//
© 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This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.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 1902 Commonwealth Public Service rules are the original rulebook for Australia’s federal workforce, setting who can be hired, how (competitive exams), pay scales, hours, conduct standards, discipline and appeal processes, leave, transfers and mandatory life insurance. They apply to all Commonwealth employees across four rank-based divisions and impose strict controls—political bans, marital restrictions for women, attendance rules, and discretionary raises—shaping daily work, discipline and career prospects in the early federal bureaucracy.
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 Commonwealth Public Service Regulations.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Commonwealth of Australia.
Department of Home Affairs,
Melbourne, 23rd December, 1902.
HIS Excellency the Governor-General, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, has been pleased to. make the following Regulations, to take effect on and after the 1st day of January, 1903.
WILLIAM JOHN LYNE,
Minister for Home Affairs.
C.11342.
REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1902.
_______________
CHAPTER I.
Administration and Discipline.
(Sections 20, 21, 40, 66, 63, 69, 70, 71, 72, 79, and 80.)
Introductory.
Interpretation and application of Regulations.
1. These Regulations shall be construed with reference to the terms and interpretations of the Commonwealth Public. Service Act 1902, which Act is referred to hereunder as "the Act."
Officers to be acquainted with these Regulations.
2. All officers are required to acquaint themselves with the Act and Regulations. Officers at the head of the various branches of each Department should send in requisitions for copies for the use of the officers under their control ; and they are hereby directed to keep a copy of the Act and Regulations in each room to which officers of the Public Service commonly have access.
Communications, how to be made.
3. Except as otherwise provided, all communications intended for the Commissioner relating to the Public Service or the administration thereof, or to any subject or matter referred to in the Act or Regulations, should be addressed to the "Secretary to the Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner." All communications intended for the Inspector should be addressed to the Commonwealth Public Service Inspector.
Part I.—Attendance of Officers.
Hours of Business.
4. The hours of attendance to be observed by officers not subject to special Regulations or departmental arrangements in that behalf, or not specially exempted by the Commissioner or by the Permanent Head, shall be from 9 o'clock a.m. to 4.30 p.m., except on Saturdays, when the hours of attendance shall be from 9 o'clock a m. to noon. Where the nature of the work will not, in the public interest, admit of the general observance of this Regulation, the Permanent Head or Chief Officer shall recommend, and the Commissioner will prescribe the hours of duty.
The hours of attendance of officers in the General Division will be determined by the Commissioner from time to time, but the ordinary hours of duty for mechanics, labourers, and similar classes should be, as far as practicable, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with half an hour off for luncheon, and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Attendance-books.
5. In every Department attendance-books shall be kept, and every officer supervising a division or branch shall have charge of the attendance-books to be used by himself and the officers under him, and he will be held responsible to the Chief Officer for the proper keeping of the attendance-books and the due observance of the Regulation hours.
Entries in Attendance-books.
Attendance-books, when accessible.
7. Attendance-books shall be accessible for record and signature by officers before and up to 9.15 a.m. every day, when they shall be withdrawn, and a line ruled under the last signature therein, by the officer supervising the Division or Branch, and
shall not be produced for recording departures until the proper time for ceasing work. The allowance of fifteen minutes before the withdrawal of the attendance-book must only be considered as a concession to meet emergent cases. Officers not subject to special Regulations in that behalf, or not specially exempted from attendance at that hour, must be in their offices at 9 a.m.
Certain Officers not required to Sign Attendance-books.
8. Officers of the Administrative Division and officers specially exempted by the Commissioner or the Permanent Head shall not be required to enter in the attendance-books the times of their arrival at and departure from their offices ; but this exemption shall not be held to authorize any officer so exempted from absenting himself from duty during office hours.
Irregularity of Attendance.
9. Any officer not subject to special Regulations in that behalf, or not specially exempted, arriving at his office after 9.15 a.m., shall report himself to the officer in charge or sub-charge, who shall record the time of his arrival in the attendance-book, and, if a satisfactory explanation be not made, his conduct shall be brought under the notice of the Chief Officer as a breach of the Regulations.
Officers not to leave their Offices.
10. No officer shall be allowed to leave his office during office hours, except on official business or by express permission of the Chief Officer or head of the branch.
