//
© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
The 1923 Repatriation (Staff) Regulations set the employment rulebook for the federal Department of Repatriation, governing permanent, temporary and auxiliary workers in hospitals, training centres and offices that supported returned WWI soldiers and their families. They prescribe hiring priority for ex‑servicemen and dependants, working conditions, leave, transfers, allowances, and strict conduct and secrecy rules.
The instrument matters because it operationalised Australia’s post‑war obligations while institutionalising veterans’ preference and clear gendered pay and status differences within the public workforce.
Want the full deep dive?
Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in Repatriation (Staff) Regulations.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES.
1923. No. 164.
––––––
REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS’ REPATRIATION ACT 1920-1922.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1920-1922, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this thirty-first day of October, 1923.
FORSTER,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
THOS. W. CRAWFORD,
for Treasurer.
REPATRIATION (STAFF) REGULATIONS.
Part I.—Preliminary.
Short title.
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Repatriation (Staff) Regulations.
Parts.
2. These Regulations are divided into parts as follows:—
Part I.—Preliminary.
Part II.—Functions of Officers.
Part III.—Attendance and Duties of Officers.
Part IV.—Appointments.
Part V.—Transfers.
Part VI.—Classification and Salaries.
Part VII.—Allowances and Overtime.
Part VIII.—Leave and Holidays.
Part IX.—Miscellaneous.
Part X.—Temporary Employees.
Part XI.—Auxiliary Services.
Definitions.
3. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—
“Chief Clerk” means a Chief Clerk appointed under the Act;
“Commission” means the Repatriation Commission appointed under the Act;
“Departmental Medical Officer” means the Senior Medical Officer of the Branch Office in the State appointed under the Act;
“Deputy-Commissioner” means a Deputy-Commissioner of Repatriation appointed under the Act;
“General Orders” means General Orders issued by the Commission;
“Officer,” “Clerk,” “Employee,” or “Assistant” means an officer, clerk, employee, or assistant appointed under the Act;
“Regulations” means regulations made under the Act;
“Rulings” means rulings made by the Commission;
“Secretary” means the officer appointed as Secretary to the Commission under the Act;
“Temporary Employee” means an employee appointed under the Act to a temporary position;
“The Act” means the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1920-1922;
“The Department” means the Department of Repatriation;
“Classified Officer” means an officer appointed under the Act to a classified position;
“Auxiliary Services Staff” means officers appointed under the Act to positions in connexion with Institutions or Factories established for vocational training or medical treatment purposes and controlled by the Department.
Repeal.
4. The Repatriation (Staff) Regulations (being Statutory Rules 1920, No. 150, as amended by Statutory Rules 1920, No. 236, by Statutory Rules 1921, Nos. 77, 128 and 171, and by Statutory Rules 1923, No. 69) are hereby repealed.
Part II.—Functions of Officers.
Responsibility of Commission to Minister.
5. (1) The Commission shall be responsible to the Minister for the general working of the Department and for all the administrative business thereof.
(2) Any power or authority vested in a Deputy-Commissioner by these Regulations shall be exercisable by the Commission.
Responsibility of Deputy Commissioner to Commission.
6. (1) A Deputy-Commissioner shall be responsible to the Commission for the proper and efficient working of the Branch Office in his State, and for all the administrative business thereof.
(2) Any power or authority vested in a Deputy-Commissioner under these Regulations shall be exercisable by the Secretary to the Commission as regards the administration of the Head-Quarters staff.
Breaches of Orders.
7. A Deputy-Commissioner shall not—
(a) condone any breach of the Act, regulations, rulings, or general orders, or any instructions issued by the Commission; or
(b) except in cases of extreme urgency, in which event he shall report the matter immediately to the Commission, vary any instructions from the Commission.
8. A Deputy-Commissioner shall ensure that—
Officers to be given written instructions.
(a) each officer is supplied with written instructions as to his duties, and that a copy of those instructions, signed by the officer concerned, is filed in his office;
(b) a copy of all instructions from the Commission is issued to each officer affected by them; and
(c) an officer resuming duty after absence on leave or on official business shall acquaint himself with all new regulations, rulings, orders, or other instructions issued during his absence.
Returns and reports.
9. A Deputy-Commissioner shall supply to the Commission such returns and reports, or other information as the Commission requires.
Annual report on staff.
