Naval Establishments Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1967 No. 97, made under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1966, were introduced to amend the Naval Establishments Regulations. Enacted by the Governor-General in and with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations primarily address the need to update the scales of rates of annual salaries for certain positions within the naval establishment. The problem these regulations seek to resolve includes ensuring that compensation for specific roles, such as Senior Sisters, Sisters (Industrial), Civilian Medical Officers, and various Inspectors, is fair and reflective of current economic conditions. By revising the salary scales, the regulations aim to align compensation with contemporary standards, thereby addressing any gaps in the remuneration for these critical roles within the naval framework. The policy objective is to maintain an adequately compensated and motivated workforce, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of naval operations.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1967 No. 97, made under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1966, primarily pertain to the amendment of the Naval Establishments Regulations, specifically addressing the rates of pay for certain positions within the naval establishments in the states of Victoria and New South Wales. The Act applies to individuals holding positions such as Senior Sisters, Sisters (Industrial), Civilian Medical Officers, and various inspecting officers within the naval establishments, ensuring they receive updated salary scales. This legislation applies on a national level across Australia, with specific reference to the states of Victoria and New South Wales. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in these Regulations. The application of the Act may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, but this particular legislative instrument focuses on the outlined amendments to the Naval Establishments Regulations.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1967 No. 97, made under the Naval Defence Act 1910-1966, revise the rates of pay for certain civilian staff positions within the Navy. Specifically, Regulation 43a of the Naval Establishments Regulations is amended to update the pay scales for senior sisters and sisters (industrial) in the states of Victoria and New South Wales, effective from 2 February 1967 (Regulation 1). Similarly, the Third Schedule to the Naval Establishments Regulations is amended to update the pay scales for civilian medical officers, inspectors (stores), and senior inspectors (stores), effective from 8 December 1966 and 18 January 1967, depending on the position (Regulation 2). These changes are detailed in the table and items inserted into the regulations, which outline the new salary scales. The Regulations impose obligations on the parties governed by them, primarily ensuring that civilian staff members receive the updated rates of pay as specified in the new schedules. For instance, civilian medical officers and other specified positions must now be compensated according to the revised salary scales provided. Additionally, any person who occupied a position of Civilian Medical Officer between 24 November 1966 and 7 December 1966 is entitled to additional salary for that period, calculated based on the difference between the old and new pay scales (Regulation 2(4)). This ensures that the amendments are retroactively applied where necessary. The Statutory Rules do not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of these regulations. However, it is reasonable to infer that failure to comply with these regulations could lead to legal consequences under the overarching Naval Defence Act 1910-1966 or other relevant laws. Penalties and consequences would typically be determined by the courts based on the nature and severity of the breach, potentially including fines, compensation, or other civil and criminal penalties as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities.