Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsNo. 147, 1999
Compilation No. 22
Compilation date: 11 December 2024
Includes amendments: Act No. 44, 2024
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Public Service Act 1999 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 11 December 2024 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part 1--Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Objects of this Act
4 This Act binds the Crown
5 This Act extends to things outside Australia
6 Engagement of employees in Department or Executive Agency
Part 2--Interpretation
7 Interpretation
8 Relationship with Fair Work Acts
Part 3--The Australian Public Service
9 Constitution of the APS
10 APS Values
10A APS Employment Principles
11 Commissioner's Directions about APS Values
11A Commissioner's Directions about employment matters
12 Agency Heads must promote APS Values and APS Employment Principles
13 The APS Code of Conduct
14 Agency Heads and statutory office holders bound by Code of Conduct
15 Breaches of the Code of Conduct
18 Promotion of employment equity
19 Limitation on Ministerial directions to Agency Head
19A Agency Heads to implement measures to create a work environment that enables decisions to be made by APS employees at lowest appropriate classification
Part 4--APS employees
Division 1--APS employees generally
20 Employer powers etc. of Agency Head
21 Prime Minister's directions to Agency Heads
22 Engagement of APS employees
23 Classification Rules
24 Terms and conditions of employment
25 Assignment of duties
26 Voluntary moves between Agencies
27 Compulsory moves between Agencies
28 Suspension
29 Termination of employment
30 Retirement
31 Forfeiture of additional remuneration
32 Right of return for election candidates
33 Review of actions
Division 2--The Senior Executive Service
34 SES employees
35 Constitution and role of SES
37 Incentive to retire
38 Commissioner's certificate required for termination of SES employment
Division 3--Heads of Mission
39 Heads of Mission
Part 5--The Australian Public Service Commissioner
Division 1--Commissioner's functions etc.
40 Australian Public Service Commissioner
41 Commissioner's functions
41A Inquiry into alleged breach of Code of Conduct by Agency Head or former Agency Head
41B Inquiry into alleged breach of Code of Conduct by APS employee or former APS employee
41C Systems reviews
41D Special reviews
42 Commissioner's Directions
43 Commissioner's inquiry powers
44 State of the Service report
44A Capability reviews
44B Action plans
Division 2--Commissioner's appointment, conditions etc.
45 Appointment of Commissioner
46 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
47 Removal from office
48 Acting Commissioner
Division 3--Special Commissioners
48A Appointment of Special Commissioners
48B Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
48C Termination of appointment
Part 6--The Merit Protection Commissioner
Division 1--Merit Protection Commissioner's functions etc.
49 Merit Protection Commissioner
50 Merit Protection Commissioner's functions
50A Inquiry into alleged breach of Code of Conduct by APS employee or former APS employee
51 Annual report
Division 2--Merit Protection Commissioner's appointment, conditions etc.
52 Appointment of Merit Protection Commissioner
53 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
54 Removal from office
55 Acting Merit Protection Commissioner
Part 7--Secretaries of Departments
56 Creation of offices of Secretary
57 Roles and responsibilities of Secretaries
58 Appointment
59 Termination of appointment
60 Engagement of former Secretaries
61 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
61A Annual performance review
62 Acting Secretary
Part 8--Secretaries Board
64 Secretaries Board
64A Long-term insights reports
Part 9--Executive Agencies
65 Establishment etc. of Executive Agencies
66 Responsibilities of Heads of Executive Agencies
67 Appointment etc. of Head
68 Remuneration and other terms and conditions of appointment
69 Acting Head
Part 10--Administrative arrangements and re-organisations
71 Arrangements with States and Territories
72 Machinery of government changes
Part 10A--Protection of information
72A Protection of information--Commissioner's functions etc.
72B Protection of information--Merit Protection Commissioner's functions etc.
72C Giving information or producing documents to Commissioner not admissible in evidence etc.
72D Giving information or producing documents to Merit Protection Commissioner not admissible in evidence etc.
