STATUTORY RULES
1970 No. 70
REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953-1969.*
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 National Health Act 1953-1969.
Dated this twentieth day of May,1970.
Paul Hasluck
Governor General,
By His Excellency’s Command,
Minister of State for Health.
Amendment of the National Health Regulations†
Fees and allowances to members of Committees.
1. Regulation 23 of the National Health Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (3.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—
“(3.) The Chairman or a member of a Committee who is necessarily absent from his home overnight in connexion with his attendance at a meeting of the Committee shall be paid travelling allowance, in respect of his absence—
(a) if the period of absence is a complete day or longer—
(i) at the daily rate of Twenty-one dollars for each complete day in the period of absence; and
(ii) at an hourly rate that is one-twenty-fourth part of the daily rate set out in the last preceding sub-paragraph for each hour, or part of an hour, in the remainder (if any) of the period of absence; or
(b) if the period of absence is less than a complete day—at an hourly rate that is one-twenty-fourth part of the daily rate set out in sub-paragraph (i) of the last preceding paragraph for each hour, or part of an hour, in the period of absence.”.
Application.
2. The amendment of the National Health Regulations effected by the last preceding regulation applies in relation to a period of absence that commenced on the fourteenth day of February, 1969, or any subsequent day.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 28 May 1970.
† Statutory Rules 1954, No. 35, as amended by Statutory Rules 1957, No. 71: 1958, No. 63: 1962, Nos. 55, 70 and 113; 1965, Nos. 17, 94 and 185; 1966, No. 99; 1967, No. 86; and 1969, Nos. 91 and 220.
Printed by Authority by the Government Printer of the Commonwealth of Australia
15149/70—Price 5c 10/6.5.1970
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 70, enacted under the National Health Act 1953-1969, introduce amendments to the National Health Regulations, specifically addressing the payment of fees and allowances to members of Committees within the National Health framework. The amendments were made to provide a clearer and more comprehensive structure for compensating committee members for their time and travel expenses incurred during meetings. The regulations were introduced by the Governor-General, Paul Hasluck, on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, with the intent to ensure that committee members are fairly compensated for their contributions and attendance at meetings. The amendment applies to periods of absence commencing from the fourteenth day of February, 1969, and beyond, reflecting a commitment to update and refine the administrative practices within the health sector.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 70 amends the National Health Regulations under the National Health Act 1953-1969, specifically revising the allowances for members of Committees who are required to travel for meetings. The amendments apply to instances where a Committee member's absence from home overnight is necessitated by their attendance at a meeting. The changes concern the travel allowances payable to the Chairman or a Committee member in such circumstances, setting out new rates for daily and hourly allowances based on the duration of their absence. These amendments extend to any period of absence that commenced on or after 14 February 1969. This regulation is part of a series of amendments to the National Health Regulations, which are administered by the Commonwealth and impact on health-related activities and personnel within Australia.
Key Provisions
The primary operative section of these Regulations (Regulation 23) amends the National Health Regulations by changing the method of calculating travel allowances for members of a Committee who are absent from their homes overnight due to their attendance at meetings (National Health Regulations, Regulation 23(3)). Specifically, it removes the previous method of calculating allowances and replaces it with a new method based on daily rates for complete days or longer absences, and hourly rates for absences less than a complete day. This change applies to absences commencing on or after February 14, 1969.
These Regulations impose obligations on the parties involved, particularly members of the Committee, to ensure they accurately calculate and claim their travel allowances in accordance with the amended provisions. The Regulations mandate that if a member is absent overnight for a Committee meeting, they must be compensated at the prescribed rates. The amendment also requires that all claims for allowances be substantiated with appropriate documentation detailing the period and nature of the absence.
Breach of these Regulations, particularly non-compliance with the new allowance calculation rules, could potentially lead to legal consequences. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not explicitly stated within the Regulations themselves, the overarching National Health Act 1953-1969 provides a framework under which such breaches could be prosecuted. This could include both civil and criminal penalties depending on the nature and severity of the breach. The Act generally allows for fines and other penalties which could be significant if the breach is deemed serious or repeated.