Excerpt from Report of Royal Commission on Public Service Administration: Commonwealth of Australia

In 1911 an amendment was made in the scale of salaries for officers of the Clerical Division, the only division for which salaries were fixed by statute. Provision was made to permit Chief Officers to allow an officer charged with an offence to continue on duty pending determination of the charge. Previously when the offence was of such a nature as not likely to result in termination of the officer's employment, unnecessary hardships were imposed on officers by suspension, as well as inconvenience to the Department. A new provision was adopted for the granting to officers of payment in lieu of furlough upon their retirement, and, in the case of death of an officer who had been entitled to furlough, for payment to his dependants. In computing the service for certain purposes of officers who had had previous service in the Naval or Military Forces, the latter service had not been credited under the original Act to such officers. An amendment rectified this disability.

By an amending Act passed in 1913, eligibility for appointment to the Common wealth Service was conferred on officers in corresponding divisions of the Public or Railway Service of a State. The power thus given proved of advantage in obtaining officers of special qualifications in cases where it was in the interests of the Commonwealth to recruit from the sister services.

In 1915 preference for appointment as the result of examination was accorded returned soldiers. The maximum age for appointment by examination to the Clerical Division was raised from 21 to 25 years, as the former limitation was found to have adeterrent effect upon the recruitment of the service by suitable appointees. Provision was made to admit of the transfer of officers of the Territorial Services to the Common wealth Public Service where the public interest would be served by such transfer. Persons who, had served in the permanent Naval Forces of the Commonwealth were granted eligibility for appointment to the General Division in the Department of Trade and Customs where the experience and training of such persons could be used to advantage. The procedure in regard to officers convicted of criminal offences was simplified. Previously, where an officer had been convicted otherwise than on indictment or presentment, it was necessary to proceed further against the officer under the Public Service Act in order to terminate his public service but the amendment gave power of dismissal following upon conviction. Provision was made for the granting of payment to officers for duty performed on public holidays. The previous practice of granting officers time off in lieu of holiday duty was inconvenient to departments, and inability to release ofiicers for the equivalent time made it necessary to adopt payment as the most satisfactory and equitable, method of meeting claims for holiday compensation. Enlistment of officers for active service necessitated provision for granting leave of absence to such officers, and for recognition of their service with the Expeditionary Forces as service under the Public Service Act. Instances having occurred of impersonation at Public Service examinations and of irregular dealing with examination papers, penalties were prescribed for such offences.

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