STATUTORY RULES.
1911. No. 7.
AMENDMENT OF LONDON ACCOUNT REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUDIT ACTS 1901-1906.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following amendment of the London Account Regulations under the Audit Acts 1901-1906 to come into operation forthwith. Such amendment shall supersede the Provisional Regulation (Statutory Rules 1910, No. 98) under the said Acts made on the 31st day of October, 1910.
Dated this thirty-first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and eleven.
DUDLEY,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
G. F. PEARCE,
for Treasurer.
Substitution of the following new clause in lieu of clause 30:—
Clause 30.—An advance of £200 may be made to the Paying Officer out of which he may pay duly certified accounts. The advance, which may be reduced or increased from time to time by the Treasurer, shall be paid into a Bank approved by the Treasurer. All cheques drawn on the account by the Paying Officer shall be countersigned by the Official Secretary. The provisions of these regulations in regard to payments from the Commonwealth London Bank Account shall also apply to payments from the Paying Officer’s Advance Account.
The Paying Officer may be given and may cash a cheque for £10 (or for such greater sum as may be approved by the Treasurer) for the purpose of paying petty expenses, and he may also be permitted by the Official Secretary to cash cheques drawn for payment of salaries and to pay the officers in cash.
Overview
The Statutory Rules of 1911, No. 7, represent an amendment to the London Account Regulations under the Audit Acts 1901-1906, enacted to address administrative deficiencies identified in the initial Provisional Regulation (Statutory Rules 1910, No. 98) made on October 31, 1910. This legislative instrument, issued by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, seeks to refine the financial management framework for the Commonwealth's London Account. The policy objective of these amendments is to ensure efficient and controlled financial transactions, thereby enhancing accountability and oversight within the specified account operations. The new regulation stipulates that an advance of £200 can be made to the Paying Officer for certified account payments, subject to adjustments by the Treasurer, and mandates that all cheques must be countersigned by the Official Secretary. Furthermore, it allows for petty expense payments up to £10, or a higher amount as approved by the Treasurer, and provides flexibility for salary payments and cash disbursements under certain conditions.
Scope and Application
This legislative instrument pertains to the amendment of the London Account Regulations under the Audit Acts 1901-1906, specifically addressing the financial procedures for the Paying Officer's advance account. It applies to the Paying Officer, who is responsible for the certified payments and petty expenses from the Commonwealth London Bank Account. The amendment introduces a new clause replacing the existing one to allow for adjustments in the advance amount by the Treasurer, subject to a set maximum for petty expenses and the requirement for countersignatures on cheques drawn by the Paying Officer. The regulations also extend to payments from the Paying Officer’s Advance Account, ensuring consistency with the Commonwealth London Bank Account provisions. The amendment applies nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, governing the financial conduct and transactions related to the Paying Officer’s duties. Any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are not explicitly stated in this particular legislative instrument, which focuses on the procedural changes for financial management and oversight.
Key Provisions
The principal operative section of this legislative instrument (C1911L00007) replaces clause 30 of the existing London Account Regulations under the Audit Acts 1901-1906. This new clause allows for an advance of £200 to be made to the Paying Officer, which can be adjusted by the Treasurer as needed. This advance is intended to be used for paying certified accounts and must be deposited in a bank approved by the Treasurer. Furthermore, the clause stipulates that all cheques issued by the Paying Officer must be countersigned by the Official Secretary, and the rules governing payments from the Commonwealth London Bank Account also apply to payments from the Paying Officer’s Advance Account (Clause 30).
The obligations imposed by this legislation are primarily administrative and financial in nature. The Treasurer has the authority to alter the amount of the advance to the Paying Officer. The Paying Officer must ensure that all cheques drawn on the account are countersigned by the Official Secretary, thereby adding a layer of oversight and accountability. Additionally, the Paying Officer is permitted to cash cheques for up to £10, or a greater sum as approved by the Treasurer, for petty expenses. They may also be authorised by the Official Secretary to cash cheques for paying salaries and to make payments in cash to officers. These obligations are intended to streamline and regulate the payment processes while ensuring proper checks and balances.
Violations of the provisions set out in this legislation can lead to various consequences. While the specific offences are not detailed in the text, breaches of financial regulations can typically result in civil or criminal penalties. The severity of these penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach. For instance, failing to follow the stipulated procedures for cheque issuance and countersigning could be seen as a dereliction of duty, potentially leading to disciplinary action against the Paying Officer or the Official Secretary. Additionally, unauthorised use of funds or mismanagement of the advance could result in financial penalties or criminal charges, depending on the circumstances and the discretion of the prosecuting authorities.