National Health Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1973 No. 31, enacted under the National Health Act 1953-1972, were introduced to address administrative and procedural adjustments in the National Health Regulations. These regulations were made by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and aim to amend the fees and allowances for members of committees. Specifically, this legislative instrument modifies Regulation 23, increasing the allowance for committee members from twenty-one dollars to twenty-five dollars. This change applies to any travelling allowance paid or payable to the Chairman or a member of a committee on or after 24 January 1972. The policy objective is to ensure that the compensation for committee members adequately reflects their responsibilities and the associated costs.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1973 No. 1972, made under the National Health Act 1953-1972, primarily concern amendments to the fees and allowances for members of committees within the national health framework. These regulations specifically address the adjustment of the travelling allowance for the Chairman and members of such committees, increasing the allowance from twenty-one dollars to twenty-five dollars, effective from the twenty-fourth day of January, 1972, or any subsequent day. The application of these rates is limited to the specific context of travelling allowances paid or payable to committee members as detailed in the amended sub-regulation. The regulations apply to individuals who are members of committees established under the National Health Act, and they operate within the jurisdictional scope of the Commonwealth of Australia, thereby affecting entities and individuals involved in national health governance and administration. This legislative instrument does not introduce any exclusions or exemptions beyond the specific changes to the allowance rates, and it extends its application as stipulated within the amended regulations.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of these regulations pertain to the amendment of the National Health Regulations, specifically Regulation 23. Regulation 23, which governs fees and allowances for members of committees, is amended to increase the specified amount from twenty-one dollars to twenty-five dollars. This change applies to the travelling allowance paid to the Chairman or a member of a Committee from 24 January 1972 onwards. The amendment seeks to reflect an updated compensation structure for committee members involved in national health activities. The obligations imposed by these regulations are primarily on the parties responsible for paying the amended allowances. These parties must now adhere to the new rates set forth in the regulations. Specifically, they are required to pay a travelling allowance of twenty-five dollars instead of twenty-one dollars, effective from the date mentioned in the regulations. This obligation extends to any payments made on or after 24 January 1972 to the Chairman or any member of a committee involved in national health activities. Breach of these regulations could lead to financial discrepancies and non-compliance issues. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the provided text, it is likely that failure to adhere to the mandated rates could result in administrative penalties, fines, or other civil consequences under the overarching National Health Act 1953-1972. The maximum penalties for such breaches would depend on the specific provisions of the Act, but they could potentially include fines or other sanctions to ensure compliance with the legislative requirements.