Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1971 No. 145, under the Public Service Act 1922-1968, were enacted to amend the Public Service Regulations. The Public Service Board, acting within the authority conferred by the Public Service Act, made these regulations subject to the approval of the Governor-General. Upon approval by the Governor-General, these regulations were then notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on July 16, 1971, and subsequently signed into effect by the Governor-General on August 19, 1971. The primary objective of these amendments was to adjust various allowances and salaries for officers within the public service, particularly targeting those in educational roles to ensure equitable compensation and recognition of their qualifications and responsibilities.

Scope and Application

The Statutory Rules 1971 No. 1455, made under the Public Service Act 1922-1968, amends the Public Service Regulations to update various allowances and salary provisions for officers within the public service. This legislation applies to specific classes of officers, including teachers and certain administrative roles within the Department of Education and Science. The amendments pertain to meal allowances and salary payable to officers of the Third Division, particularly focusing on teachers and those in training. The scope of the Act is national, as it pertains to the Commonwealth public service, and it does not explicitly state any exclusions or thresholds, but rather adjusts existing provisions within the framework of the Public Service Regulations. The amendments are effective as of the date of approval by the Governor-General, extending the existing regulatory framework to include new allowances for teachers associated with Aboriginal children and those in charge of one-teacher schools, among other roles.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of these Regulations involve amendments to the Public Service Regulations under the Public Service Act 1922-1968. Regulation 68 concerning meal allowance is amended to include paragraph (ba), thus expanding the scope of the provision. Regulation 105 is also amended by adding a new sub-regulation (12) which stipulates an allowance for certain officers based on their length of service and qualifications. The Fourth and Fifth Schedules further detail these changes by updating salary groups and allowances for various positions, including teachers in the Department of Education and Science and other grades of teachers. These Regulations impose specific obligations on officers of the Public Service who fall under the amended provisions. For instance, officers who meet the criteria outlined in sub-regulation (12) of Regulation 105 must have attained certain qualifications and lengths of service to be eligible for the additional allowances. Additionally, teachers in specific grades are entitled to particular allowances based on their roles and responsibilities, such as teaching Aboriginal children or managing one-teacher schools. Failure to comply with these Regulations could potentially lead to civil or administrative consequences. Although the Regulations themselves do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, breaches of the Public Service Act or its subsidiary legislation could result in disciplinary action against the officers involved. This may include sanctions such as fines, suspension, or termination of employment, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. The specific penalties would be determined in accordance with other relevant laws and the internal policies of the Public Service Board.