Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2013C00310
Timestamp: 2019-02-15 20:47:13
Document Index: 52718602

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 9', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 11', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 8', 'art 10']

Details: C2013C00310
- C2013C00310
Act No. 147 of 1999 as amended, taking into account amendments up to Public Service Amendment Act 2013
Public Service Amendment Act 2013 - C2013A00002
End Date 14 Jan 2014
C2013C00310
No. 147, 1999 as amended
Includes amendments up to: Act No. 2, 2013
This is a compilation of the Public Service Act 1999 as amended and in force on 1 July 2013. It includes any amendment affecting the compiled Act to that date.
4............ This Act binds the Crown................................................................... 2
5............ This Act extends to things outside Australia....................................... 2
6............ Engagement of employees in Department or Executive Agency......... 2
7............ Interpretation....................................................................................... 3
8............ Relationship with Fair Work Acts....................................................... 6
9............ Constitution of the APS...................................................................... 7
10.......... APS Values........................................................................................ 7
10A....... APS Employment Principles............................................................... 8
11.......... Commissioner’s Directions about APS Values.................................. 9
11A....... Commissioner’s Directions about employment matters...................... 9
12.......... Agency Heads must promote APS Values and APS Employment Principles 10
13.......... The APS Code of Conduct............................................................... 10
14.......... Agency Heads and statutory office holders bound by Code of Conduct 12
15.......... Breaches of the Code of Conduct...................................................... 12
16.......... Whistleblower reports....................................................................... 14
18.......... Promotion of employment equity...................................................... 16
19.......... Limitation on Ministerial directions to Agency Head........................ 16
Part 4—APS employees 17
Division 1—APS employees generally 17
20.......... Employer powers etc. of Agency Head............................................. 17
21.......... Prime Minister’s directions to Agency Heads................................... 17
22.......... Engagement of APS employees........................................................ 17
23.......... Classification Rules........................................................................... 18
24.......... Terms and conditions of employment............................................... 20
25.......... Assignment of duties........................................................................ 21
26.......... Voluntary moves between Agencies................................................. 21
27.......... Compulsory moves between Agencies............................................. 21
28.......... Suspension........................................................................................ 21
29.......... Termination of employment.............................................................. 22
30.......... Retirement......................................................................................... 22
31.......... Forfeiture of additional remuneration................................................ 23
32.......... Right of return for election candidates............................................... 23
33.......... Review of actions.............................................................................. 24
Division 2—The Senior Executive Service 26
34.......... SES employees................................................................................. 26
35.......... Constitution and role of SES............................................................. 26
37.......... Incentive to retire............................................................................... 26
38.......... Commissioner’s certificate required for termination of SES employment 27
Division 3—Heads of Mission 28
39.......... Heads of Mission.............................................................................. 28
Part 5—The Australian Public Service Commissioner 29
Division 1—Commissioner’s functions etc. 29
40.......... Australian Public Service Commissioner.......................................... 29
41.......... Commissioner’s functions................................................................ 29
41A....... Inquiry into alleged breach of Code of Conduct by Agency Head.... 31
41B....... Inquiry into alleged breach of Code of Conduct by APS employee or former APS employee 32
41C....... Systems reviews............................................................................... 34
41D....... Special reviews................................................................................. 34
42.......... Commissioner’s Directions............................................................... 35
43.......... Commissioner’s inquiry powers....................................................... 35
44.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 36
Division 2—Commissioner’s appointment, conditions etc. 37
45.......... Appointment of Commissioner......................................................... 37
46.......... Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment.......... 37
47.......... Removal from office......................................................................... 38
48.......... Acting Commissioner....................................................................... 38
Division 3—Special Commissioners 39
48A....... Appointment of Special Commissioners........................................... 39
48B....... Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment.......... 39
48C....... Termination of appointment.............................................................. 40
Part 6—The Merit Protection Commissioner 41
Division 1—Merit Protection Commissioner’s functions etc. 41
