Maternity Allowance Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1931L00092 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1931. No. 92

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE MATERNITY ALLOWANCE ACT 1912–1931.

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 Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931, to come into operation on the 20th July, 1931.

Dated this twenty-fourth day of July, 1931.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

for Treasurer.

 

Amendment of Maternity Allowance Regulations.

(Statutory Rules 1926, No. 172.)

1. Form A of the Maternity Allowance Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the words “Before this Form is filled in, the notes on the back hereof should be read carefully.”;

(b) by inserting, after the word “Pacific”, the following paragraph:—

“During the period of twelve months preceding the date of this claim, the income of myself and my husband from all sources amounted to £              . *”;

(c) by omitting the words” Five pounds” and inserting in their stead the words “Four pounds”;

(d) by inserting, after the word “Occupation” (third occurring), the following paragraphs:—

“*In the case of a posthumous or ex-nuptial child, the total income of the claimant only for the twelve months preceding the date of the claim is to be shown.

“Any person who makes or presents to the Commissioner or to any officer any statement or document which is false in any particular is liable to a penalty of One hundred pounds or imprisonment for one year.”; and

(e) by omitting the Notes on the back thereof.

2. Form B of the Maternity Allowance Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the words “Before this Form is filled in, the Notes on the back hereof should be read carefully.”;

(b) by inserting, after the word “Pacific”, the following paragraph:—

“During the period of twelve months preceding the date of the birth of the child, the income of myself and my husband from all sources amounted to £                            .*”;

2094.—Price 3d.


(c) by inserting, after the word “Occupation” the following paragraphs:—

“*In the case of a posthumous or ex-nuptial child, the total income of the claimant only for the twelve months preceding the date of the birth is to be shown.

“Any person who makes or presents to the Commissioner or to any officer any statement or document which is false in any particular is liable to a penalty of One hundred pounds or imprisonment for one year”; and

(d) by omitting the Notes on the back thereof.

3. After Form D of the Maternity Allowance Regulations the following Forms are inserted:—

“Commonwealth of Australia. Form E.

Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931.

To...........................

................................

.................................

With reference to your claim for a maternity allowance will you please furnish the following information regarding the income of yourself and your husband from all sources during the twelve months preceding the *birth of your child/*date of your claim

Your attention is invited to Section 7a of the Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931 which reads:—

“(1.) The Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner may cause to be made such investigations as appear to him to be desirable in order to ascertain the circumstances of any claimant or her husband and the truth of the statements contained in the claim, and may require any person, whom he believes to be in a position to do so, to furnish to him a confidential report as to the income of the claimant or her husband.

“(2.) Any person who, on being required under this section to furnish a report, fails to furnish the report within a reasonable time, or furnishes a report containing any statement which is untrue in any particular, shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Ten pounds, or imprisonment for one month.”

...............................

Deputy Commissioner of Maternity Allowances.

Date....................

Question.

Answers.

Information is required concerning

both Husband and Wife.

Claimant.

Husband of Claimant.

Do you conduct a shop or business of any kind or have you an interest in any shop or business?

 

 

If so, what was the nature thereof and what profit did you receive during the twelve months preceding the—

 

 

* birth of your child ?..........................

* date of your claim ?..........................

* Strike out which is inapplicable.


Question.

Answers.

Information is required concerning both Husband and Wife.

Claimant.

Husband of Claimant.

State the names of all persons by whom you were employed during the twelve months preceding the—

 

 

* birth of your child?............................

* date of your claim?............................

How much did you receive from each employer during the twelve months preceding the—

 

 

* birth of your child?............................

* date of your claim?............................

What other income did you receive during the twelve months preceding the—

 

 

* birth of your child?............................

* date of your claim?............................

Give full particulars.

(Reply should include rents, after deduction of repairs, &c, dividends from banks or companies, interest on money lent or in banks, war pension, and any other income).

* Strike out which is inapplicable.

I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief the answers to the above questions are true and correct in every particular.

..................................

Signature of claimant.

Date....................

.....................................

Signature of claimant’s husband.

Date...................

 

Commonwealth of Australia. Form F.

Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931.

Full name of claimant.................................

Address of claimant...................................

Section 7a of the Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931 reads: —

“(1.) The Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner may cause to be made such investigations as appear to him to be desirable in order to ascertain the circumstances of any claimant or her husband and the truth of the statements contained in the claim, and may require any person, whom he believes to be in a position to do so, to furnish to him a confidential report as to the income of the claimant or her husband.

“(2.) Any person who, on being required under this section to furnish a report, fails to furnish the report within a reasonable time, or furnishes a report containing any statement which is untrue in any particular, shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Ten pounds, or imprisonment for one month.”

To........................

....................

........................

With regard to the maternity allowance claim of the above-named, will you be so good as to inform me as follows: —

It is requested that the replies be written hereunder—

.......................

Deputy Commissioner of Maternity Allowances.

Date....................

From............................................

To the Deputy Commissioner of Maternity Allowances.......................

Signature.........................

Date..................

 

By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Maternity Allowance Regulations 1931 were enacted to amend the existing regulations under the Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931. The Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931 was designed to provide financial assistance to women who were unable to work due to pregnancy or childbirth, thereby addressing a gap in support for new mothers during that period. The regulations were introduced by the Governor-General in Council, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and came into operation on 20 July 1931. The primary objective of these amendments was to update the income verification processes and forms to ensure accurate assessment of the financial circumstances of claimants, which is essential for determining their eligibility for the maternity allowance.

Scope and Application

The Maternity Allowance Regulations, 1931, as amended by Statutory Rules 1931, No. 92, pertain to the administration of maternity allowance claims under the Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931. These regulations apply to individuals claiming maternity allowance, their spouses, and any person required to provide a statement or report regarding the income of a claimant or their spouse. The regulations govern the form and content of income declarations, the penalties for providing false information, and the authority of the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner to investigate claims. They also introduce new forms for income declaration and establish penalties for non-compliance with reporting requirements. The regulations extend across the Commonwealth of Australia, with no specific exclusions noted, and may be further defined or amended through subordinate instruments issued under the authority of the Act.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these regulations concern the amendment of existing forms used for maternity allowance claims under the Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931. Specifically, Section 1 amends Form A, which pertains to claims for maternity allowance. The amendments include the omission of the instruction to read the notes on the back of the form before filling it out and the insertion of a new paragraph requiring the claimant to disclose the income from all sources of both the claimant and her husband for the twelve months preceding the claim. Additionally, the monetary amount in the regulation is updated from five pounds to four pounds. Similar amendments are made to Form B, which deals with claims related to the birth of a child (Section 2). These forms also include a new requirement for the claimant to provide information about their income over the twelve months preceding the birth or the date of the claim, depending on the context. The obligations imposed by these regulations on claimants are primarily related to the accurate and truthful disclosure of their income. Claimants must fill out the amended forms, providing specific details about their income and that of their husbands for the period specified. The regulations also mandate that in cases involving posthumous or ex-nuptial children, only the claimant’s income must be disclosed. There is a clear requirement for claimants to declare that the provided information is true and correct. Furthermore, these regulations require claimants to sign and date the forms, attesting to the accuracy of the information. There are significant consequences for providing false information under these regulations. Any person who makes or presents a statement or document that is false in any particular is liable to a penalty of one hundred pounds or imprisonment for one year. This is explicitly stated in both amended forms. Additionally, Section 7a of the Maternity Allowance Act 1912–1931 imposes a penalty of ten pounds or imprisonment for one month on any person who fails to furnish a report within a reasonable time or who furnishes a report containing an untrue statement. These penalties underscore the importance of accuracy and compliance with the regulations.

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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.