies that the salary for determining the allowance is based on the officer's salary as of 1 July 1927, or the salary received at the date of transfer if earlier. The allowance may be backdated if deemed appropriate by the Board. This regulation applies nationally as it is a Commonwealth Act, and it specifically addresses the unique circumstances of officers being transferred to Canberra.
Key Provisions
The regulations amend the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations by inserting a new regulation (97b) under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924. This new regulation provides for special allowances to be paid to officers who are compulsorily transferred to Canberra. The Board of Commissioners, exercising authority under the Act, is empowered to approve and determine the specifics of these allowances, including the applicable scale and the date from which they are payable. The scale of allowance varies based on the officer's salary and marital status, with additional considerations for those who purchase, build, or rent a house in Canberra. The salary used to determine the allowance is generally the one payable on 1 July 1927, or the salary received at the date of transfer if the transfer occurred before that date. The Board also has the discretion to apply these provisions retroactively to officers transferred before the date of the regulation.
The obligations imposed by this amendment on the Board of Commissioners include the approval and determination of the special allowances for compulsorily transferred officers, ensuring that these allowances are paid in accordance with the specified scales and dates. The Board must also consider whether the special provisions should apply to officers transferred before the regulation's effective date. Furthermore, the Board has the authority to define the term "married officer" to include widowers with dependent children and other officers maintaining dependents whose circumstances warrant inclusion. The Board's decisions must be made in accordance with the regulations and any relevant guidelines or policies established by the Commonwealth.
The regulations do not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, the enforcement of these provisions would likely fall under the general administrative and legal frameworks governing the Commonwealth Public Service. Any failure by the Board to properly determine and approve allowances, or any misuse of the allowances by the officers, could potentially lead to administrative review, internal investigation, or legal action. The specific penalties for any breach would depend on the nature of the breach and the applicable laws and regulations governing the public service.