Statutory Rules
1979 No. 68
REGULATIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1922*
THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD, acting in pursuance and exercise of the authority conferred upon, it by the Public Service Act 1922, hereby makes, subject to the approval of the Governor-General, the following Regulations.
Dated this twenty-seventh day of April 1979.
Chairman.
Commissioner
Commissioner
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby approve the following Regulations.
Dated this first day of May 1979.
ZELMAN COWEN
Governor-General
By His Excellency’s Command,
Prime Minister
* Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 May 1979
11831/79 Cat. No. —Recommended retail price 20c 12/17.4.1979
AMENDMENTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE REGULATIONS*
Meal allowance
1. Regulation 68 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) “ $4.10 ” and substituting “ $4.30 ”.
Rates of travelling allowance
2. Regulation 75a of the Public Service Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1) and substituting the following table:
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
Meal | Amount for capital city Level 1 or above | Amount for place other than capital city—Level 1 or above | Amount for capital city below Level 1 | Amount for place other than capital city—below Level 1 |
| $ | $ | $ | $ |
Breakfast..... | 4.60 | 3.95 | 3.75 | 3.10 |
Lunch....... | 6.40 | 4.80 | 3.80 | 4.00 |
Dinner....... | 8.70 | 6.90 | 7.80 | 6.25 |
(b) by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1aa) and substituting the following table:
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Amount for capital city— Level 1 or above | Amount for place other than capital city—Level 1 or above | Amount for capital city— below Level 1 | Amount for place other than capital city—below Level 1 |
$ | $ | $ | $ |
28.30 | 20.35 | 21.90 | 17.25 |
(c) by omitting the table in sub-regulation (1ab) and substituting the following table:
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
Amount for capital city— Level 1 or above | Amount for place other than capital city—Level 1 or above | Amount for capital city— below Level 1 | Amount for place other than capital city—below Level 1 |
$ | $ | $ | $ |
5.00 | 5.00 | 3.90 | 3.90 |
* Statutory Rules 1935, No. 18 as amended to date. For previous amendments see footnote * on page 2 to Statutory Rules 1979, No. 9 and see also Statutory Rules 1979, Nos. 9 and 10.
Printed by Authority by the Commonwealth Government Printer
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1979 No. 68, titled "Regulations Under the Public Service Act 1922", were enacted to amend the Public Service Regulations, specifically adjusting the meal and travel allowances for public service employees. The regulations were made by the Public Service Board, acting under the authority conferred by the Public Service Act 1922, and subsequently approved by the Governor-General. These amendments aimed to address the need for regular updates to allowances that reflect changes in economic conditions and living costs, ensuring that public service employees receive fair and adequate compensation for their work-related expenses. The objective was to maintain the purchasing power of these allowances, thereby supporting the effective functioning of the public service.
Scope and Application
The Public Service Regulations 1979, made under the authority of the Public Service Act 1922, are applicable to all Commonwealth public service employees, encompassing various levels and classifications within the public sector workforce. These regulations provide detailed provisions regarding allowances, including meal and travel allowances, which are adjusted to reflect changes in economic conditions and cost of living. The scope of these regulations is nationwide, applying to all federal public servants regardless of their location within Australia. The regulations also detail specific rates for allowances based on factors such as location and level of responsibility, ensuring equitable treatment across different public service roles. There are no specific exclusions mentioned within these regulations; however, the application of these allowances may be subject to further conditions or interpretations as provided by subordinate instruments or additional administrative guidelines. The regulations are subject to amendment, as evidenced by the updates to meal and travel allowance rates specified in the document.
Key Provisions
The Public Service Regulations 1979 (C2004L01541) amend the Public Service Regulations under the Public Service Act 1922. Key changes include adjustments to meal allowances and travel allowances. Specifically, Regulation 68 now sets the meal allowance at $4.30, up from $4.10 (Reg 68(1)). Regulation 75a modifies the rates of travelling allowance, updating the tables to reflect new rates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as for accommodation. For instance, the breakfast allowance is now $4.60 for capital cities at Level 1 or above, $3.95 for other places at Level 1 or above, $3.75 for capital cities below Level 1, and $3.10 for other places below Level 1 (Reg 75a(1)). Similarly, the tables for lunch, dinner, and accommodation allowances have been revised to reflect new rates.
These regulations impose specific obligations on public servants and the Public Service Board. Public servants must adhere to the updated allowances when claiming meal and travel expenses. The Public Service Board is responsible for ensuring these regulations are applied correctly and for making any necessary adjustments. These obligations ensure that public servants receive fair and updated allowances for their professional activities.
Breaches of these regulations may lead to administrative or disciplinary actions. While specific penalties are not outlined in the document, failure to comply with the Public Service Act 1922 or its regulations could result in disciplinary measures, including potential fines or other administrative sanctions. The precise consequences would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the policies of the employing department or agency.