Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

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Statutory Rules

1974. No. 15

REGULATIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1922-1973.*

THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD, acting in pursuance and exercise of the authority conferred upon it by the Public Service Act 1922-1973, hereby makes, subject to the approval of the Governor-General, the following Regulations.

Dated this twenty-fourth day of January, 1974.

Acting Chairman.

Commissioner.

Deputy of a Commissioner.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, hereby approve the following Regulations.

Dated this fifth day of February, 1974.

Paul Hasluck

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command

R. F. X. CONNOR

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINERALS AND ENERGY FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE

Prime Minister.

 

Amendments of the Public Service Regulation†

Interpretation.

1. Regulation 3 of the Public Service Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from the definition of “the Inspector” the word “Commonwealth”; and

(b) by omitting from the definition of “the Service” the word “Commonwealth” and substituting the words “Australian Public”.

Hours of business.

2. Regulation 9 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the word “Commonwealth” and substituting the words “Australian Government”.

Public comment on administration.

3. Regulation 34 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (b) the words “Territory within the Commonwealth” and substituting the words “internal Territory”.

Officers called as witnesses.

4. Regulation 45 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraphs (a) to (c) (inclusive) of sub-regulation (2) the words “Territory of the Commonwealth” (wherever occurring) and substituting the word “Territory”.

 

*Notified in the Australian Government Gazette on 12 February 1974.

† Statutory Rules 1935, No. 18, as amended to date. For previous amendments of the Public Service Regulations see footnote † to Statutory Rules 1974, No. 5, and see also Statutory Rules 1974, Nos. 5 and              .

1178/73—Price 5c 9/18.1.1974

Medical examination after thirteen weeks’ sick leave.

5. Regulation 56 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Commonwealth Medical Officer” and substituting the words “Medical Officer, Department of Health”.

Certificate as to fitness to resume.

6. Regulation 57 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Commonwealth Medical Officer” (wherever occurring) and substituting the words “Medical Officer, Department of Health”,

Health of officer rendering him a danger to others.

7. Regulation 58 of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the words “Commonwealth Medical Officer” and substituting the words “Medical Officer, Department of Health”.

Leave—infectious disease contacts.

8. Regulation 58a of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1) the words “Commonwealth or State law” and substituting the words “a law of Australia or of a State”.

Reimbursement of fares upon change of location of branch, &c.

9. Regulation 79c of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulations (6) and (7) the words “of the Commonwealth” (wherever occurring).

Special allowances.

10. Regulation 103f of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting the words “a Commonwealth officer” and substituting the words “an officer”.

Returning officers.

11. Regulation 139a of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting from paragraph (c) the word “Commonwealth” and substituting the word “Australian”.

Assistant Returning Officer.

12. Regulation 141s of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Commonwealth Public”.

Charges against Officers stationed outside Australia.

13. Regulation 149a of the Public Service Regulations is amended by omitting the words “of the Commonwealth”.

Third Schedule.

14. The Third Schedule to the Public Service Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from forms A, B, C and D the words “Commonwealth of Australia” and substituting the word “Australia”.

(b) by omitting from forms B and D the words “Commonwealth Public”; and

(c) by omitting from form A the words “Commonwealth Electoral Office” and substituting the words “Australian Electoral Office”.

Additional amendments.

15. The Public Service Regulations are further amended as set out in the Schedule.

SCHEDULE Regulation 15

Additional Amendments to the Public Service Regulations

1. The following provisions of the Public Service Regulations art amended by omitting the word “Commonwealth” (wherever occurring):—

Regulations 4b (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5), 5, 6, 21(3), 72b (1) and (2), 74c (2), 100b (3) (b) (iii), 103f (1), (2), (3) and (4), 108 (2), 109 (1b), 110 (3), (4), (6a), (6b) and (6c), 119a (2), 141m (3) and 141n (1) and (2).

