Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1965 No. 150, enacted under the Public Service Act 1922-1964, was introduced to amend the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations. The purpose of this legislation was to address the need for updating the remuneration of certain parliamentary officers. This regulation was made by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, 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 policy objective was to ensure that the compensation for parliamentary officers was reviewed and adjusted appropriately to reflect current economic conditions and the responsibilities associated with their roles. This amendment involved the omission of existing remuneration rates for attendants and readers, replacing them with new specified amounts.

Scope and Application

The regulation under the Public Service Act 1922-1964, specifically amending the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations, applies to the remuneration of certain officers within the Australian Parliament. This includes the Attendant and Reader, as well as Attendants, whose salaries are adjusted as outlined in the amendment. The regulation pertains to the Commonwealth level, impacting federal parliamentary officers, and does not explicitly mention exclusions or exemptions. The adjustment of salaries is a direct alteration to the Schedule of the existing regulations, providing new salary brackets for the specified roles, and does not extend its application through subordinate instruments. The regulation's enactment is a statutory rule, formalised by the Governor-General with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and recommendations from the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, indicating its binding authority under federal law.

Key Provisions

The Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations Amendment (1965) Statutory Rules 1965 No. 150 modifies the existing Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations, specifically by amending the remuneration of certain positions. Under the amendment, the remuneration for an Attendant and Reader, as well as for an Attendant, is adjusted as per the new figures provided in the Schedule (section 1). These figures reflect the salary scales that are to be applicable from the date of the regulation coming into effect. The amended regulations impose specific salary ranges on the roles of Attendant and Reader, as well as on Attendants. For an Attendant and Reader, the salary range is set between £1,255 and £1,295, while for an Attendant, the salary range is set between £925 and £1,015, with increments of £30 at each step (section 1). These remuneration adjustments are intended to reflect changes in the economic conditions and the cost of living. Failure to comply with the remuneration provisions set out in the amended regulations could result in legal consequences for both the employees and the employers. Employees may not be entitled to their adjusted salaries if the terms are not met, while employers may face penalties or legal action if they fail to adhere to the specified remuneration scales. The precise nature and extent of these consequences are not detailed in the regulation but could include civil liability or administrative penalties under the relevant public service laws. The regulation does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties within its text; however, breaches of public service regulations generally attract penalties under the overarching Public Service Act 1922-1964. These penalties could include fines, corrective measures, or disciplinary action against the offending parties. The maximum penalties would be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Act and any relevant administrative guidelines or case law.