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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
These Regulations replace earlier rules and set the operational framework for civilian staff in Commonwealth naval establishments. They define key roles (Naval Board, Officer‑in‑Charge, officers, employees), working hours, pay scales, leave, discipline, medical care, travel and removal expenses, and detailed apprenticeship terms.
Mechanically, they allocate authority to the Naval Board and Officers‑in‑Charge, make the Commonwealth responsible for approved payments, and create specific compliance obligations, allowances and penalties that determine who pays, who decides, and how staff behaviour is regulated.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Naval Establishments Regulations.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES.
1926. No. 197.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVAL DEFENCE ACT 1910-1918.
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 Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twenty-second day of December, 1926.
STONEHAVEN,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
C. W. C. MARR,
Acting Minister of State for Defence.
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS REGULATIONS.
Part I.—Preliminary.
Citation.
Repeal.
Parts
| Part | I.— | Preliminary. |
|---|---|---|
| Part | II.— | Administration. |
| Part | III.— | Attendance and Duties of officers and employees. |
| Part | IV.— | Pay, Allowances, &c. |
| Part | V.— | Holidays and Leave of Absence. |
| Part | VI.— | Medical Attention and Compensation. |
| Part | VII.— | Travelling and Removal Expenses. |
| Part | VIII.— | Apprentices. |
Definitions.
“The Act” means the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918, and any later Acts amending that Act.
“Minister” means the Minister of State administering the Naval Defence Act 1910-1918.
“Naval Board” means the Naval Board of Administration constituted under the Acts.
“Secretary” means the officer appointed to be Secretary to the Naval Board or such other official as the Naval Board may authorize to act for him.
C.17554.—Price 8d.
“Officer-in-Charge” means the officer appointed to be in charge of a Naval Establishment or group of Naval Establishments, and in respect of Navy Office means the Secretary.
“Officer” means a person who is employed in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 41 of the Act in a civilian capacity in or in connexion with a Naval Establishment and who is appointed by the Governor-General, provided that the Naval Board may appoint persons to be temporary officers and may at any time terminate the appointments of temporary officers.
“Employee” means a person (other than an officer) who is employed in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 41 of the Act in a civilian capacity in or in connexion with a Naval Establishment and who is engaged by the Officer-in-Charge.
“Returned Soldier” means any person who enlisted prior to the eleventh day of November, 1918, and served in the war with satisfactory record in any Expeditionary Force raised under the provisions of the Defence Act 1903-1918, and includes—
(a) a member of the Army Medical Corps Nursing Service who was accepted or appointed by the Director-General of Medical Services for service outside Australia during the war;
(b) any member of the Naval Forces of the Commonwealth who has during the war been on active service outside Australia or on a ship war;
(c) any person who, during the war, has been employed as a radio telegraphist in the transport service in connexion with any such Expeditionary Force, and who, while so employed, served in the zone of war; and
(d) any person who was born in Australia, or resident in Australia within six months prior to enlistment who, at any time during the war, served with satisfactory record in a Naval or Military Expeditionary Force raised in the United Kingdom or in any British Dominion.
“The War” means the war which commenced on the fourth day of August, nineteen hundred and fourteen.
“Naval Establishment” includes any Dockyard, Shipyard, Office, Victualling Depot, Armament Depot or any undertaking established or carried on in connexion with Naval Defence.
“Service” means service in a civilian capacity under sub-section (1) of section 41 of the Naval Defence Act.
Part II.—Administration.
Responsibility and authority of Naval Board.
Responsibility of Officer-in-charge.
(a) For the efficient, safe, and economical working of the Naval Establishment under his charge.
(b) For the direction and supervision of the Staff, and that the members of such staff duly fulfil the duties assigned to them, that discipline is maintained, and that the provisions of all Acts and Regulations and orders of the Naval Board relating to Naval Establishments, officers, and employees thereof are strictly observed.
Authority of Officer-in-charge.
(a) To engage, discharge, or retire employees, provided that no employee shall be engaged who has attained the age of 60 years, unless with the approval of the Naval Board.
(b) To fix weekly, daily, hourly, or piece-work rates of wages of employees within the limits approved by the Naval Board; and
(c) Subject to these Regulations, and to the approval of the Naval Board, to make rules for the conduct of the Naval Establishment under his charge.
Delegation of powers by Officer-in-charge
(2) Every delegation under this regulation shall be revocable at will, and no delegation shall prevent the exercise of any power, function, or authority by the Officer-in-Charge.
Liability incurred on behalf of Government.
Annual Reports of Establishments.
Excess Officers—Transfer or retirement of.
