PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ACT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REGULATIONS
Statutory Rules 1972 No. 69(a)
Travelling allowance, &c., to members.
1. Regulation 6 of the Public Accounts Committee Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “Fifteen dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Twenty-two dollars”;
(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “Fifteen dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Twenty-two dollars”;
(c) by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the words “Twenty-one dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Twenty-five dollars”; and
(d) by omitting from sub-regulation (4.) the words “Twenty-one dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Twenty-five dollars”.
Application.
2. The rates specified in regulation 6 of the Public Accounts Committee Regulations as amended by the last preceding regulation apply to travelling allowance paid or payable in respect of the twenty-seventh day of April, 1972, or any subsequent day.
(a) Made under the Public Accounts Committee Act 1951-1966 on 11 May 1972; notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 18 May 1972.
Overview
The Public Accounts Committee Act, enacted in 1951 and amended in 1966, was established by the Commonwealth Parliament to address the need for an effective oversight mechanism over the Commonwealth's financial management and expenditure. The Act created the Public Accounts Committee, which was tasked with examining the Auditor-General's reports and other matters related to public accounts and expenditure to ensure accountability and transparency in government spending. This legislative instrument, which amends the Public Accounts Committee Regulations 1972, seeks to adjust the travelling allowances payable to members of the committee, reflecting the policy objective of maintaining appropriate compensation for the committee members’ duties. The regulations were made under the authority of the Public Accounts Committee Act to ensure the committee can function effectively in its role of scrutinising public expenditure.
Scope and Application
The Public Accounts Committee Act applies to the members of the Public Accounts Committee, ensuring that they have a regulated allowance for travel expenses associated with their duties. The Act is a Commonwealth legislation and therefore operates nationally across Australia. The specific amendments to the Public Accounts Committee Regulations, such as the adjustments to daily travelling allowances, ensure that these allowances are updated to reflect changes in economic conditions or cost of living. Notably, the regulations establish specific financial thresholds for allowances, which apply from the 27th of April, 1972, onwards. The Act does not specify exclusions or exemptions but rather provides a clear framework for the allowances given to committee members, which are extended through subordinate instruments like the Public Accounts Committee Regulations.
Key Provisions
The Public Accounts Committee Regulations, as amended by the Legislative instrument F1997B02098, make specific changes to the travelling allowance for members of the Public Accounts Committee. Under regulation 6, the allowances are adjusted to increase the daily rate from fifteen dollars to twenty-two dollars for certain categories, and from twenty-one dollars to twenty-five dollars for others (Regulation 1(a)-(d)). These new rates apply to travel allowances paid on or after the twenty-seventh day of April, 1972 (Regulation 2).
These amendments impose updated financial obligations on the government to compensate committee members for their travel expenses at the newly specified rates. The requirement is that any travel allowance paid from the effective date must reflect these adjusted amounts. The new rates are intended to ensure that the allowances keep pace with inflation and changes in the cost of living, thereby maintaining the adequacy of the compensation for committee members’ travel-related expenses.
Failure to comply with the new rates as stipulated could result in legal consequences. Although the legislation does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, under the Public Accounts Committee Act 1951-1966, there could be implications for misapplying public funds or not adhering to prescribed allowances. Such breaches might be viewed as mismanagement of public resources, potentially leading to disciplinary actions against those responsible for the oversight of these allowances. The seriousness of the offence could also result in civil or criminal proceedings, depending on the context and extent of the breach.