72E Release of personal information
Part 11--Miscellaneous
73 Payments in special circumstances
74 Locally engaged employees
75 Attachment of salaries to satisfy judgment debts
77 Positions
78 Delegations
78A Immunity from civil proceedings
78B Australian Public Service Employee Census--results and action plans
79 Regulations
Endnotes
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
Abbreviation key--Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |
am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |
amdt = amendment | orig = original |
c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub-subparagraph(s) |
Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
def = definition(s) | prev = previous |
Dict = Dictionary | (prev ... ) = previously |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |
Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |
effect | rep = repealed |
F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |
Sdiv = Subdivision(s) | |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) |
cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Act | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
147, 1999 | 11 Nov 1999 | 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1) and gaz 1999, No S584) |
| |
Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 | 137, 2000 | 24 Nov 2000 | Sch 2 (items 339, 340, 418, 419): 24 May 2001 (s 2(3)) | Sch 2 (items 418, 419) |
63, 2002 | 3 July 2002 | Sch 1 (items 26, 27): 10 Mar 2000 (s 2(1) item 21) | -- | |
Legislative Instruments (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 | 140, 2003 | 17 Dec 2003 | ||
30, 2006 | 6 Apr 2006 | Sch 3 (items 35, 36): 7 Apr 2006 (s 2(1) item 6) | -- | |
56, 2006 | 21 June 2006 | Sch 3 (item 6): 1 July 2006 (s 2(1) item 7) | -- | |
Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008 | 8, 2008 | 20 Mar 2008 | Sch 1 (items 276-279): 28 Mar 2008 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
90, 2008 | 20 Sept 2008 | Sch 1 (item 62): 20 Mar 2009 (s 2(1) item 3) | -- | |
Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Act 2009 | 54, 2009 | 25 June 2009 | Sch 16 (items 4-28): 1 July 2009 (s 2(1) item 39) | Sch 16 (item 28) |
46, 2011 | 27 June 2011 | Sch 2 (items 953-964) and Sch 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011 (s 2(1) items 7, 12) | Sch 3 (items 10, 11) | |
75, 2011 | 25 July 2011 | Sch 1 (items 7-10, 12-15): 5 Aug 2011 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (items 12-15) | |
2, 2013 | 14 Feb 2013 | Sch 1: 1 July 2013 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013 | 134, 2013 | 15 July 2013 | Sch 1 (items 22-25) and Sch 2 (items 3, 4): 15 Jan 2014 (s 2(1) items 5, 6) | Sch 2 (items 3, 4) |
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2014 | 31, 2014 | 27 May 2014 | Sch 1 (item 58): 24 June 2014 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
62, 2014 | 30 June 2014 | Sch 11 (items 92-97) and Sch 14: 1 July 2014 (s 2(1) items 6, 14) | Sch 11 (item 96) and Sch 14 | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2015 | 36, 2015 | 13 Apr 2015 | Sch 2 (items 7-9) and Sch 7: 14 Apr 2015 (s 2) | Sch 7 |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 486): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 495): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (items 497-500): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2017 | 92, 2017 | 23 Aug 2017 | Sch 2 (items 83-87) and Sch 4: 23 Aug 2017 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 4 |
National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018 | 67, 2018 | 29 June 2018 | Sch 2 (items 29, 30): 29 Dec 2018 (s 2(1) item 3) | -- |
44, 2024 | 11 June 2024 | 11 Dec 2024 (s 2(1) item 1 | -- | |
76, 2024 | 26 Aug 2024 | Sch 1: 27 Aug 2024 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (item 8) |
Number and year | FRLI registration | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
50, 2006 | 17 Mar 2006 (F2006L00820) | Sch 27: 27 Mar 2006 (r 2(b)) | -- |
Provision affected | How affected | |
Part 1 |
| |
s 3..................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 6..................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
Part 2 |
| |
s 7..................... | am SLI No 50, 2006; No 8, 2008; No 54, 2009; No 2, 2013; No 62, 2014; No 44, 2024; No 76, 2024 | |
s 8..................... | am No 54, 2009 | |
Part 3 |
| |
s 10.................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
| am No 44, 2024 | |
s 10A................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 11.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 11A................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 12.................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
