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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
These 1906 regulations set the financial rules for Australia’s newly formed Commonwealth Naval Forces — fixing pay scales, allowances, travel and rations, sick leave and injury compensation, and spending controls. They govern permanent sailors and officers, naval militia and volunteers, and the commandants and paymasters who approve and administer funds. By standardising pay, entitlements and financial accountability across states while limiting overspending, they established the post‑Federation naval payroll and budget framework and centralized oversight from the Department of Defence.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Naval Forces of the Commonwealth.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES.
1906. No. 21.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACTS 1903-1904.
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 Defence Acts 1903−1904, to come into operation on the First day of March, 1906.
Dated this 20th day of February, One thousand nine hundred and six.
NORTHCOTE,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s command—
T. PLAYFORD.
FINANCIAL AND ALLOWANCE REGULATIONS FOR THE NAVAL FORCES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
All Financial and Allowance Regulations for the Naval Forces of the Commonwealth heretofore made, whether provisional or otherwise, are hereby repealed.
The black lines in the margin serve to indicate new provisions or amendment of previously existing Regulations.
PART I.
SECTION I.—DEFINITIONS.
“Board” means the Board of Administration for the Naval Forces.
“Director” means the Director of the Naval Forces.
“Secretary” means the Secretary, Department of Defence.
“Finance Member” means the Finance Member of the Board of Administration for the Naval Forces.
“Commandant” means the Officer appointed to command any State Division of the Naval Forces.
“Chief Accountant” means the officer appointed to be Chief Accountant in the office of the Chief Administration.
“Paymaster” means the Officer appointed to be Paymaster or Accountant Officer of any State Division of the Naval Forces.
“Authorizing Officer” means the Officer appointed to be Authorizing Officer for any State Division of the Naval Forces.
“Paying Officer” means the Officer appointed to be Paying Officer for any State Division of the Naval Forces.
“Executive Officer” means an Officer of the Executive Branch of the Forces.
“Division” means the Naval Militia, or Volunteer Force established at any Port.
SECTION II.—INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMANDANTS.
Responsibility of Commandants.
Commandants are held responsible for the economical expenditure of all moneys provided in the annual Estimates for their respective commands; and they are further responsible that no liability is incured against Votes in excess of the provision made. It is advisable, therefore, in this connexion that Commandants should, from time to time, personally inspect claims, especially claims for travelling expenses.
Every credit will be given to Commandants and other officers concerned for economies effected under the different Votes, and for economical administration consistent with efficiency.
Expenditure that may be authorized by Commandants.
(a) To approve of all requisitions for supplies within the Votes on the Estimates, which are governed by regulations.
(b) To approve of any other expenditure (not exceeding £50 in any one case) under the Divisions or Subdivisions of any Votes for Contingencies, General Services, Maintenance of existing Arms and Equipment, provided he has satisfied himself that funds are available; that it is not a new Vote or item or involving any alteration of existing rules or practice; that there-is nothing irregular in the character of the expenditure; and that it is not an allowance or payment to any member of the Forces (except such as is governed by Regulation and does not require Ministerial approval).
(c) To approve of the employment of casual labour (non-clerical) where provision exists on the Estimates for temporary assistance; but no person is to be employed under this authority for any longer time than an aggregate period of six weeks in any financial year.
(d) To approve, under the Regulations governing Compensation for Injuries, of all awards of compensation under paragraph 69, where the award does not exceed payment of compensation for one month, and the medical expenses do not exceed £3 3s.
(e) To approve, after due inquiry, and in accordance with any regulations on the subject, of striking off charge of stores damaged or deficient, provided that the value does not exceed £5.
(f) To approve of increments to Petty Officers and men, where such are prescribed by the Regulations, and provision for which is made by Parliament.
(g) The expenditure under paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) is not to exceed £60 per month without further Ministerial authority.
Return of Expenditure Authorized by the Commandant.
(Note.—It is not necessary to include Expenditure governed by Regulations in this Return.)
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Commandants are not to vary any payments provided for under Regulations.
Proposed expenditure under Votes for Heavy Gun and Small Arm Ammunition; for Warlike Stores; and Estimates of expenditure within the current year’s Estimates for Annual Trainings will be submitted by the Commandant to the Board.
When it is necessary to make re-arrangements or transfers in connexion with any Votes, application is to be made through the Secretary.
When submitting proposals involving expenditure, Commandants shall—
(a) State if any expense will be involved by approval; and, if so, how much.
(b) State whether such expense is provided for; and, if so, the Division, Subdivision, and item in the Appropriation Act.
(c) Furnish a certificate from the Paymaster that money is available on the vote indicated.
When a recommendation is made that is not provided for in the Appropriation Act, it should invariably be the subject of a separate communication.
