Postal, Telegraphic and Telephone Regulations (Amendment) (Provisional)

Overview

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, enacted in 1909, address the practical needs of the early Commonwealth government, particularly in relation to the administration of the newly established Old-age Pensions system. This legislation was introduced to streamline and facilitate the communication between the Registrars and the Commonwealth or State Departments involved in the pensions process. The Governor-General in Council, recognising the urgency of the matter, enacted these regulations to ensure efficient postal services without prepayment for certain official correspondence, with the postage subsequently to be covered by the Commonwealth government. The overarching policy objective is to support the administrative functions of the government by ensuring smooth and cost-effective communication channels for critical services such as the Old-age Pensions system.

Scope and Application

The Provisional Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901, specifically concerning the General Postal Regulations and the Payment of Postage by the Receiver, apply to postal articles addressed to Registrars in connection with Commonwealth Old-age Pensions. These articles must be enclosed in the official envelopes of any Commonwealth or State Department and bear the endorsement "Commonwealth Old-age Pensions." The regulation allows such items to be sent by post within the Commonwealth of Australia without the prepayment of postage, with the postage to be paid by the Commissioner of Pensions for the Commonwealth. This legislative instrument, enacted under the authority of the Governor-General and the Federal Executive Council, was issued due to the urgency of the matter. It amends existing regulations to facilitate the smooth handling of mail related to the Commonwealth Old-age Pensions scheme. The regulation's application is limited to the geographic boundaries of the Commonwealth of Australia, and it specifically targets the conduct of mailing official correspondence pertaining to old-age pensions.

Key Provisions

The General Postal Regulations under the Post and Telegraph Act 1901 have been amended to include provisions for the payment of postage on postal articles related to Commonwealth Old-age Pensions (Regulation 2). Specifically, postal articles addressed to Registrars concerning Commonwealth Old-age Pensions, and enclosed in official envelopes of any Commonwealth or State Department bearing the endorsement “Commonwealth Old-age Pensions,” can be sent without prepayment of postage if posted within Australia (Regulation 2(1)). However, the postage at prepaid rates must be paid by the Commissioner of Pensions for the Commonwealth (Regulation 2(2)). These regulations impose specific obligations on the Commissioner of Pensions for the Commonwealth, requiring them to ensure that the postage for the designated postal articles is paid (Regulation 2(2)). The Commissioner must manage the financial responsibility for these postal costs, ensuring that the proper payment is made to the postal service provider. Failure to comply with these provisions may result in legal consequences. While the specific nature of the penalties is not detailed within the text, the non-payment of required postage could be interpreted as a breach of the regulations. Such a breach could potentially result in civil or administrative penalties, although the exact penalties are not specified within this excerpt of the Statutory Rules.