Absence during Office Hours.
11. If any officer is found to be habitually irregular in the time of his arrival or departure, or to absent himself without leave during office hours, his conduct shall be reported to the Chief Officer.
Time Allowed for Luncheon.
12. To officers who are required to attend on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., three-quarters of an hour will be allowed daily for luncheon, viz., from 1 o'clock p m. to 1.45 p.m., or at such time as the officer in charge or sub-charge may arrange, so as to prevent any interference with the transaction of public business.
Absence from Duty.
13. No officer shall be absent from duty, or shall leave his district without authorized leave, unless reasonable cause be shown. If an officer be prevented by illness or other emergency from attending to duty, he shall immediately report the fact through the head of the branch to the Chief Officer, and it shall be incumbent upon the officer to furnish such evidence of the illness or emergency as the Chief Officer may consider necessary. The duties of any absent officer shall be performed, if practicable, by his fellow officers, without additional salary or remuneration, in such manner as the superior officer of the branch or sub-department may authorize or direct ; but, if not practicable, then in such manner as the Chief Officer may direct.
Officers Absent Without Leave.
14. In cases where an officer's absence is not sanctioned, there shall be deducted from his salary his pay for each day of such absence.
Part II —Duties of Officers.
Responsibility of Permanent Heads.
15. The Permanent Head shall be responsible for the general working of the Department over which he presides, and for all the business thereof, and shall advise the Minister on all matters relating thereto.
Information to be furnished by Permanent Head.
16. Whenever the Commissioner directs, the Permanent Head shall forward to the Commissioner any information required by him in connexion with the administration of the Act, and, in particular, a return in duplicate showing the officers under his control, arranged under the head of the branches or sub-departments in which they are immediately employed ; the offices they hold, specifying division, class, and subdivision of class or grade ; the emoluments, salaries, allowances, and fees paid to, and an accurate description, in moderate detail, of the duties performed by each officer, the date of his birth, the date of his appointment, and the number of years he has been in the Service. The Permanent Head shall report to the Commissioner, whenever the necessity arises, what alterations, if any, are, in his opinion, necessary or expedient for the more economic, efficient, or convenient working of his Department or any branch thereof. He shall further report to the Commissioner what alterations, if any, are, in his opinion, necessary in the salaries, fees. or allowances of any of the officers under his control; and shall also bring under the attention of the Commissioner any matter, whether in relation to any officer or to the work of any branch of his Department, with which he may think it desirable for the Commissioner to be acquainted. All such returns and reports will be filed as a record by the Commissioner.
Fines.
17. All fines imposed under the Act or Regulations shall be reported monthly by the Chief Officer through the Permanent Head to the Commissioner and to the Auditor-General.
Conduct of Officers.
18. As soon as possible after the months of March, June, September, and December in every year, the Permanent Head of each Department shall report to the Commissioner the names of any officers under his control whose attendance or conduct during the preceding quarter has been unsatisfactory, and any such officer may be removed to any other place or district, or otherwise dealt with as for a breach of these Regulations.
Charges against Officers.
19. If any officer is charged before any Court with or is convicted of any offence, whether punishable by summary conviction or otherwise, the officer in charge of the sub-branch in which the officer is employed shall immediately report the circumstances to the Chief Officer, who shall deal with the case under Section 4G of the Act.
20. If an officer is on an indictment or presentment convicted of any offence he shall be deemed to have forfeited his office, and shall thereupon cease to perform his duties or receive his salary.
Return of Punishments.
21. The Permanent Head of a department shall cause a return to be forwarded not later than the 15th of each month to the Commissioner, showing all punishments inflicted by virtue of the Act or Regulations during the previous month. The return shall set forth the na2me of the officer, office held, nature of offence, and punishment. Such information shall be entered in a book against the officer's name, and preserved as a record in the Commissioner's office.
Officers under Suspension.
22. Where an officer is suspended for an offence, and the charge has been found to be not proven, full pay for the period of suspension shall be allowed.
Where the offence is admitted or proved the officer may be deprived of pay for the whole or any portion of the period of suspension, but in any such case the recommendation of the Chief Officer shall set forth, in addition to any other punishment proposed, the amount of pay of which it is intended to deprive the offender, and any such deprivation shall be regarded and recorded as part of the penalty.
