388
Statutory Rules
1978 No. 154
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 fifteenth day of August, 1978.
K. SHANN
Chairman
J. C. TAYLOR
Commissioner
R. J. YOUNG
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 eighteenth day of August 1978.
ZELMAN COWEN
Governor-General
By His Excellency’s Command,
IAN VINER
Minister of State for Aboriginal Affairs for and on behalf of the
Prime Minister
AMENDMENTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE REGULATIONS†
Meal allowance
1. Regulation 68 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) “ $3.90 ” and substituting “ $4.10 ”.
* Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 August 1978.
† Statutory Rules 1935 No. 18 as amended to date. For previous amendments see footnote on the second page of Statutory Rules 1978 No. 7 and see also Statutory Rules Nos. 7, 8, 9, 33, 84 and 109.
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....... | 4.25 | 3.60 | 3.40 | 3.10 |
Lunch......... | 5.90 | 4.40 | 3.40 | 3.10 |
Dinner......... | 8.05 | 6.30 | 6.90 | 5.70 |
(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 |
$ | $ | $ | $ |
26.15 | 18.60 | 20 90 | 16.05 |
(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 |
$ | $ | $ | $ |
4.65 | 4.65 | 3.75 | 3.75 |
Overview
Statutory Rules 1978 No. 154, which are the Regulations under the Public Service Act 1922, were enacted to provide detailed rules and guidelines for the administration of the public service in Australia. This legislative instrument was introduced to fill specific operational gaps and ensure the smooth functioning of public service practices and procedures. The Regulations were made by the Public Service Board and were approved by the Governor-General, reflecting a collaborative effort between different arms of the government to maintain effective governance. The overarching policy objective of these regulations is to standardise and formalise various aspects of public service operations, including allowances and other administrative procedures, thereby ensuring consistency and fairness in public service practices.
Scope and Application
The Public Service Regulations 1978, made under the Public Service Act 1922, pertain to the Commonwealth public service and establish specific allowances and conditions applicable to public servants. These regulations apply to all employees within the Commonwealth public service, including those employed under the Public Service Act or any other Act administered by the Public Service Board. The regulations cover a range of allowances such as meal and travel allowances, which are adjusted periodically to reflect changes in living costs and other factors. Notably, these regulations do not apply to public servants who are specifically excluded by other legislative provisions. The regulations also allow for further amendments and adjustments through subordinate instruments, ensuring that they remain relevant and effective in addressing the needs of public service employees.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of this legislation pertain to the amendment of the Public Service Regulations under the Public Service Act 1922, specifically targeting meal and travelling allowances for public service employees. Regulation 68 is amended to adjust the meal allowance from $3.90 to $4.10, while Regulation 75a is amended to update the rates of travelling allowances, replacing the existing tables with new ones that detail amounts for different meal types and locations (Regulation 75a(1), (1aa), and (1ab)). These changes ensure that public service employees receive appropriate compensation for their meals and travel expenses based on the current economic conditions and living standards.
The Regulations impose specific obligations on public service employees and their employers. Employees are entitled to the updated meal and travelling allowances as outlined in the amended regulations. Employers, on the other hand, are required to ensure that these allowances are correctly calculated and paid to eligible employees. The Regulations provide clear guidelines on the amounts to be paid for different meal types and travel locations, facilitating accurate and consistent application of the allowances.
Failure to comply with the updated meal and travelling allowances as stipulated in these Regulations may result in civil or administrative consequences. Employers who do not adhere to the new rates may face penalties or be required to reimburse employees for any shortfall in their allowances. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with public service regulations can typically lead to financial penalties, legal action, or other corrective measures to ensure adherence to the prescribed allowances.