2. The following provisions of the Public Service Regulations are amended by omitting the words “the Commonwealth” and substituting the word “Australia”:—

Regulations 26, 27, 37, 42, 45 (2), (2a), (3) and (3a), 45a (2a) and (2b), 46c (1), 68 (2), 74c (1), 77, 83 (1), 84 (1), and (3), 89aa (2) and (6), 90 (2), 90a (1), 90b, 90c (1) and (2), 100e, 101 (3), 103a (6), 103d (3), 119 (2) and 120 (5).

 

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Overview

The Public Service Regulations 1974 are a set of amendments made under the Public Service Act 1922-1973 to update terminology and references within the regulations to reflect the transition from the Commonwealth to Australian Government nomenclature. Enacted by the Public Service Board and approved by the Governor-General, these regulations aim to modernise the language used in the existing regulations to better align with the contemporary administrative framework of Australia. The amendments encompass a range of changes, such as replacing references to "Commonwealth" with "Australian Government" or "Australia" and updating titles and roles to reflect current practices. This legislative instrument ensures that the Public Service Regulations remain relevant and consistent with the evolving terminology and structure of the Australian public service. The Public Service Board, acting under the authority of the Public Service Act 1922-1973, introduced these regulations to standardise and update the terminology used in the Public Service Regulations. By doing so, the Board aimed to ensure that the regulations are clear, accessible, and reflective of the current administrative landscape. The approval of these regulations by the Governor-General underscores their importance and the necessity for uniformity in the language used across public service documentation. This legislative instrument facilitates a smoother transition and better alignment with the broader governmental framework, ensuring that the public service operates under a cohesive and modernised set of regulations.

Scope and Application

The Public Service Regulations 1974, under the Public Service Act 1922-1973, were made by the Public Service Board, subject to the approval of the Governor-General. These regulations govern the administration of the Australian Public Service (APS), replacing the term "Commonwealth" with "Australian Government" and "Australian Public Service" across various definitions and references within the regulations. The amendments extend the application of the regulations to encompass the entire nation, replacing references to Commonwealth territories with internal territories of Australia. The regulations also make specific changes to the roles and responsibilities of public service officers, including adjustments to medical examinations, fitness certificates, allowances, and leave provisions. Furthermore, the regulations modify certain administrative processes, such as the handling of charges against officers stationed outside Australia and the procedures for medical examinations following extended sick leave. These amendments aim to modernise and streamline the application of the Public Service Regulations to better reflect the current administrative framework of the Australian Public Service.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of the Statutory Rules 1974, No. 15, which amend the Public Service Regulations, include various amendments to definitions and terminology within the regulations. For instance, Regulation 1 amends the definition of "the Inspector" and "the Service" to remove references to "Commonwealth" and replace them with "Australian Public" and "Australian Government" respectively (regs 1(a) and 1(b), 2). Furthermore, Regulation 3 alters the phrase "Territory within the Commonwealth" to "internal Territory" in the context of public comment on administration (reg 3). The amendments also include changes to the terminology regarding witnesses (reg 4), medical examinations and fitness certificates (regs 5, 6, 7), leave related to infectious disease (reg 8), reimbursement of fares (reg 9), special allowances (reg 10), returning officers (reg 11), assistant returning officers (reg 12), and charges against officers stationed outside Australia (reg 13). The Third Schedule modifies various forms to reflect these changes (reg 14), and additional amendments are listed in the Schedule (reg 15). These regulations impose obligations on public service officers and the entities they serve. For example, they require officers to comply with the updated terminology and procedures concerning medical examinations, fitness certificates, and leave related to infectious disease. Additionally, they mandate the use of the new forms as outlined in the Third Schedule and adherence to the altered definitions and phrases throughout the regulations. Public service officers must also ensure that they follow the updated procedures for reimbursement of fares and special allowances, and for charges against officers stationed outside Australia. Breaches of these regulations may lead to various consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument, violations of public service regulations generally can result in administrative penalties, disciplinary action, or even termination of employment, depending on the severity of the breach. Additionally, failure to comply with the updated terminology and procedures could lead to operational inefficiencies or legal challenges. The exact penalties and consequences for non-compliance would typically be outlined in the broader Public Service Act 1922-1973 or subsequent legislation.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.