Postal Services Act 1975

Legislation au C2004A00276 Not in force Act

Legislation content

POSTAL SERVICES ACT 1975

 

No. 54 of 1975

 

An Act relating to the Provision of Postal Services within Australia and between Australia and Places outside Australia.

 

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—

PART I—PRELIMINARY

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Postal Services Act 1975.

Commencement.

2. (1) Part I, section 5, Part IV, Division 1 of Part V and sections 78 and 101 of this Act shall come into operation on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(2) The remaining provisions of this Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

Interpretation.

3. (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

“approved bank” means a bank approved by the Treasurer for the purposes of the provision in which the expression occurs;

“article” includes a substance or thing;

“Australia”, when used in a geographical sense, includes the prescribed external Territories;

“authorized person” means a person authorized by the Commission for the purpose of the provision in which the expression occurs;

“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Commission;

“Chief General Manager” means the Chief General Manager of the Commission;

“commencing date” means the date fixed by Proclamation under sub-section 2(2);

“Commission” means the Australian Postal Commission established by this Act;

“Commissioner” means the Managing Director or another Commissioner holding office under section 25;

“convention” means a convention to which Australia is a party or an agreement or arrangement between Australia and another country or other countries;

“Deputy Chairman” means the Deputy Chairman of the Commission;

“employee” means a person engaged by the Commission as a temporary employee under section 45;

“mail” includes a package, receptacle or covering in which postal articles in course of transmission by post are conveyed, whether the package, receptacle or covering does or does not contain any postal articles;

“Managing Director” means the Managing Director of the Commission;

“officer” means a person who is appointed to the Service under section 42 or deemed to have been appointed to the Service under Part IV of the Transitional Provisions Act;

“organization” means an organization registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1974;

“part-time Commissioner” means a Commissioner other than the Managing Director;

“postage”, in relation to the transmission of a postal article, means the amount payable for transmission of the postal article by post, including any special charge or additional fee payable for a special service required in connexion with the transmission of the article;

“postal article” means an article transmissible by post or an article not transmissible by post but transmissible by the courier service;

“prescribed external Territory” means an external Territory other than Papua New Guinea, Norfolk Island or the Territory of Christmas Island;

“registered publication” means a copy of a number of a publication registered for transmission by post in accordance with the Bylaws;

“Service” means the Australian Postal Commission Service established by section 41;

“Transitional Provisions Act”…

Overview

The Postal Services Act 1975 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to regulate the provision of postal services within Australia and between Australia and other places outside Australia. The Act establishes the Australian Postal Commission (APC) as a body corporate to operate postal services, including ordinary post and a courier service. It outlines the functions, powers, and duties of the APC, including the issuance and sale of postage stamps, the establishment of rates for postage, and the management of the APC's staff and operations. The Act also includes provisions for the establishment of a Consultative Council, the remission of charges, and the making of by-laws and regulations by the Governor-General and the APC, respectively. The policy objective of the Act is to ensure the efficient and effective operation of postal services to meet the social, industrial, and commercial needs of the Australian people, while also providing for the technical assistance to other countries in the planning and operation of their postal services.

Scope and Application

The Postal Services Act 1975 governs the provision of postal services within Australia and between Australia and other places. This Act applies to the Australian Postal Commission, which is responsible for operating postal services, including the transmission of postal articles and the provision of courier services. The Act also applies to the employees and officers of the Commission, as well as to any person or entity involved in the transmission or handling of postal articles. The Act extends to the prescribed external territories of Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The Act does not apply to the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Norfolk Island, or the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. The Act may be supplemented by subordinate instruments, such as by-laws and regulations, which can provide further details and specifications on various aspects of postal services, including charges, procedures, and penalties.

Key Provisions

  • The Postal Services Act 1975 governs the operations of postal services within and between Australia and other locations. Key provisions of this Act include the establishment and functions of the Australian Postal Commission, which operates postal services and is authorized to offer other services as directed by the Act. The Commission is empowered to issue postage stamps, set rates for postage and other services, and make agreements for the carriage of mail on vessels and trains. The Act outlines the duties of the Commission to provide efficient and economical postal services, with specific attention to the needs of rural and remote areas.
  • In terms of obligations, the Act mandates that the Commission comply with any directions from the Minister and adhere to international conventions relevant to postal services. The Commission must ensure the safe and timely transmission of mail and postal articles, and it has the authority to make by-laws and regulations to govern the detailed operations of postal services, including the establishment of rates and fees.
  • The Act also outlines various offences and penalties for breaches, such as carrying letters for reward without authorization, forgery of postage stamps or postal articles, and the unlawful possession or use of materials intended for postal stamps or articles. Penalties range from fines to imprisonment, with the severity of the penalty depending on the nature and circumstances of the offence.
  • Additionally, the Act provides for the protection of unclaimed moneys and postal articles, the establishment of an Unclaimed Moneys Fund, and the terms for the attachment of salaries to satisfy judgments against officers or employees. It also details the process for the remission of charges and the establishment of a Consultative Council to advise on matters concerning officers and employees. The Act concludes with provisions for the making of by-laws and regulations by the Governor-General, which must be consistent with the Act and serve to further its objectives.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Postal Services
Administrative Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Regulatory Standards
Civil Penalty Provisions
Licensing & Registration

Continue reading Postal Services Act 1975

Sign in free to access the full text

Citations

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.