Public Service Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1974 No. 51, enacted under the Public Service Act 1922-1973, was introduced to address the issue of high electricity charges faced by public service officers residing in remote districts. The Public Service Board, acting on the authority conferred by the Public Service Act, made these regulations, subject to the approval of the Governor-General. The objective of this legislative instrument is to provide financial relief to public service officers by offering an allowance for electricity charges that exceed a specified contribution, thereby assisting these officers with the costs associated with living in remote areas where electricity is more expensive. The regulation was approved by the Governor-General on 10 April 1974, ensuring that the officers could receive compensation for their higher electricity expenses.

Scope and Application

The Regulation under the Public Service Act 1922-1973 applies specifically to officers, including employees, who are responsible for paying the charges imposed by an electricity supply authority for the supply of electricity to their domestic premises. It is intended to provide an allowance to these officers if their electricity charges exceed a specified contribution during a quarterly or monthly charging period. The geographic reach of the regulation is not explicitly stated but is implied to be applicable within Australia, given the context of the Public Service Act which operates nationally. The regulation does not provide for any exclusions or exemptions, but it does set thresholds for the amount of electricity usage that can qualify for an allowance, varying based on whether an electric hot water service is used or not. Additionally, the regulation limits the amount of allowance payable in any one charging period, and stipulates that no allowance is payable if the calculated amount would be less than three dollars for a quarterly period or one dollar for a monthly period. The regulation does not extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments, and its implementation is contingent upon the approval of the Governor-General.

Key Provisions

This regulation, made under the Public Service Act 1922-1973, introduces an allowance for public service officers who incur high electricity charges in remote districts (section 97c). The regulation applies to officers who are responsible for paying the charges for electricity supplied to their residential premises (section 97c(2)). If an officer's electricity charges for a quarter or a month exceed a specified contribution, the officer is entitled to an allowance equal to the excess amount (section 97c(3)). The contribution amount is determined by the number of units of electricity used during the charging period and is specified in a table within the regulation (section 97c(4)). The regulation also sets limits on the amount of electricity for which an allowance can be paid in any one charging period, depending on whether an electric hot water service is used (section 97c(5)). Additionally, no allowance is payable if the calculated amount would be less than three dollars for a quarterly charging period or one dollar for a monthly charging period (section 97c(6)). Officers who are responsible for electricity charges over a period shorter than a charging period can also receive a pro-rata allowance (section 97c(7)). The regulation imposes obligations on public service officers who are responsible for paying electricity charges for their residential premises. Officers must ensure that they have paid the electricity charges and compare them with the specified contribution amounts to determine if they are entitled to an allowance (section 97c(3)). Officers must also be aware of the limits on the amount of electricity for which an allowance can be paid in any one charging period (section 97c(5)). If officers are responsible for electricity charges over a period shorter than a charging period, they must calculate their entitlement to a pro-rata allowance (section 97c(7)). There are no offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences explicitly stated in this regulation for breach. However, officers who fail to comply with the obligations imposed by the regulation may not receive the allowance to which they are entitled. The regulation primarily focuses on providing financial assistance to officers who incur high electricity charges in remote districts, rather than imposing penalties for non-compliance.