49.......... Merit Protection Commissioner........................................................ 41
50.......... Merit Protection Commissioner’s functions...................................... 41
50A....... Inquiry into alleged breach of Code of Conduct by APS employee or former APS employee 42
51.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 44
Division 2—Merit Protection Commissioner’s appointment, conditions etc. 45
52.......... Appointment of Merit Protection Commissioner.............................. 45
53.......... Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment.......... 45
54.......... Removal from office......................................................................... 46
55.......... Acting Merit Protection Commissioner............................................. 46
Part 7—Secretaries of Departments 47
56.......... Creation of offices of Secretary......................................................... 47
57.......... Roles and responsibilities of Secretaries........................................... 47
58.......... Appointment..................................................................................... 48
59.......... Termination of appointment.............................................................. 50
60.......... Engagement of former Secretaries..................................................... 50
61.......... Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment.......... 51
61A....... Annual performance review.............................................................. 51
62.......... Acting Secretary................................................................................ 51
63.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 51
Part 8—Secretaries Board 53
64.......... Secretaries Board.............................................................................. 53
Part 9—Executive Agencies 54
65.......... Establishment etc. of Executive Agencies......................................... 54
66.......... Responsibilities of Heads of Executive Agencies............................. 54
67.......... Appointment etc. of Head................................................................. 55
68.......... Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment.......... 55
69.......... Acting Head...................................................................................... 56
70.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 56
Part 10—Administrative arrangements and re‑organisations 57
71.......... Arrangements with States and Territories......................................... 57
72.......... Machinery of government changes................................................... 57
Part 10A—Protection of information 60
72A....... Protection of information—Commissioner’s functions etc............... 60
72B....... Protection of information—Merit Protection Commissioner’s functions etc. 62
72C....... Giving information or producing documents to Commissioner not admissible in evidence etc. 65
72D....... Giving information or producing documents to Merit Protection Commissioner not admissible in evidence etc. 66
72E........ Release of personal information........................................................ 68
Part 11—Miscellaneous 69
73.......... Payments in special circumstances.................................................... 69
74.......... Locally engaged employees............................................................... 70
75.......... Attachment of salaries to satisfy judgment debts............................... 70
77.......... Positions........................................................................................... 70
78.......... Delegations....................................................................................... 71
78A....... Immunity from civil proceedings...................................................... 72
79.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 73
Endnote 1—Legislation history 75
Endnote 3—Uncommenced amendments [none] 82
Endnote 4—Misdescribed amendments [none] 83
(c) to define the powers, functions and responsibilities of Agency Heads, the Australian Public Service Commissioner and the Merit Protection Commissioner; and
Commissioner means the Australian Public Service Commissioner appointed under this Act.
Commissioner’s Directions means directions issued by the Commissioner under section 11, 11A or 15.
WR Act collective transitional instrument means an award, a collective agreement or a pre‑reform certified agreement (within the meaning of those terms in the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009).
WR Act transitional instrument means an award, a workplace agreement, a pre‑reform certified agreement, an AWA or a pre‑reform AWA (within the meaning of those terms in the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009).
8 Relationship with Fair Work Acts
(1) This Act has effect subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009.
(2) Subsection (1) is not intended to imply anything about the relationship between this Act and any Act other than the Fair Work Act 2009 or the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009.
(1) The Commissioner may issue directions in writing in relation to any of the APS Values for the purpose of:
(1) An APS employee must behave honestly and with integrity in connection with APS employment.
(2) An APS employee must act with care and diligence in connection with APS employment.
(3) An APS employee, when acting in connection with APS employment, must treat everyone with respect and courtesy, and without harassment.
(4) An APS employee, when acting in connection with APS employment, must comply with all applicable Australian laws. For this purpose, Australian law means:
(1) An Agency Head may impose the following sanctions on an APS employee in the Agency who is found (under procedures established under subsection (3) of this section or subsection 41B(3) or 50A(2)) to have breached the Code of Conduct:
(1) A person performing functions in or for an Agency must not victimise, or discriminate against, an APS employee because the APS employee has reported breaches (or alleged breaches) of the Code of Conduct to:
(b) the Merit Protection Commissioner or a person authorised for the purposes of this section by the Merit Protection Commissioner; or
An Agency Head must establish a workplace diversity program to assist in giving effect to the APS Employment Principles.
