Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Legislative Instrument C2004L09676, approved on 23 April 1903 by His Excellency the Governor-General in and with the advice of the Executive Council, establishes a scale of travelling allowances for Commonwealth Public Service Officers in the State of Western Australia. This legislative instrument was enacted to replace the previous regulations concerning travel allowances, specifically Regulation 149 from 15 December 1902, under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902. The policy objective of this legislative instrument is to provide a structured approach to the payment of travel allowances, ensuring that officers are compensated appropriately based on their annual salary and the regions they are travelling in, with additional considerations for travel in the Goldfields districts and long-term stationing in one place.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth of Australia has established a specific scale of travelling allowances for officers of the Commonwealth Public Service in the State of Western Australia. This legislative instrument applies to officers within the Commonwealth Public Service who are stationed in Western Australia, with allowances varying according to their annual salary. Officers earning £500 a year and upwards receive a per diem of 150, while those earning between £300 and £500 receive 120, and those earning between £200 and £300 receive 100. Officers earning less than £200 receive 76. Additionally, a 25 per cent increase in these rates applies to travel within the Goldfields districts, and a 25 per cent reduction applies when an officer is stationed for more than ten days in one location. The allowances are designed to compensate for travel expenses incurred by officers in the course of their duties within the specified jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The legislative instrument establishes a scale of travelling allowances for Commonwealth Public Service officers in Western Australia, as outlined in section 1. These allowances are meant to replace the previous allowances stipulated in Regulation 149, made under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 on 15 December 1902. The rates are differentiated based on the annual salary of the officers, with those earning £500 a year or more receiving 150 per diem, those earning between £300 and £500 receiving 120 per diem, those earning between £200 and £300 receiving 100 per diem, and those earning less than £200 receiving 76 per diem. An additional allowance of 25 per cent is granted when officers travel in the Goldfields districts, and a deduction of 25 per cent applies if officers are stationed in one place for more than ten days. Officers of the Commonwealth Public Service in Western Australia are required to adhere to these allowance rates as stipulated in section 1. The department responsible for administering these allowances is the Department of Home Affairs. Furthermore, officers must accurately report their travel durations and locations to ensure the correct allowance rates are applied. The additional 25 per cent allowance for Goldfields travel must be claimed if applicable, and any over-staying in a single location beyond ten days must result in a 25 per cent deduction from the officer’s allowance. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this legislation may lead to various consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument, non-compliance could result in the denial of rightful allowances or financial discrepancies. Officers found to be misreporting their travel details or improperly claiming allowances could face disciplinary action or other administrative consequences as determined by the Department of Home Affairs. The precise penalties for such breaches are not explicitly stated but may be subject to the broader regulations and disciplinary frameworks within the Commonwealth Public Service.