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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This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.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 set out the detailed employment rules for the Department of Repatriation staff under the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1920. They prescribe duties, attendance, leave (recreation and sick), pay scales, overtime, allowances, appointments, transfers, removal costs, temporary staff conditions, record-keeping and discipline.
They affect every officer, clerk and temporary employee of the Department (including preference for returned soldiers and dependants) and matter because they allocate who pays, who decides (Commission/Deputy‑Commissioner), what managers may discretionarily alter, and the administrative and compliance burdens on staff.
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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.
1920. No. 150.
————
REGULATIONS UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS’ REPATRIATION ACT 1920.
I, SIR WILLIAM HILL IRVINE, the Deputy of 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, to come into operation as from 1st July, 1920.
Dated this first day of September, 1920.
W. H. IRVINE,
Deputy of the Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
E. D. MILLEN,
Minister of State for Repatriation.
———
REPATRIATION (STAFF) REGULATIONS.
Part I.—Preliminary.
Short title.
Parts.
Part I.—Preliminary.
Part II.—Functions of Officers.
Part III.—Duties of Officers.
Part IV.—Leave, and Holidays.
Part V.—Temporary Officers.
Part VI.—Appointments.
Part VII.—Transfers.
Part VIII.—Classifications and Salaries.
Part IX.—Allowances.
Part X.—Miscellaneous.
Definitions.
“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 Repatriation Commission.
“Secretary” means the officer appointed as Secretary to the Commission under the Act.
“The Act” means the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1920.
“The Department” means the Department of Repatriation.
Part II.—Functions of Officers.
Responsibility of Commission to Minister.
4. (a) The Commission shall be responsible to the Minister for the general working of the Department and for all the administrative business thereof.
(b) Any power or authority vested in a Deputy-Commissioner by these Orders shall be exercisable by the Commission.
Responsibility of Deputy-Commissioner to Commission.
5. (a) 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.
(b) 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.
6. 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.
Officers to be given written instructions.
7. A Deputy-Commissioner shall insure that—
(a) each officer is supplied with written instructions as to his duties, and that a copy of these 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.
8. A Deputy-Commissioner shall supply to the Commission such returns and reports, or other information as the Commission requires.
Annual report on staff.
9. 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 subdivision of Class or 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 service; 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 will be indicated on the Return opposite the number allotted to that position.
Amendments of system, &c.
10. A Deputy-Commissioner shall report to the Commission whenever necessity arises 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 may think it desirable for the Commission to be acquainted.
Death or resignation of officer.
11. A Deputy-Commissioner shall immediately report to the Commission the death or resignation of any officer.
Creation, abolition, and reclassification of offices.
12. 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.
13. Whenever a Deputy-Commissioner 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 Commission.
Press comments.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
Functions of Officers in charge of Sections or Sub-branches.
17.—(1) Officers in charge of Sections or Sub-branches of the Department shall be accountable to the Deputy-Commissioner for the proper and efficient working of their Sections or Sub-branches, 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 reduction in the amount of work or the re-arrangement 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 or Sub-branches to be supplied with written detailed instructions as to his duties, and insure 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.
18.—(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 reduction in the amount 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.—Duties of Officers.
Knowledge of Act, Regulations, &c.
19. All officers shall acquaint themselves with, the Act and Regulations, Rulings and Orders, and decisions and instructions issued in connexion therewith.
Attention and devotion to duty.
20. All officers shall, during the hours of business, 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.
21. Every officer shall obey promptly all instructions given him by the officer under whose immediate control or supervision he is placed. If any officer has cause for 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 may be given to him until they are countermanded by a competent authority.
Performance of duties.
22. 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.
23. Unless otherwise ordered by the Deputy-Commissioner, every officer not immediately under supervision shall keep a diary showing the daily duties performed by him and the time occupied therein, and shall, when required to do so, furnish a copy of this diary to the officer under whose authority he is placed.
Officers not to publicly comment on administration.
24. 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.
25. (a) Except in the course of official duty, no communication concerning public business or any other matter of which the officer has knowledge officially, shall be given, directly or indirectly, by an officer without the express direction or permission of the Deputy-Commissioner.
