Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 79, made under the Public Service Act 1922-1968, were enacted to amend the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations. These regulations address the need to adjust the hours of duty and salary scales for certain officers within the Parliamentary Library, the Joint House Department, and the House of Representatives. The enacting body for these regulations is the Governor-General, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, on the recommendation of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The amendments aim to ensure that specific roles within these departments have appropriate duty hours and remuneration, reflecting their roles and responsibilities.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 79, which are regulations under the Public Service Act 1922-1968, primarily apply to officers of the Parliamentary Library, the Joint House Department, and the House of Representatives, with specific amendments made to the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations. These amendments modify the hours of duty and the salary scales for certain officers within these departments, excluding those in specific roles such as Principal Librarian in the Legislative Reference Service, Legislative Research Specialists, Grade 3 and Grade 5, and Senior Executive Officers in the Executive Branch. The regulations adjust the duty hours to reflect the changes in responsibilities and roles within these parliamentary offices. Additionally, the salary scales have been updated to reflect current remuneration standards, affecting the remuneration of various attendant positions. The amendments are designed to ensure that the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations remain current and accurately reflect the roles and responsibilities of officers within these parliamentary departments. These regulations have a national reach, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, and are integral to the administration and operation of the federal parliamentary system.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of these Regulations under the Public Service Act 1922-1968 focus on amending the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations. Regulation 8 and 8a specifically address the hours of duty for certain officers within the Parliamentary Library, the Joint House Department, and the House of Representatives, with specific exemptions for certain roles such as the Principal Librarian in the Legislative Reference Service, Legislative Research Specialists, and Senior Executive Officers in the Executive Branch (Regs 1 & 2). Additionally, the Second Schedule is amended to revise the pay scale for various attendant positions, including Principal Attendant, Deputy Principal Attendant, and Attendants of different grades (Reg 3(1) to 4(1)). The Regulations impose specific obligations and requirements on the relevant officers and entities, particularly those within the Parliamentary Library, the Joint House Department, and the House of Representatives. Officers who fall outside the specified exemptions must adhere to the amended hours of duty provisions. Furthermore, the amendments to the Second Schedule establish new pay scales for various attendant positions, thereby affecting their remuneration and employment conditions. While the Regulations themselves do not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, breaches of the Public Service Act 1922-1968 or associated regulations could lead to disciplinary actions. Such actions might include formal reprimands, fines, or other administrative measures imposed by the relevant authorities. However, specific maximum penalties would need to be referenced in the main Act or any related legislation that addresses non-compliance with public service regulations. These Regulations aim to provide a more structured and defined framework for the hours of duty and remuneration of specific officers within the parliamentary and joint house departments. By amending the existing Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations, the changes seek to ensure clarity and fairness in the roles and responsibilities of these officers, as well as their compensation. The adjustments to the pay scales in the Second Schedule also reflect efforts to update and align the remuneration with current standards and expectations.