STATUTORY RULES
1970 No.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE POST AND TELEGRAPH ACT 1901-1968.*
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 Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1968.
Dated this first day of September, 1970.
Paul Hasluck
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Sgd. Alan S. Hulme
Postmaster-General.
Amendments of the Postal Regulations†
Return of postal article.
1.—(1.) Regulation 8 of the Postal Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (8.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—
“(8.) Where, after a fee, not being a registration fee, has been paid for the delivery of a postal article in a special manner or for any other special service connected with the transmission of a postal article, the postal article is returned in accordance with this regulation and the stamps denoting the payment of the fee have been cancelled, the amount of the fee may be refunded—
(a) in the case of a fee for delivery of the postal article in a special manner—if delivery of the article in that manner has not been attempted or commenced; or
(b) in the case of a fee for another special service—if the special service has not been provided.”.
Delivery by special messenger.
2. Regulation 91a of the Postal Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (1.) the words “special delivery” and inserting in their stead the words “messenger delivery”;
(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (1.) the words “the special delivery of the postal article.” and inserting in their stead the words “the delivery, by special messenger, of the postal article from the post office to which it would, in the ordinary course, be conveyed for delivery to the addressee.”; and
(c) by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the words “special delivery of the article” and inserting in their stead the words “delivery of the article by a special messenger”.
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1970.
† Statutory Rules 1935, No. 3 as amended to date. For previous’ amendments of the Postal Regulations, see footnote † to Statutory Rules 1970. No. 25, and see also Statutory Rules 1970, Nos, 25 and 83.
20051/70—Price 5c 10/10.7.1970
Priority paid mail.
3. Regulation 91c of the Postal Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting from sub-regulation (2.) the words “special despatch” and inserting in their stead the words “priority paid mail”; and
(b) by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the words “special despatch” and inserting in their stead the words “priority paid mail”.
Further payment.
4. Regulation 251 of the Postal Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—
“(2.) The last preceding sub-regulation does not prevent payment of a postal order being made by the Department in a case where payment of the postal order has previously been made by the Department if the Postmaster-General has authorized the further payment to be made on the grounds that special circumstances justify the making of the further payment.”.
Printed by Authority by the Government Printer of the Commonwealth of Australia
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 123, made under the authority of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1968, were introduced to update and refine the regulatory framework governing the delivery of postal services in Australia. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, these regulations were intended to address inconsistencies and gaps in the existing Postal Regulations, ensuring that postal services could be more efficiently and accurately managed. The overarching policy objective was to maintain the integrity of postal transactions, including the accurate processing of fees and refunds for special services, while also adapting to the evolving needs of postal customers.
The regulations specifically aimed to clarify and improve the procedures surrounding the delivery of postal articles via special messengers, the payment of fees for priority services, and the conditions under which refunds could be issued. By amending the Postal Regulations, these statutory rules sought to provide a clearer framework for the operation of postal services, thereby enhancing the reliability and customer satisfaction of postal services in Australia.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules 1970 No. 123, made under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1968, pertain to the Commonwealth of Australia and specifically amend the Postal Regulations. These regulations apply to the services provided by the postal system within Australia, including the return of postal articles, special messenger delivery, priority paid mail, and payment of postal orders. The application of these regulations is national, covering all areas within the Commonwealth of Australia. The regulations amend existing provisions to update terminology and clarify the conditions under which fees for special services may be refunded, modify the procedures for special messenger delivery, and introduce new provisions for priority paid mail and additional payments for postal orders under special circumstances. These amendments are made through subordinate legislation, extending the application of the primary act by clarifying and updating the regulatory framework governing postal services.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the Statutory Rules 1970 No. 123 primarily concern amendments to the Postal Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1968. Regulation 8 is amended to clarify the circumstances under which a fee paid for special delivery or other special services may be refunded (1). Regulation 91a is revised to replace the term "special delivery" with "messenger delivery" and to specify the role of a special messenger in delivering a postal article from a post office to the addressee (2). Regulation 91c is amended to replace "special despatch" with "priority paid mail" (3). Additionally, Regulation 251 is modified to allow for further payment of a postal order by the Department if the Postmaster-General authorises it on the basis of special circumstances (4).
These amendments impose specific obligations on the parties involved. The postal service provider must refund fees under certain conditions, as outlined in Regulation 8 (1). The special messenger's role in delivering postal articles is defined in Regulation 91a (2). The term "priority paid mail" replaces "special despatch" in Regulation 91c (3), which may affect how such services are categorised and billed. Regulation 251 allows the Department to make further payments under special circumstances, subject to the Postmaster-General's approval (4).
There are no explicit provisions detailing offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches of these regulations within the provided text. However, non-compliance with these regulations could potentially lead to administrative or legal repercussions under the broader framework of the Post and Telegraph Act 1901-1968. The precise nature and extent of these consequences would depend on the specific circumstances of any breach and the applicable laws in force at the time.