Trade Commissioners Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1966L00019 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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TRADE COMMISSIONERS ACT

TRADE COMMISSIONERS REGULATIONS

Statutory Rules 1966, No, 19.(a)

Repeal.

1. Regulation 2 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is repealed.

Interpretation.

2. Regulation 3 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the definition of “designated post” and inserting in its stead the following definition:—

“ ‘designated post’ means a post in Bahrain, Ceylon, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Republic or the West Indies:”.

Travelling allowance in Australia.

3. Regulation 6 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1.) the words “Three thousand one hundred and sixty-seven pounds” and inserting in their stead the words “Three thousand two hundred and eighteen pounds”; and

(b) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (I.) the words “Three thousand one hundred and sixty-seven pounds per year but does not exceed Four thousand one hundred and seventy-nine pounds per year” and inserting in their stead the words “Three thousand two hundred and eighteen pounds per year but does not exceed Four thousand two hundred and forty-four pounds per year”.

Travelling allowance to and from posts.

4. Regulation 7 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is amended by omitting the words “Twelve shillings and sixpence per day” and inserting in their stead the words “One pound per day”.

Costs of transport on appointment, &c.

5. Regulation 8 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (4.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulations:—

“(4.) Where the Minister has authorized a Commissioner to travel from and to his post on official duty, otherwise than on the termination of his appointment, the Department shall pay the cost of conveyance of the Commissioner and the Minister may authorize the Department to pay all or part of the cost of conveyance of the Commissioner’s wife and children.

“(5.) Where a Commissioner resigns at a post the Minister may authorize the Department to pay all or part of the cost of conveyance to Australia of the Commissioner, his wife and children.”.

(a) Made under the Trade Commissioners Act 1933–1936 on 3 February 1966; notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 10 February 1966.


6. Regulation 11 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Equipment allowance.

“11. —(1.) Subject to sub-regulation (4.) of this regulation, a Commissioner who, while performing duty in Australia, is required to travel overseas on official duty, other than to a post, is entitled to an equipment allowance of Twenty pounds.

“(2.) Subject to sub-regulation (4.) of this regulation, the Minister may authorize the payment of an allowance of Twenty pounds to a Commissioner who while performing duty in Australia, is required to travel overseas on official duty to a place, other than a post, where tropical climatic conditions prevail.

“(3.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, the Minister may authorize the payment of an allowance of Twenty pounds to a Commissioner who, while performing duty in Australia, is required to travel overseas on official duty to a place, other than a post, where cold climatic conditions prevail.

“(4.) A Commissioner is not entitled to an allowance under sub-regulation (1.), (2.) or (3.) of this regulation if he has received an allowance under that sub-regulation within the preceding two years.”.

Family visits to Australia.

7. Regulation 12 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is amended by omitting paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (3.) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph: —

“(b) the wife or child of a Commissioner stationed in Bahrain, Burma. Ceylon, Hong Kong. India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore, Thailand or the United Arab Republic who is assisted with the cost of fares while proceeding on local leave.”.

Local leave.

8. Regulation 15 of the Trade Commissioners Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1a.) the words “Nairobi or at” and inserting in their stead the words “Beirut, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or”.

The Schedules.

9. The Schedules to the Trade Commissioners Regulations are repealed.

 

Overview

The Trade Commissioners Act 1933–1936 was enacted to provide for the appointment and regulation of trade commissioners who act on behalf of the Commonwealth in various foreign countries. The Trade Commissioners Regulations Statutory Rules 1966, No. 19, made under the authority of this Act, aim to update and refine the operational aspects of the trade commissioner system, ensuring it remains efficient and relevant to the changing needs of international trade. The regulations address various allowances, travel costs, and support mechanisms for trade commissioners and their families, with a particular focus on those posted in designated locations. The objective is to support the work of trade commissioners in promoting Australian trade and investment abroad by providing necessary financial and logistical support.

Scope and Application

The Trade Commissioners Regulations 1966, made under the Trade Commissioners Act 1933–1936, apply to trade commissioners appointed under the Act and cover various allowances and entitlements. These regulations primarily concern commissioners stationed in specific overseas posts, including Bahrain, Ceylon, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Republic, and the West Indies. The updated regulations adjust the allowances for travel, costs of transport, equipment, and family visits, reflecting changes to monetary values and conditions of service. Notably, the regulations specify new allowances for travel to regions with tropical or cold climates and provide for the payment of travel costs for commissioners and their families under certain circumstances, such as resignation or local leave. The updated regulations also include adjustments to the travelling allowance in Australia, travel allowances to and from designated posts, and costs of transport on appointment or resignation. While the regulations broadly apply to commissioners stationed in the specified posts, they exclude those aspects that were previously covered by now repealed definitions and schedules.

Key Provisions

The Trade Commissioners Regulations, as amended by Statutory Rules 1966, No. 19, introduce several key changes to the allowances and provisions for Trade Commissioners. Regulation 2 amends the definition of "designated post" to specify locations in Bahrain, Ceylon, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Republic, or the West Indies. Regulation 3 revises the travelling allowance in Australia, setting the maximum allowance at £4,244 per year, up from £4,179, and the minimum at £3,218, up from £3,167. Regulation 4 updates the daily travelling allowance to and from posts, raising it from 12s 6d to £1 per day. These regulations impose specific obligations on Trade Commissioners and the Department. For instance, Regulation 5 mandates that the Department pay the cost of conveyance for a Commissioner and may authorize payment for the Commissioner’s family, except at the termination of their appointment. Similarly, Regulation 6 allows the Minister to authorize the Department to cover the costs of conveyance for a resigning Commissioner and their family back to Australia. Regulation 7 provides for equipment allowances under specific conditions, such as travel to areas with tropical or cold climates, and stipulates that no allowance can be paid if it was received within the preceding two years. Breaching these regulations can lead to civil or criminal consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text. However, given the nature of the regulations, penalties would likely include financial sanctions or other administrative actions for non-compliance. The precise consequences would depend on the specific breach and the jurisdiction's laws in place at the time of the offence.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.