The Commandant shall, in addition, state that, with his knowledge of the requirements for the remaining period of the financial year, the proposed expenditure shall not involve the necessity for applying for additional funds on any Vote concerned.
When grants are provided for in the Estimates, authority to pay them is to be obtained by the Authorizing Officer on the recommendation of the Commandant.
Unless by special Ministerial sanction, all payments authorized by these Regulations shall be subject to the necessary provision being made by Parliament.
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SECTION III.—PAYMASTERS.—DUTIES AND GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Duties of Paymasters.
The duties of a Paymaster will be as under:—
He will be responsible for the disbursement of the public moneys in accordance with the Regulations, and with any instruction or authority issued by the Board.
He will be held responsible that no arrear occurs in the work of his office, and that the books are posted up daily, so that they may at all times be ready for examination.
He will act as financial adviser to the Commandant upon all questions involving expenditure.
He will keep the Commandant informed of all expenditure on Votes, with the view of assisting him to prevent any Vote being exceeded.
He will be responsible that all accounts in the Pay Office are kept strictly in accordance with the “Treasury Regulations.”
All accounts other than those dealt with under Regulations by other officers shall pass through the office of the Paymaster, who will be responsible that the amount of the appropriation for any Division or Subdivision of the Estimates, or any Loan Appropriation, or Trust Fund Credit, is not exceeded without due authority.
He will, in the event of, receiving any claim which appears to him not authorized by Regulations or instructions, or in regard to which there is doubt as to the admissibility of any charge, point out the same in writing to the Commandant. Should the Commandant consider that, on the contrary, such claim is covered by Regulations or authority, and that the charges are admissible, an immediate report as to the circumstances of the case will be made by the Commandant to the Board; and the account shall not be paid without the approval of the Board.
He will be responsible that the Commandant is informed, in writing, six months before the event, of the name of any member of the Permanent Forces attaining the age prescribed for compulsory retirement, to enable the Commandant to take such steps as he may deem necessary in the matter. Under no circumstances is a member to be granted pay for any period after the date on which he was, in the ordinary course, due for retirement, unless authority for the extension of his services has first been obtained.
He will not apply Public Moneys to any purpose not authorized by the Regulations of the Service, nor will be advance (except as hereinafter provided), lend, or exchange any sums for which he is accountable, nor will be exchange private cheques out of public funds. In the case of members of the Forces travelling on duty, where extended absence is probable, and cash fares, &c., exceeding a total sum of £5, may require to be paid, an advance up to 75 per cent. of the maximum allowance that can be claimed may be made.
He will not advance any moneys to a member of another State Division of the Naval Forces, on account of travelling or other expenses, unless authority has first been obtained for so doing from the authorizing officer of the State Division to which the expenditure is to be charged. In the cases of members of the Central Administration, the authority of the Finance Member must be obtained before any such advances are made.
He will be liable for the amount of disallowances arising from errors or overissues made by him in disregard of Regulations or in the absence of proper authority.
Should difficulty be experienced in recovering money due from officers or others, he will at once represent the circumstances in writing to the Commandant, who will, if necessary, refer the matter to the Board.
He will submit to the Commandant all queries of the Auditor-General, or other officer appointed by him, together with the correspondence, if any, involved. In the case of a reply being deemed to be unsatisfactory by the Auditor-General, or his officer, the matter is to be referred, through the Commandant, to the Board.
Paymasters will see that a copy of the Audit Act and the Treasury Regulations are supplied to every officer receiving or disbursing Public Moneys, and they will obtain receipts for such supply.
27. Instructions as to Payments.
Instructions as to Payments.
An amount provided on the Appropriation Act as salary for one appointment shall not be utilized for the payment of the salaries or portions thereof of two persons for the same period.
No officer is to be paid the salary of any position to which he has not been appointed by Order in Council.
In no cases, except those governed by Regulations, are any allowances to be paid to any members of the Forces, unless such allowances have been authorized by Order in Council, or by the Board.
Overtime money is not to be paid unless the same has received the approval of the Board.
Salary or wages must not be paid from any Vote for “Contingencies,” or from any Vote other than that of a Salary Vote or a Vote for “General Services,” except with the special approval of the Minister.
In no case should any person be temporarily employed without the approval of the Board, except as provided in para. 4 (c).
Any payment made on account of travelling or other expenses to a member of another State Division of the Naval Forces must be at once communicated to the Paymaster of the State Division to which such member belongs.
In the case of any work being carried out in any State by artificers who are ordinarily employed in another State, the cost of material and labour will be charged to the State for which the work is performed. This will also apply to their travelling expenses.
Claims on account of advertising will, wherever practicable, be submitted to the Government Printer or Advertising Board of the State concerned, for checking, before payment is made.
28.—Transfer of Members of the Forces.
Transfer of Members.
In every case where an officer, warrant or petty officer, or man of any branch of the Naval Forces in one S
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.