Salaries (Statutory Offices) Adjustment Act 1960

Overview

The Salaries (Statutory Offices) Adjustment Act 1960 was enacted to increase the salaries payable to holders of certain statutory offices. This legislation was introduced to address the need for salary adjustments to ensure that the remuneration of these officials was commensurate with their responsibilities and the economic conditions of the time. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia, specifically through the assent of Queen Elizabeth II, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The policy objective of the Act was to appropriately adjust the salaries of various statutory office holders, thereby maintaining their competitiveness and ensuring the efficiency of the public service. The Act came into effect on the day it received Royal Assent, with the amendments deemed to have taken effect retroactively to the third day of December, 1959. The legislation amended several acts to update the salary figures for positions such as the Auditor-General for the Commonwealth, the Chairman of the Public Service Board, and various commissioners and arbitrators, reflecting the need for fair compensation in statutory offices.

Scope and Application

The Salaries (Statutory Offices) Adjustment Act 1960 applies to certain statutory offices by amending various specified Acts to increase the salaries payable to the holders of these offices. The Act directly affects the remuneration of high-ranking officials such as the Auditor-General, the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner, the Senior Commissioner, the Commissioner, the Conciliator under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, the Chairman and Members of the Public Service Board, the Public Service Arbitrator, and the Commissioner and Second Commissioner of Taxation. The amendments are effective from the date of Royal Assent, although the amendments to the Income Tax and Social Services Contribution Assessment Act 1936-1959 are deemed to have taken effect on the third day of December, 1959. This Act applies nationally across the Commonwealth of Australia, as it pertains to offices under the federal jurisdiction. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions in the Act itself, but the scope is limited to the specific offices and salary adjustments listed in the schedules. The application and effect of the Act are not extended or restricted by any subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Salaries (Statutory Offices) Adjustment Act 1960 (Section 3) is primarily concerned with amending various existing Acts to adjust the salaries of certain statutory officeholders. The Act makes specific changes to the salary amounts set out in the original Acts for various positions such as the Auditor-General for the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner, and members of the Public Service Board, among others (Section 3, First Schedule). It also includes an amendment to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1960, removing subsection (2) of Section 1 (Section 3(2)). Under this Act, the government is obligated to ensure that the specified statutory officeholders receive the newly adjusted salaries as outlined in the First Schedule. This involves amending the relevant sections of the original Acts to reflect the updated salary figures (Section 3(1)). Additionally, the Act provides for the citation of these amended Acts, specifying how they should be referred to once the amendments have been made (Section 4). In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the Act does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or consequences for failing to adhere to the salary adjustments. However, as this Act involves amendments to existing legislative instruments, non-compliance with the specified salary adjustments could potentially lead to legal challenges or disputes regarding the validity of the appointments or the remuneration packages of the statutory officeholders. It is important for the relevant authorities to ensure that the amendments are correctly implemented to avoid any legal complications.