STATUTORY RULES.
1912. No. 54.
PROVISIONAL REGULATION 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 certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 should come into immediate operation, and make the Regulation to come into operation forthwith as a Provisional Regulation.
Dated this 28th day of February, One thousand nine hundred and twelve.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
KING O’MALLEY,
Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Regulation 163a, made under the provisions of the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, is repealed, and a new Regulation, in the following terms, is made in lieu thereof:—
163a. Allowances may be granted, on the authority of the Chief Officer, for the cleaning and lighting of offices, such allowances not to exceed a maximum annual rate of ten pounds (£10) for each of the services mentioned. In special cases, where it may be deemed advisable to grant an allowance for the delivery of correspondence, the Chief Officer may authorize such allowance up to, but not exceeding, six pounds (£6) per annum. The Chief Officer may also authorize the payment to officers of allowances, not exceeding four pounds (£4) in each case, for the use of bicycles for official purposes, and not exceeding five shillings (5s.) per week to each officer not in residence and not in receipt of a relieving allowance who is required to sleep on official premises and to provide himself with sleeping requisites.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by J. Kemp, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
C.2964.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Provisional Regulation under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, enacted in 1912, was introduced to address the immediate need for guidelines on allowances for office services and equipment within the public service. This Provisional Regulation was made under the authority of the Governor-General, with advice from the Federal Executive Council, recognising the urgency of implementing these provisions without delay. The policy objective of this regulation was to establish clear parameters for the allowances granted to officers for services such as office cleaning, lighting, correspondence delivery, and the use of bicycles for official purposes, ensuring that these allowances were within specific monetary limits. This regulation thus aimed to provide a structured approach to managing and controlling the expenses related to these services within the public service framework.
Scope and Application
This provisional regulation, issued under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, provides guidelines for the granting of allowances for various services within the Commonwealth Public Service. Specifically, it applies to the cleaning and lighting of offices, the delivery of correspondence, and the use of bicycles for official purposes. The allowances are subject to maximum limits set by the Chief Officer, with the maximum annual rate for cleaning and lighting being ten pounds (£10) per service, up to six pounds (£6) per annum for correspondence delivery, and not exceeding four pounds (£4) for the use of bicycles. Additionally, officers not in residence who are required to sleep on official premises and provide their own sleeping requisites may receive an allowance of up to five shillings (5s.) per week, provided they are not already receiving a relieving allowance. The regulation applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and is subject to the authority of the Chief Officer, who has the discretion to grant these allowances in accordance with the specified limits.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of this Provisional Regulation (Regulation 163a) under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 primarily pertain to allowances that may be granted to public service officers for various services and requirements (Regulation 163a(1)). These allowances include sums for the cleaning and lighting of offices, not exceeding ten pounds (£10) per annum for each service (Regulation 163a(1)(a)). Additionally, in specific circumstances, the Chief Officer may authorize an allowance for the delivery of correspondence, up to a maximum of six pounds (£6) annually (Regulation 163a(1)(b)). Furthermore, allowances may be granted for the use of bicycles for official purposes, not exceeding four pounds (£4) per case (Regulation 163a(1)(c)), and for officers required to sleep on official premises and provide their own sleeping necessities, a weekly allowance of up to five shillings (5s.) may be authorized (Regulation 163a(1)(d)).
The obligations imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs are primarily centred around the authority of the Chief Officer in granting these allowances. The Chief Officer must ensure that any allowances granted are within the specified limits and are deemed necessary based on the circumstances (Regulation 163a(1)). This includes making decisions on whether to authorize an allowance for cleaning and lighting, delivery of correspondence, use of bicycles for official purposes, or for officers requiring sleeping arrangements on official premises. The Chief Officer must also ensure that any allowances granted are justified and do not exceed the prescribed limits, as outlined in the Regulation.
In terms of offences, penalties, or consequences for breach, the Regulation itself does not explicitly outline any penalties for non-compliance. However, any breach of the provisions under the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902 or the Provisional Regulation could potentially result in disciplinary action or other consequences as prescribed by the relevant laws and regulations. This may include investigations, fines, or other civil or criminal penalties as determined by the appropriate authorities. It is important for all parties governed by this Regulation to adhere to the prescribed limits and requirements to avoid any potential consequences.