An Agency Head is not subject to direction by any Minister in relation to the exercise of powers by the Agency Head under section 15 or 16 or Division 1 or 2 of Part 4 in relation to particular individuals.
(4) The regulations may prescribe the circumstances in which persons may be engaged as mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or (c).
(2) The Classification Rules may apply, adopt or incorporate, with or without modification, any of the provisions of:
(a) a modern award, as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time; or
(b) a transitional APCS, as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time.
(5) If a relevant industrial instrument, determination under this Act or written contract of employment contains procedures to be followed when reducing the classification, then a reduction is of no effect unless those procedures are followed.
(d) a WR Act transitional instrument; or
(e) a transitional APCS.
transitional APCS has the meaning given by Schedule 2 to the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009.
(1) An Agency Head may from time to time determine in writing the terms and conditions of employment applying to an APS employee or APS employees in the Agency.
Note 1: Certain terms and conditions of employment are applicable to an APS employee under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard or the National Employment Standards.
Note 2: Other Commonwealth laws deal with matters such as superannuation, compensation, long service leave and maternity leave.
(1A) A determination under subsection (1) is of no effect to the extent that it would reduce the benefit to an APS employee of an individual term or condition applicable to the employee under:
(b) a WR Act transitional instrument.
Note: A determination under subsection (1) would also be of no effect to the extent that it would reduce the benefit to an APS employee of a term or condition applicable to the employee under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard or the National Employment Standards.
(2) A determination under subsection (1) may apply, adopt or incorporate, with or without modification, any of the provisions of:
(b) a WR Act collective transitional instrument;
Note: A determination under subsection (1) may apply, adopt or incorporate, with or without modification, any of the provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard or the National Employment Standards. However, any modification of the provisions of those Standards by a determination under subsection (1) would be of no effect to the extent that it would reduce the benefit to an APS employee of a term or condition applicable to the employee under those Standards.
(3) The Public Service Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine the terms and conditions of employment applying to APS employees, if the Public Service Minister is of the opinion that it is desirable to do so because of exceptional circumstances.
(4) The limitation in subsection (1A) does not apply in relation to a determination under subsection (3).
(5) A determination under subsection (3) overrides the following, to the extent of any inconsistency:
(b) the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard;
(2) Subject to Commissioner’s Directions issued under subsection 11A(1), the agreement has effect according to its terms, by force of this section.
Note 1: The Fair Work Act 2009 has rules and entitlements that apply to termination of employment.
(5) Subsection (4) does not, by implication, limit the grounds for termination of the employment of a non‑ongoing APS employee.
(a) the person resigned as an APS employee in order to contest an election specified in Commissioner’s Directions issued under subsection 11A(1); and
(2) The person is entitled to be again engaged as an APS employee, in accordance with Commissioner’s Directions issued under subsection 11A(1) and within the time limits provided by those Directions.
(b) the employee is taken, for all purposes, to have retired involuntarily from the APS.
(a) all relevant requirements of Commissioner’s Directions made under subsection 11A(1) have been satisfied in respect of the proposed termination; and
(1) There is to be an Australian Public Service Commissioner.
(a) an inquiry that is conducted by the Commissioner for the purpose of paragraph 41(2)(c), (f) or (l) and is notified by the Commissioner in the Gazette;
(b) an inquiry that is conducted by the Commissioner for the purpose of paragraph 41(2)(m) or (o);
(c) an inquiry on a matter referred to the Commissioner under paragraph 41(2)(k) by the Public Service Minister, by notice in the Gazette;
(d) an inquiry that is conducted by the Commissioner for the purposes of a special review.
46 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
(4) The Commissioner has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
(5) The Agency Minister may grant the Commissioner leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Agency Minister determines.
(6) The Commissioner holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Agency Minister.