Insobriety.
23. If an officer in charge or sub-charge observes at any time that any one under his supervision is unfit to perform his duties properly by reason of over-indulgence in intoxicating liquor, he shall temporarily suspend him from duty, and immediately report the matter to the Chief Officer of the Department.
Annual Report on Fifth Class Officers.
24. During the month of March in each year the Permanent Head of each department shall furnish to the Commissioner a report upon the conduct. diligence. and general efficiency of each officer in the Fifth Class of the Clerical Division.
Such report shall. in the first instance, be made to the Chief Officer by the immediate superior of the officer reported upon, and then forwarded to the Commissioner by the Permanent Head, with such comments as he thinks fit.
Upon the receipt of such report, and upon obtaining any further information which is necessary, the Commissioner will determine whether such officer is entitled to the full amount or any part of the prescribed increase of salary.
Officers of 60 years of age.
25. When any officer attains the age of 60 years the Permanent Head shall advise the Commissioner whether such officer is willing and fit to continue to perform the duties of his position or whether he should be retired from the service.
Return to be furnished of Officers over 60 years of age.
26. The Permanent Head shall furnish the Commissioner in the month of April in each year with a return of officers in his Department who have attained the age of 60 years or over, together with a report in each case as to whether the officer is able and willing to continue to perform his duties. Should the Permanent Head recommend the retirement of any officer over the age specified, he shall also state the reasons for such recommendation.
Every officer reaching the age of 65 years shall inform the Chief Officer of his Department, who shall notify the Permanent Head in order that he may make a recommendation to the Commissioner as to whether it is desirable or otherwise to continue the officer in the service.
Death of Officer.
27. The Chief Officer, through the Permanent Head, shall immediately report the death of any officer to the Commissioner.
Information to be furnished by Chief Officer.
28. Whenever requested by the Inspector the Chief Officer shall supply such returns or other information as may be required.
Quarterly Return of Temporary Employés.
29. The Chief Officer of each Department in each State shall furnish the Permanent Head not later than the twenty-first day of each quarter with a return showing the names and occupations of all persons temporarily employed at the end of the previous quarter, together with the date each commenced duty—the rate of pay, and the reason for his employment or for the continuance of same. Where the employment of a person has ceased during the preceding quarter, the date of his ceasing duty shall be quoted and a report furnished by the Chief Officer on his conduct and efficiency during the period of employment. The Permanent Head, within one week of receipt of same, shall make such recommendations as he may deem desirable against the name of each person so employed, and forward the return to the Commissioner.
Creation of New Offices, &c.
30. The Permanent Head of each Department shall report to the Commissioner whenever it is deemed advisable—
(a) To create a new office in any Division in the Department under his control;
(b) To abolish any office in his Department;
(c) To raise or lower the classification or grading of any office, the duties of which have been materially changed.
On receiving the report of the Permanent Head, the Commissioner may make a recommendation on the subject to the Governor-General.
Report as to excess of number of Officers.
31. Whenever the Chief Officer finds that the number of officers under his control is greater than is required to perform the current work of the Department, he shall forthwith report the circumstances to the Permanent Head, who shall advise the Commissioner. Officers in sub-charge are required to report to the Chief Officer when it is considered that a reduction in staff can be made through reduction in amount of work or re-arrangement of duties.
Use of Public Buildings for purposes of Residence.
32. When any officer occupies for the purpose of residence the whole of part of a building belonging to or occupied by the Commonwealth the Chief Officer shall notify the Permanent Head, who shall report the fact to the Commissioner. Postmasters and Others who are provided with quarters are required to reside in them.
Officers who rent Government buildings are prohibited from sub-letting any portion of same without the consent, in writing, of the Permanent Head of their several Departments.
Journals.
33. Unless otherwise ordered by the Permanent Head of the Department, every officer not immediately under supervision shall keep a journal showing daily the duties performed by him, and the time occupied therein, and shall furnish a copy of this journal when required to the officer under whose authority he is placed.
Obligations of Senior Officers.
34. Officers in charge of any sub-department, branch, or minor division of the Public Service, shall be accountable for the maintenance
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.