Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1966 No. 92, made under the Public Service Act 1922-1964, amends the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations to update allowances and payments for parliamentary officers. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, these regulations adjust meal and travel allowances, as well as overtime, Sunday duty, and holiday duty payments for parliamentary officers, reflecting changes in economic conditions and cost of living. The purpose of these amendments is to ensure that the remuneration of parliamentary officers remains commensurate with the demands of their roles and the prevailing economic environment.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1966 No. 92, made under the Public Service Act 1922-1964, pertain specifically to the amendments of the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations. These regulations govern the meal allowance, rate of travelling allowance, overtime, Sunday duty, and payment for duty on a holiday for officers within the Parliamentary Service. The amendments apply to officers who are part of the Parliamentary Service and whose service falls on or after the fourteenth day of February, 1966. These regulations are applicable on a national level, encompassing the entire Commonwealth of Australia, and are intended to update and adjust various allowances and rates for the specified officers to reflect changes in economic conditions or other relevant factors. The regulations do not explicitly state any exclusions, but their applicability is inherently limited to those within the scope of the Parliamentary Service as defined by the Public Service Act 1922-1964.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules 1966 No. 92, made under the Public Service Act 1922-1964, amend the Public Service (Parliamentary Officers) Regulations to update allowances and payments for Parliamentary Officers. Specifically, Regulation 55 is amended to increase meal allowances from $1.00 to $1.25 (sub-regulation 1). Additionally, Regulation 51 is amended to adjust the rates of travelling allowances based on the salary and location, with increased rates for both males and females in capital cities and other areas (sub-regulation 1). Furthermore, the maximum rate of travelling allowance is increased from $13.50 to $16.50 in Regulation 57 (sub-regulation 2). These amendments to the allowances and payments reflect changes in the cost of living and aim to provide more equitable compensation for Parliamentary Officers. The amended regulations impose specific obligations on Parliamentary Officers and their employers, primarily relating to the payment of meal, travelling, and overtime allowances. Officers must adhere to the updated rates specified in the regulations when claiming these allowances. Employers are required to ensure that these updated rates are correctly applied when processing claims and payments for Parliamentary Officers. The regulations specify the criteria for determining the applicable rates based on salary and location, ensuring that officers receive the correct compensation for their duties. Breaches of the regulations, including failure to apply the correct rates for meal, travelling, and overtime allowances, may result in penalties or consequences for the officers and their employers. Although the document does not explicitly outline the penalties, non-compliance could lead to financial discrepancies, potential audits, or other administrative actions to rectify the errors. Given that these are regulations under the Public Service Act, breaches might also attract further scrutiny from public service oversight bodies.