The Agency Minister may appoint a person to act as Commissioner:
(2) The staff necessary to assist the Merit Protection Commissioner must be persons engaged under this Act and made available by the Australian Public Service Commissioner.
(2) The following provisions apply in relation to an inquiry under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) (with references to the Auditor‑General being replaced by references to the Merit Protection Commissioner):
(3) The report must be included in the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s report under subsection 44(1).
53 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
(1) The Merit Protection Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the Merit Protection Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed by the regulations.
(2) The Merit Protection Commissioner is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed by the regulations.
(4) The Merit Protection Commissioner has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
(5) The Public Service Minister may grant the Merit Protection Commissioner leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Public Service Minister determines.
(6) The Merit Protection Commissioner holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Public Service Minister.
The Public Service Minister may appoint a person to act as Merit Protection Commissioner:
61 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
(1) The remuneration of a Secretary is as provided by Division 4 of Part II of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
(2) The other terms and conditions applying to the appointment of a Secretary are as determined by the Remuneration Tribunal under Division 4 of Part II of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
The Prime Minister may appoint a person to act as the Secretary of a Department:
68 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
(1) The Head of an Executive Agency is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the Head of the Executive Agency is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed by the regulations.
(2) The Head of an Executive Agency is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed by the regulations.
(4) The Head of an Executive Agency has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
(5) The Agency Minister may grant the Head of an Executive Agency leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Agency Minister determines.
(6) The Head of an Executive Agency holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Agency Minister.
The Agency Minister of an Executive Agency may appoint a person to act as Head of the Agency:
(b) determine in writing that APS employees cease to be APS employees and become non‑APS employees of a specified Commonwealth body or Commonwealth authority;
(3) If an APS employee (the transferred employee) becomes a non‑APS employee of a Commonwealth body or Commonwealth authority under paragraph (1)(b), the employee is entitled to remuneration and other conditions of employment that are not less favourable than the terms and conditions to which the employee was entitled as an APS employee, immediately before ceasing to be an APS employee, under:
(b) a WR Act transitional instrument; or
(5) The regulations may prescribe arrangements for determining any variation of the terms and conditions of employment applicable to:
(4) An authorisation cannot be made under this section if it would involve, or be likely to involve, a total amount exceeding the amount prescribed by the regulations.
Note: Payments under this section must be made from money appropriated by the Parliament. Generally, a payment can be debited against an Agency’s annual appropriation, providing that it relates to some matter that has arisen in the course of its administration.
This endnote sets out details of the legislation history of the Public Service Act 1999.
Schedule 1 (item 62): 20 Mar 2009
Schedule 16 (items 4–28): (c)
Sch. 16 (item 28)
Schedule 2 (items 953–964) and Schedule 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011
Schedule 1 (items 7–10, 12–15): 5 Aug 2011 (see F2011L01603)
Sch. 1 (items 12–15)
Schedule 1: 1 July 2013 (see F2013L00484)
Schedule 27: 27 Mar 2006 (see r. 2(b))
(c) Subsection 2(1) (item 39) of the Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009 provides as follows:
39. Schedule 16
This endnote sets out the amendment history of the Public Service Act 1999.
am. No. 2, 2013
am. SLI 2006 No. 50; No. 8, 2008; No. 54, 2009; No. 2, 2013
rs. No. 2, 2013
ad. No. 2, 2013
Note to s. 11(1)...................
Note to s. 15(1)...................
Subhead. to s. 16(1)............
rep. No. 2, 2013
Note to s. 22(2)...................
Note to s. 24(3)...................
Renumbered Note 1............
Note 2 to s. 29(1)................
am. No. 56, 2006; No. 2, 2013
am. No. 140, 2003; No. 2, 2013
am. No. 137, 2000; No. 2, 2013
Div. 3 of Part 5...................
Note to s. 62.......................
Part 8..................................
Part 10A..............................
s. 72A.................................
s. 72B.................................
s. 72C.................................
s. 72D.................................
s. 72E.................................
am. No. 30, 2006; No. 2, 2013
Note to s. 73.......................
am. No. 63, 2002; No. 2, 2013
s. 78A.................................