(b) The Deputy-Commissioner shall immediately suspend any officer charged with committing a breach of this regulation.
(c) Officers shall sign a declaration of secrecy with regard to information received by them in their official capacity.
Outside Influence.
28. Officers shall not seek the influence or interest of any person outside the Department in order to obtain promotion, removal, or other advantage. Any officer who considers that his claim for promotion or consideration has, been overlooked may communicate with the Commission in the manner prescribed by the next succeeding regulation.
Communications to Commission.
27. All official communications intended for the Commission shall be forwarded by the Officer in charge of the Section or Branch through the Chief Clerk to the Deputy-Commissioner, who shall forward them to the Commission with such comment as he deems necessary.
Communication to Deputy Commissioner.
28. All communications intended for the Deputy-Commissioner shall be forwarded through the Officer in charge of the Section or Branch to the Chief Clerk, who will forward same to the Deputy-Commissioner with such comment as he deems necessary.
Giving of testimonials.
Gratuities.
30. (a) An officer shall not receive any fee, reward, gratuity, or remuneration of any kind whatsoever other than his official salary and allowance for services performed by him in connexion with the Department.
(b) The Deputy-Commissioner shall immediately suspend any officer charged with committing a breach of this regulation.
Care of property.
31. All officers shall be held responsible for the careful use and preservation of all departmental property in their possession, custody, or care.
Borrowing or lending money.
32. An officer shall not borrow money from a subordinate.
Office hours.
33. 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 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays inclusive, and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.
Hours of attendance.
34. The hours of attendance of officers not subject to special Regulations or departmental arrangements in that behalf, or not specially exempted by the Deputy-Commissioner, shall be from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays inclusive, and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.
Attendance book.
35. An attendance book shall be kept, and the Chief Clerk will 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.
36. Any officer other than the Chief Clerk and the Departmental Medical Officer shall enter daily in the attendance book the time of his arrival at and departure from the office. Officers shall sign immediately upon, and in order of, their arrival at the office, and enter the time of their arrival. On departure from the office at the termination of the day or period of duty, they will sign again in consecutive order of departure, entering the time of their departure.
Attendance book to be withdrawn at 9.15 a.m.
37. The attendance book shall be accessible to officers before and up to 9.15 a.m. every day, when it shall be withdrawn and a line ruled by the Chief Clerk under the last signature therein. It shall not be produced for recording departures until the proper time of ceasing duty.
Time for commencing duty.
38. The allowance of fifteen minutes before the withdrawal of the attendance book must only be regarded as a concession to meet emergent cafes. The officers not subject to special Regulations in this regard, or not specially exempted from attendance at that hour, must be in their offices at 9 a.m.
Irregularity of attendance.
39. Any officer not subject to special orders in that regard, or not specially exempted, arriving at the office after 9.15 a.m. shall report to the Chief Clerk, who shall record the time of his arrival in the attendance book, and if a satisfactory explanation be not made, his irregularity, if repeated, shall be brought under the notice of the Deputy-Commissioner.
Time for luncheon.
40. Officers shall be allowed three-quarters of an hour daily for luncheon, i.e., from. 1 p.m. to 1.45 p.m., or at such time as the Deputy-Commissioner arranges, so as to prevent any interference with the transaction of departmental business.
Part IV.—Leave and Holidays.
Absence during office hours.
41.—(1) Officers in charge of Sections shall not leave the office during business hours without first obtaining the approval of the Deputy-Commissioner or Chief Clerk.
(2) Officers other than those in charge of Sections shall not leave the office during business hours without the permission of the Officer in charge of the Section.
(3) In all cases a memorandum will be left on the desk of the absent officer detailing his movements and the probable time of his return. If not on official business, the period of absence shall be recorded in the attendance book.
Recreation Leave.
42.—(1) The Deputy-Commissioner may grant to every permanent officer of his Department leave of absence for recreation for any period or periods not exceeding in the whole eighteen days in each year, exclusive of Sundays and holidays. Such leave shall be dependent on the good conduct and regular
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.