s 13.................... | am No 2, 2013; No 62, 2014 | |
s 14.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 15.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 16.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
| rep No 134, 2013 | |
s 17.................... | rep No 2, 2013 | |
s 18.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 19.................... | am No 2, 2013; No 134, 2013; No 44, 2024 | |
s 19A................... | ad No 44, 2024 | |
Part 4 |
| |
Division 1 |
| |
s 21.................... | am No 2, 2013; No 126, 2015 | |
s 22.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 23.................... | am SLI No 50, 2006; No 8, 2008; No 54, 2009; No 2, 2013; No 126, 2015 | |
s 24.................... | am SLI No 50, 2006; No 8, 2008; No 54, 2009; No 2, 2013; No 126, 2015 | |
s 26.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 29.................... | am No 54, 2009; No 2, 2013 | |
s 32.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 33.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
Division 2 |
| |
s 35.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 36.................... | rep No 2, 2013 | |
s 37.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 38.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
Division 3 |
| |
s 39.................... | am No 56, 2006; No 2, 2013 | |
Part 5 |
| |
Part 5 heading............. | rs No 2, 2013 | |
Division 1 |
| |
s 40.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 41.................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
| am No 134, 2013; No 126, 2015; No 76, 2024 | |
s 41A................... | ad No 2, 2013; No 76, 2024 | |
s 41B................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 41C................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 41D................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 42.................... | am No 140, 2003; No 2, 2013 | |
s 43.................... | am No 137, 2000; No 2, 2013 | |
s 44.................... | rs No 92, 2017 | |
s 44A................... | ad No 44, 2024 | |
s 44B................... | ad No 44, 2024 | |
Division 2 |
| |
s 46.................... | rs No 75, 2011 | |
s 48.................... | am No 46, 2011 | |
Division 3 |
| |
Division 3................ | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 48A................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 48B................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 48C................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
Part 6 |
| |
Division 1 |
| |
s 49.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |
s 50.................... | am No 137, 2000; No 2, 2013; No 134, 2013 | |
s 50A................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 51.................... | am No 2, 2013; No 92, 2017 | |
Division 2 |
| |
s 53.................... | rs No 75, 2011 | |
s 55.................... | am No 46, 2011 | |
Part 7 |
| |
s 57.................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
| am No 62, 2014 | |
s 58.................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
s 59.................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
s 61.................... | rs No 75, 2011 | |
s 61A................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 62.................... | am No 46, 2011 | |
s 63.................... | rep No 92, 2017 | |
Part 8 |
| |
Part 8................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
s 64.................... | rs No 2, 2013 | |
| am No 44, 2024 | |
s 64A................... | ad No 44, 2024 | |
Part 9 |
| |
s 68.................... | rs No 75, 2011 | |
s 69.................... | am No 46, 2011 | |
s 70.................... | rep No 92, 2017 | |
Part 10 |
| |
s 72.................... | am SLI No 50, 2006; No 8, 2008; No 54, 2009; No 2, 2013 | |
Part 10A |
| |
Part 10A................. | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 72A................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
| am No 67, 2018 | |
s 72B................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
| am No 67, 2018 | |
s 72C................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 72D................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
s 72E................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
Part 11 |
| |
s 73.................... | am No 30, 2006; No 90, 2008; No 2, 2013 | |
s 76.................... | rep No 2, 2013 | |
s 78.................... | am No 63, 2002; No 2, 2013; No 31, 2014; No 44, 2024 | |
s 78A................... | ad No 2, 2013 | |
ad No 44, 2024 | ||
s 79.................... | am No 2, 2013 | |