Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1928, No. 105, comprise regulations made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924. These regulations were introduced to address various administrative and procedural aspects of the Commonwealth Public Service, including the payment of allowances, salary increments, and the conditions of employment for public service officers. The Board of Commissioners, exercising its authority under the Act, made these amendments, subject to the approval of the Governor-General, to update and refine the existing regulations. The policy objective is to ensure the efficient administration and management of the Commonwealth Public Service by providing clear guidelines on allowances, salary structures, and employment conditions, thereby maintaining a fair and consistent framework for public service officers.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules of 1928, No. 105, pertain to amendments of the Commonwealth Public Service Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922–1924. These amendments, made by the Board of Commissioners and subject to the approval of the Governor-General, affect various regulations, including those concerning allowances, notifications, salaries, and increments for public service officers. The amendments apply to all officers within the Commonwealth Public Service and are enforced nationwide. Notably, Regulation 138's amendments come into operation from 1st July 1928. The Board of Commissioners retains the authority to determine conditions for allowances and salary adjustments upon transfer or promotion of officers, thereby extending the application of the regulations through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922–1924, as amended by Statutory Rules 1926, No. 105, primarily affect the allowance for officers and their notification duties, the removal of certain office positions, and adjustments to salary tables. For example, regulation 62 is amended to include an allowance payable under regulation 97b as determined by the Board (s. 1). Furthermore, regulation 97b adds a duty for officers to notify the Chief Officer of any changes in their domestic conditions, place of residence, or alterations in rent or board and lodging (s. 2). Specific office positions, such as Clerk, Auditor-General’s Office (Central Staff) and Clerk (Library), are removed from regulation 105b (s. 3(a)), and the office of Assistant (examinations, &c.) is omitted from regulation 106 (s. 4(a)). Amendments also include the addition of new positions and salary details in various tables within regulation 106 (s. 4). These regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. Officers receiving allowances under regulation 97b must notify the Chief Officer of any changes in their domestic conditions, place of residence, or changes in the amount they pay for rent or board and lodging (s. 2). Additionally, the Board is granted authority to determine the salary of officers upon transfer or promotion and the date from which that salary shall be deemed to have been paid when incremental advancement rates differ (s. 5). The regulations also stipulate that the Board can determine the conditions under which allowances are paid to officers in charge of country exchanges (s. 4). Breaches of these regulations may lead to various consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance with the notification duties or failure to adhere to the conditions set by the Board could result in disciplinary actions or other administrative penalties. The regulations ensure that officers and the Board comply with the specified terms to maintain orderly and effective administration within the Commonwealth Public Service.