Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1971L00132 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES

1971 No.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE OVERSEAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1946-1971.*

I, 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 Overseas Telecommunications Act 1946-1971.

Dated this thirtieth day of September, 1971.

Paul Hasluck

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Sgd. Alan Hulme

Postmaster-General.

Amendments of tHe Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations

1. Regulation 6 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Appropriate entrance examinations.

“6.—(1.) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of sub-section (4.) of section 18 of the Act, so much of each examination specified in the next succeeding sub-regulation as consists of examinations in the subject of English or English literature and in any three other subjects constitutes an examination for appointment to the position of clerk in the lowest grade.

“(2.) The examinations referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation are the examinations the names of which are set out in the first column of the following table and which are conducted by a university or other public examining authority in the States or Territories of the Commonwealth respectively specified in the second column of that table opposite to the names of those examinations:—

Examination

State or Territory

Higher School Certificate Examination...............

New South Wales

Leaving Certificate Examination....................

Australian Capital Territory

University of Sydney Matriculation Examination.........

New South Wales

School Leaving Certificate Examination...............

 

Leaving Technical Examination....................

Victoria

Senior Examination............................

Queensland

South Australian Leaving Examination...............

South Australia

South Australian Matriculation Examination............

Northern Territory of Australia

Leaving Certificate Examination....................

Western Australia

Higher School Certificate Examination...............

 

Schools Board Examination.......................

Tasmania

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on    1971.

† Statutory Rules 1955, No. 87, as amended by Statutory Rules 1970, No. 197.

16879/71—Price 8c        10/1.9.1971


“(3.) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of sub-section (4.) of section 18 of the Act, each examination the name of which is set out in the first column of the following table and which is conducted by a university or other public examining authority in the State or Territory of the Commonwealth specified in the second column of that table opposite to the name of that examination is an examination for appointment to the position of circuit assistant:—

Examination

State or Territory

School Certificate Examination...................

New South Wales

Intermediate Certificate Examination................

Australian Capital Territory

Intermediate Certificate Examination................

Victoria

Junior Examination...........................

Queensland

 

South Australia

Intermediate Certificate Examination................

Northern Territory of Australia

Junior Certificate Examination....................

Western Australia

Intermediate Certificate Examination................

Tasmania

Prescribed positions for the purposes of section 18 (5A.).

2. Regulation 8 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is amended by omitting the words “traffic assistant in the lowest grade” and inserting in their stead the words “circuit assistant”.

Notification of provisional promotion.

3. Regulation 11 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is amended by omitting paragraph (b) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(b) by mail or telegram to each station of the Commission.”.

4. Regulation 12 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Branches of the Commission.

12. For the purposes of this Part—

(a) the Head Office of the Commission and the respective stations of the Commission at Bringelly, Broadway, Doonside, La Perouse, Melbourne and Paddington shall each be deemed to be a branch of the Commission; and

(b) a station of the Commission other than a station referred to in the last preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be part of the Head Office of the Commission.”.

5. Regulation 13 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is repealed and the following regulation inserted in its stead:—

Prescribed classes for purposes of sections 23 (4.) and 31 (4.).

“13.—(1.) For the purposes of sub-section (4.) of section 23 of the Act, the positions referred to in each of the following paragraphs constitute a prescribed class of positions:—

(a) the positions of Heads of Divisions and Heads of Branches;

(b) positions in the designations of which the word ‘Engineer’ is used other than positions to which the last preceding paragraph applies;

(c) positions in the designations of which the word ‘Drafting’, ‘Draftsman’, ‘Technical’ or ‘Technician’ is used other than positions to which a preceding paragraph of this sub-regulation applies;


(d) positions in the Operations Branch in respect of which the maximum salary payable is equal to, or greater than, the maximum salary payable in respect of the position of Traffic Controller other than—

(i) positions to which a preceding paragraph of this sub-regulation applies; and

(ii) positions in the designation of which the words ‘Administrative Assistant’, ‘Administrative Officer’ or ‘Executive Assistant’ are used or the word ‘Clerk’ is used;

(e) positions in the Operations Branch other than—

(i) positions to which a preceding paragraph of this sub-regulation applies; and

(ii) positions in the designation of which the word ‘Clerk’, ‘Reception’, ‘Secretary’, ‘Stenographer’, ‘Stenographic’, ‘Typing’ or ‘Typist’ is used or the words ‘Clerical Assistant’ are used;

(f) positions other than positions to which a preceding paragraph of this sub-regulation applies, being positions in respect of which the maximum salary payable is equal to, or greater than, the maximum salary payable in respect of the position of Administrative Assistant in the lowest grade; and

(g) positions other than positions to which a preceding paragraph of this sub-regulation applies.

