Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1924, No. 103, represents a legislative instrument that amends the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922. Enacted by the Board of Commissioners and approved by the Governor-General, these regulations aim to address operational and procedural gaps within the public service framework. Specifically, the amendments introduce measures such as requiring the Chief Officer to furnish departmental instructions to the Board, establishing provisions for sick leave allowances for officers unable to return home due to illness, and altering allowances for officers stationed in the Territory of New Guinea. The objective of these amendments is to enhance the efficiency and fairness of the public service operations, ensuring that the regulations keep pace with the evolving needs of the public service and the Commonwealth.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922, as amended by Statutory Rules 1924, No. 103, apply to officers of the Commonwealth public service. This includes any individuals employed by the Commonwealth government in various capacities, whether in the mainland states or in territories such as New Guinea. The Regulations detail specific provisions concerning allowances, departmental instructions, and conditions of service, particularly addressing scenarios like illness-related absences and travel allowances for officers stationed in different locations. The amendments introduce new regulations and modify existing ones, such as requiring the Chief Officer to provide copies of departmental instructions to the Board, adjusting allowances for officers who fall ill while on duty, and directing allowances for officers travelling in New Guinea. These changes are made subject to the overarching provisions of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922 and are intended to come into effect immediately upon approval by the Governor-General.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of these regulations amend and introduce new provisions under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922. Regulation 9 now requires that a copy of any departmental instructions issued must be provided by the Chief Officer to the Board of Commissioners (Regulation 9, sub-regulation (3)). A new Regulation 79a has been introduced, which permits officers absent on duty who become ill through no fault of their own to take sick leave and receive an allowance up to the costs of their illness, provided they cannot return home (Regulation 79a). The allowance is capped at the amount they would have been entitled to under regulations governing travelling or relieving allowance if they had been on duty for the same period (Regulation 79a(2)). Regulation 82 has been repealed and replaced with a new provision that allows officers stationed in the Territory of New Guinea to receive a travelling allowance as directed by the Board while travelling in the Territory (Regulation 82). Lastly, Regulation 153 has been amended by removing the words "and arithmetic" from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1). These amendments impose several obligations on the parties involved. Chief Officers are required to furnish copies of departmental instructions to the Board of Commissioners (Regulation 9, sub-regulation (3)). Officers who fall ill while on duty must ensure their illness is not due to their own fault to qualify for the allowance outlined in Regulation 79a. They must also provide evidence of the costs incurred to substantiate their claim for the allowance. The Board of Commissioners gains the authority to direct the amount of travelling allowance for officers in the Territory of New Guinea (Regulation 82). The removal of "and arithmetic" from Regulation 153 sub-regulation (1) paragraph (a) likely means that certain educational qualifications previously required for specific roles are now no longer necessary. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in civil or criminal consequences, although the specific provisions for penalties are not detailed in the text provided. However, given the context of public service regulations, breaches could potentially lead to disciplinary actions against officers or administrative penalties against the Chief Officers for non-compliance with record-keeping and reporting requirements. The exact penalties would depend on the severity and nature of the breach, as well as any additional provisions within the broader framework of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922.