Public Service (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

Statutory Rules 1980 No. 311, enacted under the Public Service Act 1922, was introduced to address the need for amendments to the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations. This legislative instrument was made by the Public Service Board and approved by the Governor-General, Zelman Cowen, on 21 October 1980. The regulation specifically amends Part I of Schedule 3 to the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations by omitting Group 239 and substituting it with new salary scales for Personal Secretaries, Grade 1 and Grade 2. The policy objective behind this amendment is to update and ensure the accuracy of salary provisions for specific roles within the public service, reflecting changes and ensuring fair compensation within the public sector.

Scope and Application

The regulation made under the Public Service Act 1922 applies to the public service of the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically to the salary scales for Personal Secretaries. The regulation amends the existing Public Service (Salaries) Regulations by omitting the previous salary scales for Personal Secretaries in Group 239 and replacing them with new scales. This adjustment impacts the remuneration of individuals employed as Personal Secretaries within the Commonwealth public service, affecting their employment terms and conditions. The regulation's scope is confined to the specified salary group and does not extend to other public service roles or areas of employment outside the Commonwealth public service. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in the regulation itself; however, the application and interpretation of these salary scales may be further defined or extended by subordinate instruments or other legislative provisions.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Statutory Rules 1980 No. 311 are those that amend the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations by modifying the salary scales for certain positions within the public service (s. 3). Specifically, the regulation amends Schedule 3—Part I, which pertains to salary rates for different grades of Personal Secretary. Under the amendment, Group 239 is replaced with new salary bands for Personal Secretary, Grade 1 and Personal Secretary, Grade 2, ranging from $13,592 to $15,918. These changes reflect updated remuneration rates intended to align with current market conditions and public sector pay structures. The obligations and requirements imposed by this regulation are primarily administrative in nature. Public service employers, including departments and agencies, must ensure that the new salary rates are correctly implemented for eligible Personal Secretaries. This involves updating payroll systems to reflect the revised salary bands and communicating these changes to affected employees. Compliance with these updated rates is mandatory for all public service entities governed by the Public Service Act 1922 and the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations. In terms of potential consequences for non-compliance, while the regulation itself does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties, breaches of the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations could lead to various civil or administrative consequences. These might include financial penalties, corrective action orders, or other measures prescribed under the Public Service Act 1922. The maximum penalties for such breaches would be determined by the relevant provisions of the overarching act, which could include fines or other sanctions deemed appropriate by the Public Service Board or relevant authorities.