EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1984 NO. 234
PUBLIC SERVICE REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Issued with the authority of the Public Service Board
Sub-Section 71(1) of the Public Service Act 1922 provides that a Chief Officer may, at any time, grant to an officer or an employee leave of absence for a prescribed purpose, for a purpose included in a prescribed class of purposes or as otherwise provided in the regulations.
Sub-section 97(1) of the Public Service Act provides, inter alia, that the Public Service Board may, with the approval of the Governor-General, make regulations prescribing all matters which are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
Section 18 of the Public Service Act provides that the Public Service Board shall furnish reports or recommendations on all matters required to be dealt with by the Governor-General under the Act.
The regulations make technical amendments to several outdated references in the Public Service Regulations and also increase the period for which leave of absence may be granted for study purposes.
Regulations 56, 57 and 109C are amended by omitting the expression “Inspector”. The office of the Public Service Inspector, which was the senior office of the Public Service Board in each State, was replaced in 1978 by the office of Regional Director. The references in each of the above regulations appear to have been overlooked in the process of replacement and it is appropriate that they be amended.
Regulation 61A of the Public Service Regulations prescribes pursuance of a scheme of study or attendance at an examination as a purpose for which leave of absence may be granted under sub-section 71(1) of the Public Service Act. The regulation defines the expressions “approved student” and “scheme of study” by reference to “Division IIIA of Part III” of the Regulations. That Division has been relocated to Part 9 of Public Service Board Determination 1983/10, and the first of two amendments to regulation 61A reflects that relocation.
The second amendment to regulation 61A extends the period for which leave of absence may be granted from two years to three years. This will allow for the encouragement of officers to pursue schemes of study to improve their skills for their benefit and for the benefit of the Service by increasing the range of courses which may be studied and allowing more time for the completion of studies.