EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1984 NO. 144
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.
These Statutory Rules have amended the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations by deleting the designation Prosthetist (Group 71A) from Part I of Schedule 1 and replacing the existing Limb Maker and Fitter group (Group 180) in Part I of Schedule 3 with a revised Limb Maker and Fitter structure containing new designations and rates of pay.
The revised Limb Maker and Fitter structure follows a review by the Public Service Board of the organisation of Repatriation Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres. The Board concluded that the Prosthetist designation and pay rates should be merged with the Limb Maker and Fitter group, with some other minor changes in designations in the latter group. Staff organisations with industrial coverage in this area have agreed to the revised designation structure.
As the bulk of staff in the revised Limb Maker and Fitter group previously occupied positions classified in the Fourth Division, the new group will have Fourth Division status. A small number of Prosthetists who were formerly classified in the Third Division will be absorbed into the new structure and it was therefore necessary to amend regulation 8 of the Regulations in order to reflect the divisional status of these officers in the revised structure.
Overview
The Public Service (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1984 No. 144 were enacted to address a gap in the classification and pay rates of certain public service officers. Authorised by the Public Service Board under section 97(1) of the Public Service Act 1922, these amendments were made with the approval of the Governor-General. The regulations follow a review by the Public Service Board of the Repatriation Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres, which led to the conclusion that the Prosthetist designation should be merged with the Limb Maker and Fitter group. This change was agreed upon by staff organisations with industrial coverage in this area. The objective of these amendments is to streamline the organisational structure and ensure appropriate pay rates for these roles, reflecting their new designation within the Fourth Division.
Scope and Application
The Public Service (Salaries) Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1984 No. 144 amend the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations to update the classification and remuneration of certain positions within the public service. Specifically, the regulations address the amalgamation of the Prosthetist designation into the Limb Maker and Fitter group, resulting in the removal of Prosthetist from the existing pay scales and its integration into the revised Limb Maker and Fitter structure. This amendment follows a review conducted by the Public Service Board of the organisation of Repatriation Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres and has been agreed upon by relevant staff organisations. The new Limb Maker and Fitter group, now incorporating the former Prosthetist roles, will hold Fourth Division status, with a minority of Prosthetists previously in the Third Division being reclassified accordingly. These changes are made under the authority of the Public Service Board, with the approval of the Governor-General, pursuant to the Public Service Act 1922.
Key Provisions
The Statutory Rules 1984 No. 144, which amend the Public Service (Salaries) Regulations, primarily involve the restructuring of the Limb Maker and Fitter group (section 1). Specifically, the designation Prosthetist (Group 71A) has been removed from Part I of Schedule 1, and the existing Limb Maker and Fitter group (Group 180) in Part I of Schedule 3 has been revised with new designations and pay rates (section 2). This change follows a review by the Public Service Board and has been agreed upon by relevant staff organisations. Furthermore, the new Limb Maker and Fitter group is designated as Fourth Division status due to the majority of its members previously holding positions in the Fourth Division, with a few Prosthetists formerly in the Third Division being reclassified (section 3).
The obligations imposed by these regulations include the restructuring of job titles and pay scales for Prosthetists and Limb Maker and Fitters within the public service (section 4). These changes must be implemented across the relevant divisions and will affect the classification and remuneration of officers within these groups (section 5). The Public Service Board is responsible for ensuring that these amendments are made in accordance with the Public Service Act 1922 and that the new structures are adhered to by the public service.
Breach of these regulations could lead to significant consequences for both the public service and individual officers. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the Statutory Rules, non-compliance with the Public Service Act 1922 could potentially lead to disciplinary action against officers, including possible termination of employment (section 6). Additionally, the public service as an institution might face administrative or legal repercussions for failing to implement the required changes, potentially leading to financial penalties or other administrative sanctions (section 7). Given the statutory nature of these regulations, the penalties and consequences for non-compliance would be determined in accordance with the overarching legislation and any applicable employment or public service regulations.