{"id":"F2005B01581","name":"Public Service Classification Rules 2000","slug":"public-service-classification-rules-2000","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":112034,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005B01581-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Rules","content":"#### 1 Name of Rules\n\n  These Rules are the Public Service Classification Rules 2000.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n  These Rules commence on gazettal.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions—the dictionary","content":"#### 4 Definitions—the dictionary\n\n  (1) The dictionary at the end of these Rules defines certain words and expressions, and includes references to certain words and expressions that are defined elsewhere in these Rules (signpost definitions).\n\n> Note: The dictionary only includes a signpost definition for a word or expression if the word or expression is used in more than one rule.\n\n  (3) A definition in these Rules applies to each use of the word or expression in these Rules, unless the contrary intention appears.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Approved classifications","content":"#### 5 Approved classifications\n\n  For the purposes of these Rules, a classification is an approved classification if it is:\n    (a) a classification under a modern award or a transitional APCS as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time; or\n    (b) a classification mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 1; or\n    (c) a training classification mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 2.\n\n> Note: Subsection 23(2) of the Act provides that the Classification Rules may apply, adopt or incorporate, with or without modification, any of the provisions of a modern award or a transitional APCS, as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Classification of APS employees: general","content":"#### 6 Classification of APS employees: general\n\n  (1) An Agency Head must allocate an approved classification to each APS employee in the Agency.\n  (2) Subject to rule 7, the classification must be based on the group of duties that are determined by the Agency Head to be the duties to be performed by the employee in the Agency (other than duties temporarily assigned to the employee).","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Classification of APS employees: section 26 agreement","content":"#### 7 Classification of APS employees: section 26 agreement\n\n  (1) This rule applies to an Agency Head if:\n    (a) an ongoing APS employee moves to the Agency Head’s Agency in accordance with an agreement entered into under section 26 of the Act; and\n    (b) the agreed movement is a temporary move.\n  (2) The Agency Head must not comply with rule 6.\n  (3) The Agency Head must allocate to the employee:\n    (a) the approved classification that was allocated to the employee immediately before moving to the Agency; or\n    (b) another approved classification that is in the same group as the classification mentioned in paragraph (a).\n  (4) The allocation of a classification in accordance with subrule (3) does not prevent the employee from:\n    (a) performing the duties that are to be performed by the employee following the move to the Agency; and\n    (b) receiving the pay and other entitlements that are to be paid to the employee following the move to the Agency.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Classification of SES employees","content":"#### 8 Classification of SES employees\n\n  For section 34 of the Act, an APS employee is classified as an SES employee if the employee's classification is any of the following approved classifications:\n    (a) Senior Executive Band 1;\n    (b) Senior Executive Band 2;\n    (c) Senior Executive Band 3.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Classification of duties","content":"#### 9 Classification of duties\n\n  (1) An Agency Head must allocate an approved classification to each group of duties to be performed in the Agency.\n  (2) The allocation of an approved classification to a group of duties must be based on the work value of the group of duties.\n  (2A) The allocation of an APS Level classification, Executive Level classification or SES classification to a group of duties must be based on the work value of the group of duties described in the work level standards for that classification issued, in writing, by the Commissioner (as those standards exist on 1 December 2014).\n  (3) If a training classification is allocated to a group of duties, the Agency Head must ensure that the duties include a requirement to undergo training.\n  (4) If a group of duties to be performed in an Agency involves work value applying to more than one classification, the Agency Head may allocate more than one classification (called a broadband) to the group of duties.\n  (5) However, subrule (4) does not apply to a group of duties to be performed by an SES employee.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Work level standards for classifications other than APS Level, Executive Level or SES classifications","content":"#### 10 Work level standards for classifications other than APS Level, Executive Level or SES classifications\n\n  An Agency Head must issue, in writing, work level standards for each classification, other than an APS Level classification, Executive Level classification or SES classification, describing the work value of the group of duties to be performed in the Agency at that classification.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Movement from a training classification","content":"#### 11 Movement from a training classification\n\n  (1) If an APS employee who is employed at a training classification satisfactorily finishes each training requirement for the training classification, the Agency Head must allocate to the employee a classification mentioned in column 3 of Schedule 2 that relates to the employee’s training classification.\n  (2) Subrule (1) does not apply to a non-ongoing non-SES employee engaged for a specified term for the purpose mentioned in subparagraph 13(4)(c)(i) of the Public Service Regulations 2023.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Reduction of classification of APS employee","content":"#### 12 Reduction of classification of APS employee\n\n  For the purposes of subsection 23(4) of the Act, the classification of an APS employee is reduced if the Agency Head allocates to the employee a classification that is in a lower classification group than the employee’s classification before the reduction.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Delegation","content":"#### 13 Delegation\n\n  (1) An Agency Head may, in writing, delegate to a person any of the Agency Head’s powers or functions under these Rules (other than this rule).\n  (2) However, an Agency Head cannot delegate powers or functions to an outsider (within the meaning of subsection 78(8) of the Act) without the prior written consent of the Commissioner.