EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULE 1987 NO. 154 ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
Section 112 of the Telecommunications Act 1975 (‘the Act’) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted to be prescribed by the regulations, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed by the regulations, for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
Section 103 of the Act provides that the Commission may pay a reward of $100.00 or such higher amount as is prescribed to a person supplying it with information leading to the identification of a person who has damaged, defaced, stolen or vandalised Commission property. Regulation 43 of the Telecommunications Regulations presently prescribe an amount of $500.00 for the purposes of Section 103 of the Act.
In 1986 it was estimated by the Commission that losses through vandalism and theft in New South Wales alone amounted to more than $6 million. Attempts to reduce the levels of vandalism and theft, particularly in respect of public telephones, have met with limited success.
The statutory rule amends Regulation 43 to prescribe an amount of $2000.00 in place of $500.00.
It is hoped that the increased reward will encourage informants to provide information leading to the detection and conviction of offenders.
S.R. 45/87