EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1983 No 349
PUBLIC SERVICE (SALARIES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Issued with the authority of the Public Service Board
Sub-section 97(1) of the Public Service Act 1922 provides that the Public Service Board may, with the approval of the Governor-General, make regulations prescribing all matters which are required to be prescribed for giving effect to that Act.
Sub-section 30(2) of the Act provides that officers of the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions shall be paid salaries at such rates, or in accordance with such scales of rates, as are prescribed.
On 17 October 1983 the Academic Salaries Tribunal, being satisfied that the National Wage Case requirements had been met, approved that the 4.3% National Wage increase could flow to academic staff in the Australian Public Service with effect from 6 October 1983.
These Statutory Rules amended the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations by prescribing the revised rates of pay for academic staff in the Service, and for the designation of Technical College Principal at the Canberra College of Technical and Further Education, with effect from 6 October 1983.
The Acting Public Service Arbitrator has made a determination to introduce a new structure and rates of pay for lecturers at the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay. This determination is also reflected in amendments made by these Statutory Rules.
Overview
The Public Service (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment) 1983 was enacted to address the need for updating salary rates for academic staff within the Australian Public Service. This legislation was issued with the authority of the Public Service Board under the Public Service Act 1922, which empowers the Board to make regulations necessary for the implementation of the Act. Specifically, these regulations were made to reflect the approved 4.3% National Wage increase for academic staff, effective from 6 October 1983, and to introduce new pay structures for lecturers at the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay, as determined by the Acting Public Service Arbitrator. The policy objective of these amendments was to ensure that the salaries of public service officers, particularly academic staff, were aligned with the prevailing wage adjustments and to maintain fair remuneration standards within the public sector.
Scope and Application
The Public Service (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment) 1983, issued under the authority of the Public Service Board, modifies the existing regulations to implement salary adjustments for academic staff within the Australian Public Service, effective from 6 October 1983. These amendments are made in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Act 1922, specifically under sub-section 97(1) which empowers the Public Service Board to make regulations with the Governor-General's approval, and sub-section 30(2) which mandates the prescribed salary rates for officers in the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. The changes reflect the approved 4.3% National Wage increase, as recommended by the Academic Salaries Tribunal on 17 October 1983, following the fulfillment of National Wage Case requirements. Furthermore, the amendments incorporate a new structure and rates of pay for lecturers at the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay, as determined by the Acting Public Service Arbitrator. These regulations apply to academic staff and the designated Technical College Principal at the Canberra College of Technical and Further Education, ensuring their remuneration aligns with the new pay scales.
Key Provisions
The Public Service (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1983 No 349, issued under the authority of the Public Service Board, primarily focus on prescribing revised rates of pay for academic staff within the Australian Public Service and for the designation of Technical College Principal at the Canberra College of Technical and Further Education. The amendments came into effect on 6 October 1983, following the Academic Salaries Tribunal's approval of a 4.3% National Wage increase, which met the National Wage Case requirements (sections 97(1) and 30(2) of the Public Service Act 1922). These changes were made to ensure that academic staff and the designated principal receive salaries in accordance with the new rates as prescribed by the amendments.
The regulations impose specific obligations on the Australian Public Service to implement the new salary rates as prescribed in the Statutory Rules. These obligations include ensuring that the revised rates of pay for academic staff and the Technical College Principal are accurately reflected in their remuneration packages, effective from 6 October 1983. Additionally, the Acting Public Service Arbitrator’s determination to introduce a new structure and rates of pay for lecturers at the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay, is incorporated into the amendments. This determination further requires the Public Service to comply with the new pay structure for lecturers at the college, ensuring that all relevant staff are appropriately compensated in line with the updated rates.
Failure to comply with the provisions set out in these Statutory Rules could result in legal consequences for the parties involved. While the specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach are not detailed in the explanatory statement, breaches of statutory regulations typically entail civil or administrative penalties under Australian law. In the context of public service regulations, non-compliance might lead to disputes regarding salary payments, which could be resolved through administrative or judicial processes. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the applicable laws governing public service regulations and employment contracts.