“(2.) For the purposes of sub-section (4.) of section 31 of the Act, each of the following classes of officers constitutes a prescribed class of officers:—

(a) officers occupying positions in respect of which the maximum salary payable is equal to, or greater than, the maximum salary payable in respect of the position of Traffic Controller; and

(b) officers other than those referred to in the last preceding paragraph.”

Nominations.

6. Regulation 15 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (3.) the words “paragraphs (a), (c) and (e)” and inserting in their stead the words “paragraphs (a), (b), (d) and (f)”.

Returning Officer.

7. Regulation 20 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the words “the Assistant General Manager shall be” and inserting in their stead the words “the General Manager shall appoint an officer to be”.

Scrutineers.

8. Regulation 23 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “La Perouse” and inserting in their stead the words “Broadway, La Perouse or Paddington”.

Appeals against provisional promotions.

9. Regulation 28 of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “stationed at coastal radio stations and cable stations”.

Printed by Authority by the Government Printer of the Commonwealth of Australia

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1971 No. 135 are regulations made under the Overseas Telecommunications Act 1946-1971, addressing the need to update and refine the regulatory framework governing the Overseas Telecommunications Commission (OTC). Enacted by the Governor-General with advice from the Federal Executive Council, these regulations aim to ensure the smooth functioning of the OTC by updating examination requirements for various positions within the Commission, altering notification methods for provisional promotions, redefining branches of the Commission, and clarifying prescribed classes for certain positions. This legislative instrument underscores the policy objective of maintaining an efficient and well-regulated telecommunications service that aligns with the evolving needs of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Overseas Telecommunications Act 1946-1971, promulgated by the Governor-General in Council, govern the administration and operations of the Overseas Telecommunications Commission (OTC), applying to all positions and examinations within the OTC, as well as to the specified examinations for appointments to various positions such as clerk, circuit assistant, and others. These regulations encompass specific examinations conducted by universities or other public examining authorities in different states and territories across Australia. The regulations delineate prescribed classes of positions and officers within the OTC, affecting the internal structure and management of the Commission. Additionally, the regulations outline procedures for the notification of provisional promotions, the establishment of branches, and the process for appeals against provisional promotions. Geographic reach extends to all states and territories within the Commonwealth of Australia, and the regulations may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Statutory Rules 1971 No. 136 under the Overseas Telecommunications Act 1946-1971 introduces significant amendments to the Overseas Telecommunications Commission Regulations, particularly focusing on the entrance examinations for various positions (Reg. 6), the notification of provisional promotions (Reg. 11), and the branches of the Commission (Reg. 12). Regulation 6 specifies the required entrance examinations for positions such as clerks and circuit assistants, with detailed listings of acceptable examinations from various states and territories. Regulation 11 mandates that notifications of provisional promotions must be sent via mail or telegram to each station of the Commission. Regulation 12 redefines the branches of the Commission, specifying particular stations and deeming others as part of the Head Office. These Regulations impose obligations on the Overseas Telecommunications Commission to ensure that individuals appointed to specified positions meet the requisite educational qualifications. For instance, to be appointed as a clerk in the lowest grade, candidates must pass examinations that include English or English literature and three other subjects, as outlined in Regulation 6. Similarly, specific examinations are required for the position of circuit assistant. The Regulations also require the Commission to notify provisional promotions via mail or telegram to each of its stations, ensuring transparency and communication across the organisation. Failure to comply with these Regulations may lead to various consequences. While the document does not explicitly detail offences or penalties, non-compliance with the specified educational requirements for appointments or failure to properly notify provisional promotions could result in invalid appointments or disciplinary actions. Such breaches might also lead to internal administrative consequences within the Commission. The precise nature and extent of penalties would typically be governed by broader employment or administrative laws applicable to the Commission.

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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.