\n  (3) A person (the first delegate) to whom powers or functions are delegated under subrule (1) may, in writing, delegate any of the powers or functions to another person (the second delegate).\n  (4) However, if the first delegate is subject to directions about the exercise of a power or function delegated under subrule (3), the first delegate must give corresponding directions to the second delegate.\n  (5) A power or function that is exercised or performed by a person under a delegation under subrule (3) is taken, for the purposes of these Rules, to have been exercised or performed by the person who originally delegated the corresponding power or function under subrule (1).\n  (6) A person exercising powers or functions under a delegation under this rule must comply with any directions of the Agency Head who delegated the power or function.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"14","sectionType":"section","heading":"Transitional provisions relating to the Public Service Classification Amendment (Work Level Standards and Other Measures) Rule 2014","content":"#### 14 Transitional provisions relating to the Public Service Classification Amendment (Work Level Standards and Other Measures) Rule 2014\n\n  (1) Despite the amendments of rules 9 and 10 and the Dictionary made by Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Public Service Classification Amendment (Work Level Standards and Other Measures) Rule 2014:\n    (a) an approved classification that, before 1 December 2014, was allocated to a group of duties to be performed in an Agency continues to have effect on and after that day; and\n    (b) work level standards for a classification, other than an APS Level classification or Executive Level classification, that were in effect under rule 10 immediately before 1 December 2014 continue to have effect on and after that day as if they had been issued under rule 10 as in force on or after that day.\n  (2) However, if an Agency Head allocates an APS Level classification, Executive Level classification or SES classification to a group of duties on or after 1 December 2014, the allocation must be done in accordance with these Rules as in force on or after that day.\n\n> Note: The effect of this subrule is that the allocation would need to be based on the work value of the group of duties described in the work level standards for the relevant classification issued, in writing, by the Commissioner (see subrule 9(2A)).","sortOrder":12}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Rules' practical scope changed with the 2014 amendment: prior allocations made before 1 December 2014 continue to have effect (rule 14(1)(a)), but any allocation of an APS Level, Executive Level or SES classification on or after 1 December 2014 must be based on the work-value described in work-level standards issued in writing by the Commissioner (rule 9(2A) read with rule 14(1)(b)). This creates a temporal boundary on which standards govern allocations."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to external instruments as sources of 'approved classifications' (modern awards and transitional APCS) — rule 5.","Work-value requirement and reliance on written work-level standards issued by the Commissioner, including a date-specific freeze for certain standards (rule 9(2), 9(2A), 10).","Transitional provisions preserving prior allocations while imposing new standards from 1 December 2014 (rule 14), creating temporal rules for application.","Exceptions and special rules for temporary movements under section 26 that override general allocation duties (rule 7).","Training classifications impose mandatory training and linked automatic progression when requirements are met (rules 9(3), 11, Schedule 2).","Allowance for broadbanding where duties map to multiple classifications, but not for SES groups (rule 9(4)–(5)).","Delegation framework with limits on outsiders and rules for subdelegation and directions (rule 13), increasing administrative discretion and compliance oversight.","Operational burden on Agency Heads to allocate classifications to each employee and each group of duties and to issue work-level standards in writing (rules 6, 9, 10).","Potential interaction costs between Agency-level written standards and Commissioner-issued standards, and record-keeping to demonstrate work-value bases."],"plain_english_summary":"These Rules require Agency Heads to assign an \"approved classification\" to every APS employee and to each group of duties, using the work value of the duties and written work‑level standards issued by the Commissioner. Training classifications, broadbanding and SES bands have specific allocation rules.\n\nThe Rules preserve existing pre‑1‑Dec‑2014 allocations but require Commissioner‑issued standards to govern APS/Executive/SES allocations made on or after 1 December 2014; delegation and section‑26 temporary‑move rules add implementation detail."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears focused on its original purpose of establishing and maintaining the APS classification system. The 2014 amendments (referenced in Rule 14) updated work level standards but did not expand the scope beyond classification matters. The rules remain tightly focused on job classification, work value assessment, and related administrative procedures."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to external instruments (modern awards, transitional APCS, Public Service Regulations 2023, work level standards issued by Commissioner)","Nested conditional logic in Rule 7 (temporary moves under section 26 agreements) with multiple sub-conditions","Transitional provisions in Rule 14 that create parallel application of old and new rules depending on timing (pre/post 1 December 2014)","Defined terms rely on external schedules (Schedules 1 and 2) not included in the excerpt","Exception to exception in Rule 11(2) excluding non-ongoing non-SES employees engaged for specific terms","Delegation chain rules (Rule 13) with three levels of delegation and direction requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"These rules establish how APS job levels (classifications) are assigned and linked to pay and responsibilities, requiring Agency Heads to match roles to their work value using Commissioner-issued standards. They cover normal, trainee, and inter-agency placements and allow limited delegation of classification decisions.\n\nThey affect all APS employees, Agency Heads, trainees and staff moving between agencies — and matter because classification determines pay, career progression and protects employees’ status when they transfer."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/public-service-classification-rules-2000","history":"/api/acts/public-service-classification-rules-2000/history","analysis":"/api/acts/public-service-classification-rules-2000/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/public-service-classification-rules-2000/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/public-service-classification-rules-2000/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/public-service-classification-rules-2000/documents"}}