Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1926, No. 147, under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924, was introduced to amend the existing regulations concerning allowances for Commonwealth public service officers. This legislative instrument was enacted by the Board of Commissioners, with the approval of the Governor-General, to come into operation from 1 September 1926. The Board, exercising the authority conferred by the Commonwealth Public Service Act, sought to address specific gaps in the allowances provided to officers under certain conditions. The primary objective was to provide clarity and structure to the allowances for officers required to sleep on official premises for protective purposes or to perform additional duties such as night telephone duties in the Postmaster-General’s Department, ensuring these allowances were appropriately regulated and authorised by the Chief Officer.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations, as amended by Statutory Rules 1926, No. 147, primarily concern the allowance for officers within the Commonwealth Public Service who may be required to sleep at official premises for protective purposes or to perform additional duties such as night telephone duties. This regulation applies to officers within the Commonwealth Public Service who are required to sleep at their official premises for reasons of protection or to perform additional duties, specifically excluding those in residence, in receipt of a relieving allowance, or occupying the position of caretaker. The allowance is subject to approval from the Chief Officer, with a maximum of Ten shillings per week for protective purposes and Twenty shillings per week for officers in the Postmaster-General’s Department performing night telephone duties. These regulations have a national reach, as they are issued under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924 and are applicable throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. Any further extensions or restrictions to these allowances are to be determined through subordinate instruments as necessary.

Key Provisions

The principal changes introduced by Statutory Rules 1926, No. 147, amend Regulation 95 of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations, which were previously governed by Statutory Rules 1923, No. 93. Regulation 95(1) now allows an allowance of up to ten shillings per week for officers required to sleep at official premises for protective purposes. This allowance is subject to the approval of the Chief Officer and cannot be claimed by officers residing at the premises, receiving a relieving allowance, or holding the position of caretaker. Regulation 95(2) introduces an additional allowance of up to twenty shillings per week for officers in the Postmaster-General’s Department who are required to sleep at official premises and perform night telephone duties, again subject to Chief Officer approval. Under these regulations, the obligations for the parties involved, particularly the officers and the Chief Officer, are clearly defined. Officers who meet the criteria must ensure they receive the appropriate approval from the Chief Officer to be eligible for the allowances. Conversely, the Chief Officer must review and approve the claims for allowances based on the stipulated conditions. The requirement for approval by the Chief Officer underscores the need for administrative oversight to ensure the allowances are granted fairly and only under the specified circumstances. Breaches of these regulations, while not explicitly outlined in the statutory rules, could lead to disciplinary actions under the broader framework of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in this legislative instrument, the Act generally provides for sanctions that can include fines, suspension, or termination of employment for non-compliance with service regulations. The exact penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and the specific provisions of the broader Act.