STATUTORY RULES
1907. No. 40.
TREASURY REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUDIT ACTS 1901–1906.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following amendments and additions to the Treasury Regulations under the Audit Act 1901 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-fifth day of April, One thousand nine hundred and seven.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
JOHN FORREST,
Treasurer.
III.—payment of Public Moneys.
Certifying Officers.
Add, the following new clause after clause 47:—
47a. In the cases referred to in clause 98a of these Regulations, the Certifying Officer, before certifying Form 29, shall examine the vouchers so as to ascertain that the amount of the reimbursement is due to the Paying Officer for properly paid accounts.
Paying Officers.
Add the following new clause after clause 98:—
98a. If approved by the Treasurer, reimbursement of mid-monthly pay may be obtained without attaching vouchers to Form 29.
Fidelity Guarantee Fund.
Clause 137i is amended by the substitution of “August” for “July”
Clause 137k is repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof:—
In the month of August in each year, a deduction shall be made on the pay-sheet from the end-of-month pay of each officer holding a guaranteed office of the amount of the premium due for the current financial year, and on or before the 15th September a transfer account shall be prepared debiting the Salary Vote and crediting “Trust Fund, Guarantee Fund” with the amount of all such deductions. Full references connecting the deductions shown on the pay-sheets with the amount of the transfer account shall be set out on the latter, which after being duly signed by the Certifying and Authorizing Officers, shall be forwarded to the Sub-Treasury.
Clause 137l is repealed.
Clause 137n is amended by adding to the end thereof the following:—
Provided that, when an officer who has contributed a premium for any financial year is transferred to an office in respect of which no premium for that financial year has been contributed, the premium for that financial year, in respect of the office to which he is transferred, shall be charged to a Departmental vote, and credited by transfer account to “Trust Fund, Guarantee Fund.”
Clause 137q is repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof:—
If a guaranteed office is vacant on the 31st August, the premium for the full financial year shall be charged to a Departmental vote, and credited by transfer account to “Trust Fund Guarantee Fund,” whether or not the position is temporarily filled on that date.
Add the following new clause after clause 137t:—
137u. In all cases in which the Treasurer so directs guarantee premiums shall be charged to a Departmental vote, in lieu of deducting them from the salaries of officers;
(Provisional Regulations as above made on 4th January, 1907—Statutory Rule No. 4 of 1907—are revoked.)
By Authority: J. Kemp, Acting, Government Printer, Melbourne.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1907 No. 40, made under the Audit Act 1901, address the need for more stringent financial oversight and accountability within the government's handling of public funds. Enacted by the Governor-General in Council, these regulations introduce amendments and additions to the Treasury Regulations, aiming to ensure that public monies are disbursed and accounted for with greater accuracy and transparency. The policy objective is to improve the efficiency and reliability of financial processes, particularly in the certification and reimbursement of mid-monthly pay and the management of the Fidelity Guarantee Fund, thereby safeguarding public funds and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
Scope and Application
The Treasury Regulations under the Audit Act 1901, as amended by Statutory Rule No. 40 of 1907, apply to the payment of public moneys, specifically relating to the certification and payment procedures for mid-monthly pay reimbursements and fidelity guarantee fund premiums. These regulations impact Certifying Officers and Paying Officers within the Commonwealth of Australia. The geographic reach of the Act is national, applying across all states and territories of Australia. The regulations extend to the procedures for reimbursing mid-monthly pay, where vouchers need to be examined to ascertain the due amount before certification, and also cover the timing and method of premium deductions for the Fidelity Guarantee Fund, ensuring proper transfer of these premiums to the Trust Fund, Guarantee Fund. The Act also includes provisions for charging premiums to a Departmental vote when certain conditions are met, such as an officer being transferred or a guaranteed office being vacant. The Act does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions but implicitly excludes scenarios not covered by its specific clauses.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of these regulations pertain to the certification of payments and the management of the Fidelity Guarantee Fund. Firstly, under clause 47a, Certifying Officers are required to examine vouchers to ensure that the reimbursement amount due to the Paying Officer for properly paid accounts is accurate before certifying Form 29. Secondly, clause 98a allows for the reimbursement of mid-monthly pay without attaching vouchers to Form 29, subject to approval by the Treasurer. Thirdly, the regulations amend the Fidelity Guarantee Fund provisions, updating the timing and method of premium deductions and transfers. Specifically, clause 137i updates the month for premium deductions from July to August, while clause 137n specifies that if an officer is transferred, the premium for the current financial year must be charged to a Departmental vote and credited to the Trust Fund, Guarantee Fund. Clause 137u allows for the charging of guarantee premiums to a Departmental vote at the Treasurer's discretion.
The obligations imposed by these regulations primarily fall on Certifying Officers and Paying Officers. Certifying Officers must meticulously review vouchers to verify the correctness of reimbursement amounts before certifying Form 29. Paying Officers must ensure that any mid-monthly reimbursements are approved by the Treasurer and, if applicable, not require the attachment of vouchers to Form 29. Additionally, the regulations mandate that premiums for the Fidelity Guarantee Fund be deducted from officers' salaries in August or transferred from Departmental votes, as directed by the Treasurer.
There are no explicit offences or penalties stated within the text of these regulations. However, failure to comply with the requirements for certifying payments or managing the Fidelity Guarantee Fund could lead to potential financial discrepancies or mismanagement, which might result in administrative or disciplinary actions against the officers involved. The regulations focus more on procedural compliance and the proper management of public funds rather than prescribing specific penalties for non-compliance.