10. On the first day of April of each year the Deputy-Commissioner shall furnish to the Commission a return showing the names of the officers under his control, arranged according to numerical sequence of the classification list; the offices they hold, specifying Division, Class, and Grade; the salaries; an accurate description in moderate detail of the duties performed by each officer, the date of his birth, and the date of his appointment to the Department; and what alterations, if any, are, in his opinion, necessary in the salaries of any officers under his control. Where a position is vacant it shall be indicated on the return opposite the number allotted to that position.
Amendments of system, &c.
11. A Deputy-Commissioner shall, whenever necessity arises, report to the Commission what alterations are, in his opinion, necessary or expedient for the more economic, efficient, or convenient working of his Branch, or any section thereof, and shall also bring under the attention of the Commission any matter, whether in relation to any officer, or to the work of any section of his Branch, with which he thinks it desirable for the Commission to be acquainted.
Death or resignation of officer.
12. A Deputy-Commissioner shall immediately report to the Commission the death or resignation of any officer.
Creation of positions, &c.
13. A Deputy-Commissioner shall report to the Commission whenever it is deemed advisable—
(a) to create new offices in any Division in the Branch under his control;
(b) to abolish any offices in his Branch; and
(c) to raise or lower the classification or grade of any office, the duties of which have materially changed.
Excess officers.
14. Whenever a Deputy-Commissioner finds that the number of officers under his control is greater than the business demands, or can be reduced through re-arrangement of duties or improved methods of working, he shall forthwith report the circumstances to the Commission.
Press comments.
15. A Deputy-Commissioner shall forward to the Commission with such comment or explanation as will afford full information of the facts, copies of all complaints, criticisms, or comments on the Department’s administration appearing in the press.
Legal decisions.
16. A Deputy-Commissioner shall forward to the Commission, with such comments and remarks as he considers necessary, all reports of legal proceedings and judicial decisions affecting the powers and rights of the Department.
Legal advice.
17. Except in cases specified by the Commission the Deputy-Commissioner shall refer all questions, of law and of interpretation of the Act and regulations to the Commission.
Accounts and public moneys.
18. In the matter of accounts and the collection and payment of public moneys, officers shall conform strictly to the provisions of the Audit Act 1901-1920 and the regulations thereunder.
Functions of officers in charge of sections.
19. (1) Officers in charge of sections at branch offices of the Department shall be accountable to the Deputy-Commissioner for the proper and efficient working of their sections, and shall afford him their utmost aid and support.
(2) They shall report in writing to the Deputy-Commissioner—
(a) when they consider that a reduction of their staffs can be made through decrease in the volume of work or the rearrangement of duties; and
(b) any breaches of the Act, regulations, or other official instructions that come to their knowledge.
(3) They shall cause each officer in their sections to be supplied with written and signed detailed instructions as to his duties, and ensure that each officer always has at hand an up-to-date copy of those instructions for his information and guidance.
Functions of clerks in charge of sub-sections.
20. (1) Clerks in charge of sub-sections shall be accountable to the Officer-in-charge of the section for the proper and efficient working of their sub-sections and shall afford him their utmost aid and support.
(2) They shall report in writing to the Officer-in-charge—
(a) when they consider that a reduction of staff can be made in their sub-sections, through decrease in the volume of work or re-arrangement of duties; and
(b) any breaches of the Act, regulations, or other official instructions that come to their knowledge.
Part III.—Attendance and Duties of Officers.
Knowledge of Act, Regulations, &c.
21. All officers are required to acquaint themselves with the Act and regulations, rulings and orders, and decisions and instructions issued in connexion therewith.
Attention and devotion to duty.
22. All officers shall, during hours of attendance, devote themselves exclusively and zealously to the discharge of their public duties, and shall behave at all times with courtesy to the public, giving prompt attention to all reasonable requirements.
Subordination of officers.
23. (1) Every officer shall obey promptly all instructions given him by the officer under whose immediate control or supervision he is placed.
(2) If any officer considers that he has grounds of complaint arising out of those instructions, or from any other cause whatsoever, he may appeal in regard thereto through his Officer-in-charge, who shall forward the appeal, forthwith through the Chief Clerk to the Deputy-Commissioner; but he shall, nevertheless, as far as possible, carry out any instructions which are given to him until they are countermanded by a competent authority.
Performance of duties.
24. Every officer shall promptly and correctly carry out all duties appertaining to his office, and shall in due course, and at proper times, comply with and give effect to all enactments, regulations, and authoritative instructions made or issued for his guidance in the performance of his duties.
