High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1971L00081 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES

1971 No. 81

REGULATIONS UNDER THE HIGH COMMISSIONER (UNITED KINGDOM) ACT 1909-1966.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the High Commissioner (United Kingdom) Act 1909-1966.

Dated this twenty-fourth day of June, 1971.

Paul Hasluck

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Amendments of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations

Interpretation.

1. Regulation 4 of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the word “sterling” and inserting in its stead the words “the currency of the United Kingdom provided for by the Decimal Currency Act 1967 of the United Kingdom”.

Deputy High Commissioners.

2. Regulation 4a of the High Commissioner (Staffi Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (5.) the words “Fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty-three dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Fifteen thousand one hundred and eight dollars”.

Overtime.

3. Regulation 28 of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (6.) the word “penny” and inserting in its stead the words “new penny”.

Shift duty payment.

4. Regulation 34 of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1.) the words “Ten shillings” and inserting in their stead the words “Fifty new pence”; and

(b) by omitting from paragraph (b) of that sub-regulation the words “Six shillings and sixpence” and inserting in their stead the words “Thirty-two and a half new pence”.

Travelling allowance.

5. Regulation 35 of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1.) the words “Six pounds ten shillings” and inserting in their stead the words “Six pounds fifty new pence”.

Taxi or motor fares.

6. Regulation 39 of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “Ten shillings” and inserting in their stead the words “One pound”.

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1 July 1971.

† Statutory Rules 1960, No. 67, as amended by Statutory Rules 1965. No. 87; 1966, No. 76; 1967, Nos. 29 and 79; 1698, Nos. 21, 103, 123 and 164; 1969, Nos. 74, 150 and 192; and 1970, Nos. 91, 146, 215 and 216.

13199/71—Price 5c 10/10.5.1971


Meal allowance.

7. Regulation 40 of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “Thirteen shillings and sixpence” and inserting in their stead the words “Sixty-seven and a half new pence”.

Fourth Schedule.

8. The Fourth Schedule to the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations is amended by omitting the word and figures—

“Photoprinter.................................

860-890-920-950-580-1,010-1,040-
1,070-1,105”

and inserting in their stead the word and figures—

“Photoprinter.................................

980-1,010-1,040-1,070-1,105”.

Application.

9. The rate of salary specified in sub-regulation (5.) of regulation 4a of the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations as amended by these Regulations applies in relation to service, on and after the fourteenth day of January, 1971, of a Deputy High Commissioner, not being a Deputy High Commissioner to whom sub-regulation (4.) of that regulation applies.

Supplementary allowance.

10. Where, during the year that commenced on the first day of January, 1970, or a part of that year, an officer or employee occupied, or performed the duties of, an office set out in column 1 of the table in this regulation, the officer or employee shall, by force of this regulation, be paid an allowance of an amount that would result in his total remuneration (including any supplementary allowance paid or payable to him by force of sub-regulation (1.) of regulation 2 of Statutory Rules 1970, No. 146 or regulation 4 of Statutory Rules 1970, No. 215) being not less than the total remuneration that would have been payable to the officer or employee in respect of that year or that part of that year if during that year or that part of that year—

(a) the classification of that office had been the scale of rates specified in column 2 of the table in this regulation opposite to that office in column 1 of that table; and

(b) that scale of rates had been specified in column 2 of the Fourth Schedule to the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations opposite to that office in column 1 of that Schedule.

Column 1

Column 2

Office

Scales of Rates of Annual Salary

 

£

Supervisor (Typing).................

1,205-1,250-1,295-1,340

Machinist........................

990-1,025-1,060-1,095-1,130-1,165-1,200-1,235-1,275

Photoprinter......................

860-890-920-950-980-1,010-1,040-1,070-1,105

Telephonist.......................

805-835-865-895-925-955

Printed by Authority by the Government Printer of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Overview

Statutory Rules 1971 No. 81, enacted under the High Commissioner (United Kingdom) Act 1909-1966, addresses the need to update the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations in light of the decimal currency reforms introduced by the Decimal Currency Act 1967. The Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, issued these regulations to align staff compensation and allowances with the new currency system. This legislative instrument ensures that the remuneration for various positions, including Deputy High Commissioners, overtime, shift duty payments, travel allowances, taxi or motor fares, meal allowances, and supplementary allowances, reflects the changes brought about by the decimalisation of the United Kingdom's currency. By making these amendments, the regulations maintain the integrity and fairness of the compensation framework for staff of the High Commissioner's office in the United Kingdom.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1971 No. 81, made under the High Commissioner (United Kingdom) Act 1909-1966, amend the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations to update various monetary references following the decimalisation of the United Kingdom currency. These amendments apply to the staff of the Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom, affecting their salary scales, overtime payments, shift duty payments, travelling allowances, meal allowances, taxi or motor fares, and supplementary allowances. The changes ensure that all financial aspects of the staff’s remuneration are aligned with the new currency values as per the Decimal Currency Act 1967 of the United Kingdom. The regulations impact the Deputy High Commissioner's salary and other staff members’ remuneration for services rendered on or after 14 January 1971. Additionally, supplementary allowances are adjusted for certain office holders to maintain their total remuneration in line with new salary scales.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these Regulations amend the High Commissioner (Staff) Regulations, which pertain to the staff of the Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom. Regulation 4 has been amended to replace references to the term "sterling" with "the currency of the United Kingdom provided for by the Decimal Currency Act 1967 of the United Kingdom" (section 1). This change aligns the Regulations with the decimal currency system implemented in the UK. Regulation 4a has been updated to change the salary of Deputy High Commissioners from Fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty-three dollars to Fifteen thousand one hundred and eight dollars (section 2). Regulation 28 has been amended to replace "penny" with "new penny" in the context of overtime pay (section 3). Further amendments involve updating monetary values to reflect the new currency: Regulation 34 changes the shift duty payment from Ten shillings to Fifty new pence, and from Six shillings and sixpence to Thirty-two and a half new pence (section 4). Regulation 35 updates the travelling allowance from Six pounds ten shillings to Six pounds fifty new pence (section 5). Regulation 39 changes the taxi or motor fares from Ten shillings to One pound (section 6). Regulation 40 updates the meal allowance from Thirteen shillings and sixpence to Sixty-seven and a half new pence (section 7). Additionally, the Fourth Schedule has been amended to reflect new salary figures for the position of Photoprinter (section 8). These Regulations impose obligations on the Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom to ensure that staff salaries and allowances are updated in accordance with the changes to the UK currency. The High Commissioner must ensure that all affected staff members are compensated correctly, as per the new rates outlined in the amended Regulations. The amendments also require the High Commissioner to review and adjust any relevant documentation, such as pay slips and contracts, to reflect these changes. Any failure to comply with these Regulations may result in legal consequences. While specific penalties are not detailed within the text of these Regulations, breaches of employment-related laws in Australia can typically result in financial penalties, legal action, or both, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The High Commissioner is expected to ensure adherence to these changes to avoid any potential legal or financial repercussions.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.