Public Service Amendment Act 1983

Administered by Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Legislation au C2004A02773 Not in force Act

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Public Service Amendment Act 1983

No. 56 of 1983

 

An Act to amend the Public Service Act 1922

[Assented to 7 October 1983]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

Short title, &c.

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Public Service Amendment Act 1983.

(2) The Public Service Act 19221 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

Commencement

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Interpretation

3. Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-sections:

(3) Where, immediately before the commencement of this sub-section—

(a) an office existed in a branch or part of the Service, being a branch or


part of the Service in a Department of the Service referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of Department in sub-section (1); and

(b) in relation to that branch or part of the Service a person other than the Permanent Head of that Department had, under this Act or another Act, the powers of, or exercisable by, a Permanent Head,

the office is, by force of this sub-section, transferred from the Department of the Service referred to in paragraph (a) of this sub-section to the Department that, by virtue of paragraph (b) of the definition of Department in sub-section (1), is constituted by that branch or part of the Service and this Act has effect as if the office had been duly created in that last-mentioned Department.

(4) A reference in any law of the Commonwealth or law of a Territory, or in any regulation or other instrument made or issued under such a law, to the holder for the time being, or to the person for the time being performing the duties, of an office, being an office that has been transferred from one Department to another Department by virtue of sub-section (3), shall, except in relation to matters that occurred before the commencement of this sub-section, be construed as a reference to the holder for the time being, or to the person for the time being performing the duties, of the office as it exists in the Department to which it has been so transferred..

Temporary employment

4. Section 82 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting after sub-section (2) the following sub-section:

(2a) Notwithstanding sub-sections (1) and (2), where it is proposed that employment be offered in a Department pursuant to—

(a) a project approved under section 4 of the Community Employment Act 1983;

(b) the program known as the National Employment Strategy for Aboriginals; or

(c) the program known as the Commonwealth Work Experience Program,

a Chief Officer of that Department may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, employ in that Department persons selected by the Board for the purposes of the project or program, as the case may be, from persons referred to that Department or to the Board by the Commonwealth Employment Service.; and

(b) by omitting from sub-section (3) Any such persons and substituting Persons who are temporarily employed.


NOTE

1. No. 21, 1922, as amended. For previous amendments, see No. 46, 1924; No. 41, 1928; No. 19, 1930; No. 21, 1931; No. 72, 1932; No. 38, 1933; Nos. 45 and 46, 1934; No. 72, 1936; No. 41, 1937; No. 72, 1939; No. 88, 1940; No. 5, 1941; No. 19, 1943; Nos. 11, 29 and 43, 1945; No. 16, 1946; Nos. 1, 38, 52 and 84, 1947; Nos. 35 and 75, 1948; Nos. 51 and 80, 1950; Nos. 46 and 48, 1951; No. 22, 1953; No. 63, 1954; No. 18, 1955; Nos. 13 and 39, 1957; No. 11, 1958; Nos. 17 and 105, 1960; Nos. 2 and 75, 1964; Nos. 47 and 85, 1966; Nos. 2 and 115, 1967; Nos. 59, 114 and 120, 1968; No. 6, 1972; Nos. 21, 71, 73 and 209, 1973; No. 59, 1974; No. 40, 1975; Nos. 193 and 194, 1976; Nos. 6 and 80, 1977; Nos. 36 and 170, 1978; Nos. 52 and 155, 1979; No. 177, 1980; No. 61, 1981; Nos. 26, 80 and 111, 1982; and No. 39, 1983.

Overview

The Public Service Amendment Act 1983 (No. 56 of 1983) was enacted to make amendments to the Public Service Act 1922, addressing issues related to the transfer of offices within the public service and the provision of temporary employment opportunities in specific contexts. This Act was passed by the Queen, in accordance with the authority of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary objective of this Act is to ensure that offices within the public service are correctly aligned with the relevant Department, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public service administration. Furthermore, the Act aims to facilitate temporary employment opportunities in the public service through projects and programs, such as the Community Employment Act 1983, the National Employment Strategy for Aboriginals, and the Commonwealth Work Experience Program. The Public Service Amendment Act 1983 was designed to address the need for streamlining the public service by ensuring that offices are appropriately assigned to the relevant Departments, thereby avoiding confusion and enhancing administrative efficiency. Additionally, the Act aimed to provide flexibility in the public service by allowing for the temporary employment of individuals through specific projects and programs, thereby addressing unemployment and providing valuable work experience. The amendments introduced by this Act reflect a commitment to improving the public service structure and enhancing employment opportunities within the public sector.

Scope and Application

The Public Service Amendment Act 1983 applies to the Australian public service, specifically to offices, positions, and persons within the Commonwealth’s Departments as defined by the Public Service Act 1922. It encompasses the transfer of offices from one department to another, thereby altering the structure and responsibilities within the public service. The Act also pertains to the temporary employment of individuals under specific programs such as the Community Employment Act 1983, the National Employment Strategy for Aboriginals, and the Commonwealth Work Experience Program. The Act operates on a national level, extending its reach across the Commonwealth of Australia, and it does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions beyond what is outlined in its provisions. Subordinate instruments may further extend or restrict the application of this Act, providing additional regulations or clarifications as necessary.

Key Provisions

The Public Service Amendment Act 1983 (section 1) amends the Public Service Act 1922, and it received Royal Assent on 7 October 1983. Section 3 of the Act introduces new definitions and amendments to the Principal Act, specifically affecting the transfer of offices within departments of the public service. This amendment ensures that offices which were previously under the purview of a particular department, but whose powers were exercised by someone other than the Permanent Head of that department, are transferred to the department that would naturally have those powers. This change ensures clarity and legal consistency regarding the jurisdiction of offices within the public service (section 3(3) and (4)). The obligations imposed by the Act include ensuring that any references to the holder of an office in existing laws, regulations, or instruments are updated to reflect the new department to which the office has been transferred. This is to maintain legal accuracy and avoid confusion or disputes arising from outdated references (section 3(4)). Furthermore, section 4 of the Act modifies the employment provisions in the Principal Act, allowing for the temporary employment of individuals under specific conditions. Temporary employment can be offered in a department if it is related to a project approved under the Community Employment Act 1983, the National Employment Strategy for Aboriginals, or the Commonwealth Work Experience Program. In such cases, a Chief Officer of the department can employ individuals selected by the Board for these projects or programs (section 4(2a)). The Act also updates the reference in section 82(3) to ensure that the rights and obligations of temporarily employed persons are correctly identified (section 4(b)). Breaches of the provisions in the Public Service Amendment Act 1983 can lead to various civil or administrative consequences. For example, if the obligations regarding the transfer of offices are not met, it could result in legal disputes over jurisdiction and authority within the public service. Additionally, failure to update references to offices as required by section 3(4) could lead to confusion and potential litigation. In terms of temporary employment, not adhering to the conditions set out in section 4 could result in the employment being deemed invalid, potentially leading to claims for wrongful termination or compensation from the affected individuals. The Act does not explicitly state maximum penalties for breaches, but any resulting legal actions or disputes would be subject to the standard penalties and consequences under Australian law.

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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.