Diary.
25. Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, every officer not immediately under supervision shall keep a diary showing the daily duties performed by him, and the time occupied in those duties, and shall,
whenever required, produce the diary, or furnish a copy thereof to the officer under whose authority he is placed or to any other officer authorized by the Commission or Deputy-Commissioner to inspect the diary.
Officers not to publicly comment on administration.
26. Officers shall not—
(a) publicly comment on the administration of the Department; or
(b) use for any purpose, other than the discharge of their official duties, any information gained by or conveyed to them through their connexion with the Department.
Information to be secret.
27. (1) Officers shall not, except in the course of official duty, without the express direction or permission of the Deputy-Commissioner, give information, directly or indirectly, concerning public business or any other matter of which they have knowledge officially.
(2) The Deputy-Commissioner shall immediately suspend any officer charged with committing a breach of this regulation.
(3) Officers shall sign a declaration of secrecy with regard to information received by them in their official capacity.
Outside influence.
28. (1) Officers shall not seek the influence or interest of any person outside the Department in order to obtain promotion, removal, or other advantage.
(2) Any officer who considers that his claim of consideration for promotion has been overlooked may communicate with the Commission in the manner prescribed by the next succeeding regulation.
Communications to Commission.
29. All official communications intended for the Commission shall be forwarded by Officers-in-charge of sections through the Chief Clerk to the Deputy-Commissioner, who shall forward them to the Commission with such comment as he deems necessary.
Communications to Deputy Commissioner.
30. All communications intended for the Deputy-Commissioner shall be forwarded through the Officers-in-charge of sections to the Chief Clerk, who shall forward them to the Deputy-Commissioner with such comment as he deems necessary.
Giving of testimonials.
31. (1) No officer other than the Deputy-Commissioner shall give a reference or testimonial to an officer or ex-officer of the Department as to the manner in which he performed his departmental duties.
(2) The Deputy-Commissioner may give references or testimonials only in such cases where the service has been entirely satisfactory.
(3) Cases of doubt shall be forwarded to the Commission.
Solicitation or acceptance of gifts.
32. No officer shall, directly or indirectly, solicit or accept gifts or presents from any member of the public concerned, directly or indirectly, with any matter connected with the duties of the officer or in which the Department is interested.
Acceptance of fees, &c.
33. An officer shall not demand or receive for his own use any fee, reward, gratuity, or remuneration of any kind whatsoever, other than his official salary and allowances, for services performed by him either in or out of office hours, in connexion with the Department.
Performance of work outside Department.
34. An officer shall not accept or engage in any paid employment other than in connexion with the duties of his office in the Department unless the permission of the Commission in writing has first been obtained.
Borrowing between officers.
35. Any monetary transaction between officers, either as principals or agents, whereby any interest or other return in money or kind is charged or paid, or money is borrowed by senior officers from their subordinates, is forbidden.
Care of property.
36. All officers shall be held responsible for the careful use and preservation of all departmental property in their possession, custody, or care.
Office hours.
37. Except as otherwise ordered by the Commission, the Department’s offices shall be open to the public for the transaction of business from 9 a.m. to 4.15 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays inclusive, and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.
Hours of attendance.
38. (1) Except where otherwise determined by the Commission, the hours of attendance to be observed shall, subject to these Regulations, be from 9 a.m. to 4.45 p.m., with an interval of one hour for luncheon, except on Saturdays, when the hours of attendance shall be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
(2) The ordinary hours of attendance of artisans, labourers, and similar classes shall be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an interval of one hour for luncheon, except on Saturdays, when the hours of attendance shall be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
(3) Where the nature of the duties of any officer or class of officers does not, in the public interest, permit of attendance as prescribed in the last two preceding sub-regulations, other hours of duty may, subject to the directions of the Commission, be specified in departmental instructions by the Deputy-Commissioner.
Attendance book.
39. An attendance-book shall be kept, and the Chief Clerk shall be responsible to the Deputy-Commissioner for the proper keeping of the book and the observance by officers of the regulation office hours.
Officers to sign attendance book.
40. (1) Every officer, except those specially exempted by the Commission, shall enter daily in the attendance-book the time of his arrival at and departure from the office.
(2) Officers shall sign immediately upon, and in order of, their arrival at the office, and enter the time of their arrival.
(3) On departure from the office at the termination of th
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.