Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1965

Legislation au C1965A00150 Not in force Act

Legislation content

Post and Telegraph Rates

No. 150 of 1965

An Act to amend the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1964 in relation to Decimal Currency.

[Assented to 18 December, 1965]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1965.

(2.) The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1964 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1965.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the fourteenth day of February, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-six.


Articles addressed to “The Householder”.

3. Section 6a of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (3.) the word “penny” and inserting in its stead the word “cent”.

Schedules.

4. The First and Second Schedules to the Principal Act are repealed and the following Schedules inserted in their stead:—

THE SCHEDULES

——

FIRST SCHEDULE

Rates of Postage

1. Letters, letter-cards and postcards.....

Four cents for the first ounce or part of an ounce and Three cents for each additional ounce or part of an ounce

2. Newspapers and periodicals registered at a General Post Office and posted by—

In respect of the articles posted by any one person at any one time, Four cents per twelve ounces or part of twelve ounces on the aggregate weight of the articles

(a) the proprietors thereof to bona fide subscribers, and to news-vendors and agents for the purpose of sale; and

(b) newsvendors and agents to bona fide subscribers, and to other newsvendors and agents for the purpose of sale,

 

without limitation as to the number contained in each addressed wrapper

 

3. Books registered at a General Post Office and periodicals and newspapers registered at a General Post Office and posted otherwise than as specified in the last preceding item, subject to compliance with the regulations

Four cents per eight ounces or part of eight ounces

4. Articles (other than parcels) not comprised within items 1, 2 and 3

Four cents for the first four ounces or part of four ounces and Three cents for each additional four ounces or part of four ounces

SECOND SCHEDULE

Part I.—Ordinary Telegrams

1. The rate for telegrams containing not more than twelve words (including address and signature) is Thirty cents.

2. The rate for telegrams containing more than twelve words (including address and signature) is Thirty cents, together with an amount of Five cents for every two words by which the number of words contained in the telegram exceeds twelve. If the telegram contains an odd number of words, it shall be deemed to contain an additional word.

3. Double the foregoing rates shall be charged for the transmission of—

(a) urgent telegrams; and

(b) telegrams on the public service when required, under section ninety-five of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1965, to be transmitted before other telegrams.

4. The rates specified in this Part are exclusive of porterage charges.


Second Schedule—continued

Part II.—Press Telegrams

1. The rate for a press telegram, as prescribed (accepted for transmission subject to the prescribed conditions) relating to Parliamentary, Executive, Departmental and other Proceedings of the Commonwealth, as prescribed, is—

(a) where the number of words contained in the telegram (including address and signature) is not more than twenty—Eight cents; and

(b) where the number of words contained in the telegram (including address and signature) is more than twenty—Eight cents, together with an amount of Eight cents for every twenty words by which the number of words in the telegram exceeds twenty. If the number of words in the telegram exceeds twenty but is not a multiple of twenty, the telegram shall be deemed to contain a number of words equal to the nearest higher number that is a multiple of twenty.

2. The rate for a press telegram, as prescribed (accepted for transmission subject to the prescribed conditions) to which the last preceding clause does not apply is—

(a) where the telegram is to be transmitted from a place within a State to another place within the same State—the rate that would be applicable if the last preceding clause applied; and

(b) where the telegram is to be transmitted from a place in one State to a place in another the rate that would be applicable if the last preceding clause applied.

3. The rates specified in this Part are exclusive of porterage charges.

Part III.—Broadcasting and Television Telegrams

The rate for a broadcasting or television telegram, as prescribed (accepted for transmission subject to the prescribed conditions) is the rate specified in the last preceding Part for a press telegram of a like kind.

Part IV.—Letter Telegrams

The rate for a letter telegram, as prescribed (accepted for transmission subject to the prescribed conditions) is Sixteen cents, together with an amount of One cent for every word by which the number of words contained in the letter telegram (including address and signature) exceeds twenty.

 

Overview

The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1965 was enacted to amend the existing Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1964 to accommodate the transition to decimal currency in Australia. This Act was introduced by the Commonwealth Parliament to ensure that the rates for postal and telegraph services were aligned with the new currency system. The policy objective was to provide a smooth transition to decimal currency by updating the rates in the relevant legislation, thereby facilitating consistency and clarity in postal and telegraph charges. The Act came into operation on 14 February 1966, and it updated the existing rates by replacing the former currency denominations with cents. This change was intended to help Australians adapt to the new monetary system, ensuring that the pricing structure for postal and telegraph services remained transparent and in line with the broader economic reforms.

Scope and Application

The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1965 applies to the rates and charges for postage and telegraph services within the Commonwealth of Australia, amending the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1964 to align with the decimal currency system. It primarily affects individuals and entities engaged in postal and telegraphic communications, setting forth the monetary charges for various types of mail and telegrams, including ordinary telegrams, press telegrams, broadcasting and television telegrams, and letter telegrams. The Act's geographic reach is nationwide, applicable across all states and territories within Australia. It does not specify exclusions or exemptions, but charges are delineated for different categories of mail and telegrams, with rates varying based on weight, content, and urgency. The application of this Act is further defined and potentially extended through subordinate instruments, such as regulations and orders, which can provide additional details and specifications for implementing the prescribed rates and charges.

Key Provisions

The Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1965 (C1965A00150) amends the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1964 to adjust the rates of postage and telegram transmission to align with decimal currency. Section 1 of the Act renames the Principal Act as the Post and Telegraph Rates Act 1902–1965 and specifies that the new Act will come into operation on 14 February 1966, as outlined in Section 2. Section 3 makes a minor amendment to Section 6a of the Principal Act by changing the currency from "penny" to "cent" for articles addressed to "The Householder". The Act repeals the First and Second Schedules of the Principal Act and replaces them with new Schedules detailing updated postage and telegram rates. The new rates specified in the Schedules reflect the decimal currency system. For instance, under the First Schedule (rates of postage), letters, letter-cards, and postcards now cost four cents for the first ounce or part of an ounce, and three cents for each additional ounce or part of an ounce. Newspapers and periodicals posted by their proprietors to subscribers or news-vendors are charged four cents per twelve ounces or part of twelve ounces. Books, periodicals, and newspapers posted otherwise than as specified in the previous item are charged four cents per eight ounces or part of eight ounces. Other articles not specified in the first three items are charged four cents for the first four ounces or part of four ounces, with an additional three cents for each additional four ounces or part of four ounces. The obligations imposed by the Act primarily involve the updating and adherence to the new rates specified in the Schedules. Parties or entities governed by the Act must charge and collect postage and telegram transmission fees according to the updated rates. For example, postal services must charge four cents for the first ounce of a letter and three cents for each additional ounce, while telegram services must charge according to the specified rates for ordinary, press, broadcasting, and television telegrams. The Act does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance. However, it is reasonable to infer that failure to adhere to the updated rates could lead to legal consequences, such as fines or other penalties, as per the general enforcement mechanisms provided by the overarching Post and Telegraph Act 1901–1965.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Regulatory Standards

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.