STATUTORY RULES.
1906. No. 66.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1902.
I, THE GOVERNOR‑GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this eighth day of August, One thousand nine hundred and six.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor‑General.
By His Excellency's Command,
Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Travelling Allowances.
Part 1.—General Allowances.
Regulation 153 of the Public Service Regulations is repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof :—
" 153. The Permanent Head, with the approval of the Commissioner, or the Chief Officer, with the concurrence of the Public Service Inspector, may reduce the foregoing allowances in cases where the circumstances appear to justify such a course.''
Part 2.—Allowances to Certain Officers.
The final paragraph of Regulation 155 of the Public Service Regulations is repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof :—
" The Permanent Head, with the approval of the Commissioner, or the Chief Officer, with the concurrence of the Public Service Inspector, may reduce the foregoing allowances in cases where the circumstances appear to justify such a course."
Amendment of Public Service Regulation 168.
Regulation 168 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by the addition of the following scale to the scale of allowances:—
Scale. | Ratio of Allowance to Salary. | Minimum. | Maximum. |
On first £100 or portion thereof. | On second £100 or portion thereof. | On portion of Salary above £200. |
| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | £ | £ |
VII | 50 | 25 | 5 | 40 | — |
Telegraph Messengers.
Regulation 199 of the Public Service Regulations is amended to read as follows :—
" 199. Every applicant for employment as Telegraph Messenger must be between the ages of thirteen and fifteen years at date of examination. Every applicant nominated for appointment as Telegraph Messenger must be not less than thirteen nor more than fifteen years of age at his last birthday previous to appointment, and must cease to be so employed when he attains the age of eighteen years, unless in the meantime he has been transferred or promoted to some other position in the service for which he has qualified by passing the required examination. Provided, however, that no person shall be appointed as Telegraph Messenger in the States of Victoria or Western Australia under the age of fourteen years, unless in the case of the first‑mentioned State, he can, if required, produce a certificate from the Education Department of Victoria of having attained the standard of education required by the Education Acts of that State."
By Authority : J. Kemp, Acting Government Printer, Melbourne.
Overview
The Commonwealth Public Service Regulations 1906, made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, were enacted to provide a comprehensive framework for the administration of the public service within Australia. These regulations were introduced by the Federal Executive Council, with the Governor-General acting on their advice, to address the need for structured guidelines governing public service roles, responsibilities, and allowances. The overarching policy objective of these regulations was to ensure efficient, fair, and systematic management of public service personnel, including provisions for allowances, employment conditions, and specific roles such as that of Telegraph Messengers. This legislative instrument aimed to fill the gap left by the Commonwealth Public Service Act by offering detailed operational instructions and standards to be followed by public service officers.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1906, No. 66, made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, provide specific regulations regarding allowances and employment criteria within the Commonwealth public service. These regulations apply to various officers and employees within the public service, impacting their entitlements and employment conditions. Notably, the regulations cover allowances for certain officers, specify the age requirements for employment as a Telegraph Messenger, and include provisions for reducing allowances in certain circumstances with appropriate approvals. Geographically, these regulations extend across the Commonwealth, encompassing all states and territories within Australia, thereby establishing a uniform standard for public service allowances and employment criteria. There are no explicit exclusions or exemptions detailed in these regulations, which implies a broad application across the specified public service roles. The regulations are further subject to amendment through subordinate instruments, allowing for adjustments and refinements as necessitated by changing circumstances or requirements within the public service framework.
Key Provisions
The statutory rules, numbered 1906. No. 66, provide regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902. They outline specific allowances and conditions for public service employees. Regulation 153, pertaining to general allowances, allows the Permanent Head or the Chief Officer to reduce allowances if circumstances warrant it, with necessary approvals (Reg 153). Similarly, Regulation 155 concerning allowances for certain officers also permits reductions under similar conditions (Reg 155).
The regulations impose obligations on the Permanent Head, Chief Officer, and relevant inspectors to assess and decide on the reduction of allowances based on the circumstances of each case. They must ensure that any reduction is justified and documented appropriately. The requirement for concurrence from the Public Service Inspector adds a layer of oversight to ensure fairness and compliance with the regulations (Reg 153, Reg 155).
Regulation 168, which concerns the scale of allowances, is amended to include a new scale. This amendment specifies the ratio of allowance to salary, with different percentages applying to various salary brackets (Reg 168). Regulation 199, relating to Telegraph Messengers, sets specific age requirements for applicants and employees in this role, stipulating that applicants must be between thirteen and fifteen years old at the time of examination and cannot be employed past the age of eighteen unless promoted (Reg 199).
There are no explicit provisions for offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches within these regulations. However, failure to adhere to the stipulated conditions for allowances or age requirements could lead to administrative or disciplinary actions under the broader framework of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902.