11. If, at any time, the Officer-in-Charge, or Senior Officer under the Officer-in-Charge, 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 method of working, he shall report forthwith accordingly. Such report shall be transmitted through or by the Officer-in-Charge to the Naval Board, and the Naval Board may transfer an excess officer to some other position of equal salary, and if no position of equal salary is available which the excess officer is considered by the Naval Board to be competent to fill, such officer may be transferred to a position of lower salary, and if no such position is available, the Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister, retire the officer from the Service.
Transfer of officers and employees.
Temporary Officers—application of regulations to
Engagement of employees.
14. Employees shall be temporarily engaged and their engagements may be terminable without notice on either side, provided that an employee engaged under agreement shall be subject to the terms of such agreement. Employment in a temporary capacity shall not establish any claim to permanent employment.
Award of Commonwealth Arbitration Court.
Part III.—Attendance and Duties of Officers and Employees.
Hours of attendance &c.
(2) The hours of attendance of officers and employees shall be as determined by the Officer-in-Charge from time to time.
(3) Officers or employees may be required to perform public duty beyond the usual hours, whenever it is necessary to bring up arrears of work or to meet any temporary pressure of business.
Recording of attendance.
(2) Any person failing to comply with the orders of the Officer-in-Charge in this respect and any person discovered irregularly recording the attendance of any other person shall be deemed to have committed a breach of these Regulations, and will be dealt with by the Officer-in-Charge accordingly.
Irregularity of attendance by employees.
18. Any employee arriving at his work after the time determined under regulation 16 may have his time stopped for such period as may be determined by the Officer-in-Charge.
Absence from duty.
Deduction of pay for absence without leave.
20. Where an officer or employee is absent without leave there shall be deducted from his salary or wages his pay for each day or part of a day of such absence.
Performance of work outside Government Service.
(a) accept or continue to hold an office in or under the Government of any State, or in or under any public or municipal corporation; or
(b) accept or continue to hold or discharge the duties of, or be employed in, a paid office in connexion with any banking, insurance, mining, mercantile, or other commercial business, whether the same be carried on by any corporation, company, firm, or individual; or
(c) engage in or undertake any such business, whether as principal or agent; or
(d) engage or continue in the private practice of any profession or trade; or
(e) accept or engage in any paid employment other than in connexion with the duties of his office or offices under the Commonwealth; or
(f) demand or receive for his own use any fee, reward, gratuity, or remuneration of any kind whatsoever, other than his official salary, wages, or allowances, for services performed by him, either in or out of office hours, in connexion with the Government Service.
Provided that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent an officer or employee from becoming a member or shareholder only of any incorporated company, or of any company or society of persons registered under any Act in any State or elsewhere, but an officer or employee shall not take any part in the conduct of the business of the company or society otherwise than by the exercise of his right to vote as a member or shareholder.
Officer or employee to give evidence when required.
(2) An officer or employee appearing before the Officer-in-Charge, the Naval Board or a Board of Inquiry (whether summoned or attending voluntarily) shall answer all questions asked him pertinent to the inspection, inquiry or investigation, and shall produce all official or public books, documents or writings in his control, which he is required to produce.
(3) No officer or employee shall be compelled to answer any question tending to incriminate him.
Punishment for offences.
(a) commits any breach of these Regulations; or
(b) is negligent or careless in the discharge of his duties; or
(c) is inefficient or incompetent through causes which appear to be within his own control; or
(d) uses intoxicating liquors or drugs to excess; or
(e) is guilty of any disgraceful or improper conduct, either in his official capacity or otherwise,
shall be guilty of an offence, and such offence shall be reported forthwith to the Naval Board by the Officer-in-Charge, and the Naval Board may, if the officer is considered to be guilty of the offence, call upon the
officer for an explanation as to the alleged offence and if on consideration of the explanation the officer is deemed to have committed the offence, may—
(i) fine the officer any sum not exceeding £5, or
(ii) reduce his salary, or
(iii) reduce him to a lower position, or
(iv) transfer him to some other position, which transfer may be in addition to fine or reduction, or (v) recommend to the Minister that the officer be dismissed from the Service and the Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister, dismiss the officer from the Service.
Insolvent officers.
(2) If it appears to the Court that the applicant has been guilty of fraud, dishonorable conduct, or extravagance, the Court shall direct the Clerk of the Court thereupon to report the same to the Naval Board.
(3) If the officer does not apply as aforesaid for a certificate of discharge, or if he applies, and it appears from the report that the officer has been guilty of fraud, dishonorable conduct, or extravagance, the officer may be dismissed from the Service, or reduced to a lower division, class, or position, or salary, or punished in such other manner as the case demands, as may be determined by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister.
Attachment of salary of officers.
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.