Commonwealth Public Service Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1910 No. 82, enacted under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, were introduced to address the need for a standardised examination process for certain positions within the public service. This Provisional Regulation, issued by the Governor-General and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, was enacted due to the urgency in establishing a uniform set of criteria for the appointment and qualification of candidates for roles such as telegraph messenger and telephonist. This regulation was created to streamline the hiring process by specifying the subjects of examination and the criteria for qualification, thereby ensuring that all applicants are assessed based on a consistent set of standards. The policy objective is to maintain a proficient and efficient public service by ensuring that all candidates meet the necessary requirements for their respective roles.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1910, No. 82, provides provisional regulations under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, establishing the criteria and process for the examination of candidates for specific positions within the public service. This regulation applies to candidates seeking appointment as telegraph messengers, telephonists, or any other office or position where a special examination is deemed unnecessary by the Commissioner. The examination subjects are specified in Regulation No. 198, and candidates who achieve at least half of the maximum marks in each subject are declared qualified for appointment. For telegraph messengers, a minimum score of half the maximum marks in spelling and handwriting is required, with the order of merit determined by their performance in these subjects and arithmetic. The regulation also mandates that telegraph messengers must achieve at least half the maximum marks in arithmetic at a subsequent examination to become eligible for transfer or promotion in the General Division, with annual examinations in arithmetic scheduled to facilitate this. This regulation applies across the Commonwealth of Australia and affects all candidates applying for the specified positions within the public service, as per the jurisdictional reach of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1910 No. 82 under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, establish the requirements for candidates seeking appointment as telegraph messengers, telephonists, or other specified positions. Regulation 202 outlines the subjects of examination for these candidates and sets the criteria for qualification (Reg 202). It specifies that applicants must achieve half of the maximum marks in each subject to be deemed qualified for appointment. For telegraph messengers, it is mandatory to achieve half the maximum marks in spelling, handwriting, and arithmetic; however, their ranking is based on marks in spelling, handwriting, and arithmetic. Moreover, a candidate who is appointed as a telegraph messenger but fails to achieve half the maximum marks in arithmetic at their initial examination will not be eligible for transfer or promotion within the General Division until they achieve the required marks in a subsequent examination. The regulation also mandates that annual examinations in arithmetic will be conducted to enable these candidates to become eligible for transfer or promotion (Reg 202). The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the entities it governs. The Commissioner is tasked with determining the subjects of examination for candidates seeking various positions, ensuring that these subjects are relevant and necessary for the roles (Reg 202). Additionally, the examiners are responsible for evaluating the candidates' performance in these subjects and determining their eligibility for appointment based on the marks obtained. The regulation also mandates that the Commissioner ensure that annual examinations in arithmetic are held to allow candidates to become eligible for transfer or promotion within the General Division. The obligation falls on the candidates to achieve the specified marks in their examinations to meet the eligibility criteria for appointment and subsequent career progression (Reg 202). The Statutory Rules 1910 No. 82 do not explicitly mention any offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, the regulation implies that failure to meet the specified examination criteria could result in disqualification from appointment or career progression. For instance, a candidate who does not achieve half the maximum marks in arithmetic at their initial examination will not be eligible for transfer or promotion until they achieve the required marks in a subsequent examination. This could be interpreted as a consequence of not meeting the specified requirements, although the regulation does not explicitly state this as an offence or penalty. It is also worth noting that the regulation is a provisional measure, and any changes or amendments would need to be made through further legislative action (Reg 202).